2013 MLB All-Star Game: The National League’s Biggest Roster Snubs

Jun. 21, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Shin-Soo Choo against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ah yes, snubs. It’s an unavoidable topic, and there’s always going to be snubs when the MLB All-Star Game rosters are released. There’s just no way around it, because there simply aren’t enough roster spots to hold all of the league’s best players.

The snub list in the National League consists of a lot of pitchers, specifically starters. You shouldn’t be surprised about that, but we’ll get into that later.

Now then, let’s take a look at the NL’s five-biggest snubs:

Shin-Soo Choo, Cincinnati Reds

Jun 29, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Cincinnati Reds center fielder Shin-Soo Choo (17) bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Cincinnati won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

If we’re talking position players, Shin-Soo Choo has a case for the biggest snub award.

That may strike you as a surprise, because, for one, Choo’s never been an All-Star. He’s hovered around the .900 OPS mark for nine years, which is indeed solid. But there was something about 2013 that had All-Star written all of it for Choo.

Perhaps that’s a bit dramatic. Choo’s slash line of .273/.418/.455 hardly has that “wow” effect, mainly because it’s without that coveted .300 batting average. His .418 on-base percentage, however, has that effect. It ranks second in the NL and third in the Major Leagues.

You’re probably not entirely convinced of Choo…yet.

We already know that his slash line is decent–not great, decent. The advanced stats consider Choo to be a bit better than decent, though. He ranks in the Top 10 in wOBA (Weighted On-Base Percentage) and wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus).

Now for some perspective: Choo’s the only outfielder that wasn’t selected to the All-Star Game that ranked in the Top 10 in those two categories, and Carlos Beltran and Bryce Harper, for instance, both trail Choo in the two stats I already alluded to.

The catch: Beltran and Harper are starting. I know, that part is in the fans’ hands. Still, you get the point.

Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals

Jun 28, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller (40) pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals can’t send everyone, as Adam Wainwright, Allen Craig, Matt Carpenter, Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina will represent the Cards on July 16.

Meanwhile, the rookie will be left off the roster, but not for a lack of effort.

Shelby Miller has been fantastic in his rookie season, one that may have ticketed for the Rookie of the Year award. His 2.2 WAR, after all, leads all rookie pitchers and hitters.

It’s not just his rookie class where Miller is superior, though, and the rest of the NL can vouch. He’s sixth in the league in FIP (Fielding Independent Percentage), third in K/9 and 11th in ERA.

Miller’s All-Star case is a bit skewed by the fact that the Cardinals coaching staff is taking baby steps with his workload. He’s logged 99.2 innings, which is only the 36th-most in the NL, and close to 40 innings less than Clayton Kershaw, who leads the NL with 138.1. If the innings count is the reason for Miller’s snub, then it’s justifiable.

However, Jeff Locke was selected with 102 innings, and Miller has a better FIP and better K/9 (the Pirates aren’t starved for All-Stars). Another rookie sensation, Jose Fernandez, has pitched just 98.2 innings, and Miller has a better FIP and K/9 rate.

Miller was indeed snubbed. That becomes clear when he’s stacked up with Lock and Fernandez. But the game can’t be dominated by Cardinals (The Miami Marlins have to have a representative too. Hence, Fernandez). And in this case, the phrase “he has plenty more in his future” applies.

Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates

Jun 26, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mark Melancon (35) celebrates the final out against the Seattle Mariners with first baseman Gaby Sanchez (18) at Safeco Field. Pittsburgh defeated Seattle, 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Pirates have had quite a late-game closing duo in 2013. Jason Grilli, who was selected to the game, leads all NL relievers with a 1.7 WAR. His setup man in Mark Melancon is second with a 1.5 WAR.

One got selected and one didn’t. I think you know who. In case you don’t, it was indeed Melancon.

Melancon has just two saves, and that’s the presumed indicator of a good closer- I, for one, don’t believe in that theory. Grilli has 28, Aroldis Chapman has 20 and Craig Kimbrel has 23. The latter three represent the relief corps of the NL squad–not one set-up or middle relief pitcher made the team.

It’s tough not to make a case for Melancon, though. He has a 0.83 ERA (leads all qualified relievers, a 1.62 FIP (second to Grilli) and a 9.35 K/9 rate. There’s the WAR thing too.

With those numbers, the fact that Melancon isn’t a closer spurned him. This trend doesn’t just reside in the NL, as the AL has just one non-closer–Brett Cecil.

If Melancon didn’t get snubbed for not being a closer, well, I don’t know then.

Quick note: Bruce Bochy (NL’s manager) could pick Melancon as a replacement for the three pitchers pitching next Sunday.

Mat Latos, Cincinnati Reds

Jun 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos (55) throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Mat Latos is quietly mustering a solid season for the Reds, but with a teeming list of quality starters in the NL, he was overlooked. That’s not such a bad thing.

Latos has cemented himself as the Reds’ ace with Johnny Cueto making multiple trips to the DL. The 25-year-old has a 3.18 ERA, 2.97 FIP (eighth-best in the NL) and 9.31 K/9 (fourth-best). Put it all together and you have the sixth-best WAR (2.8) in the NL. Not bad at all.

The NL starting staff, as I mentioned, is crawling with talent. There’s Matt Harvey, Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright. Moreover, there’s Cliff Lee, Madison Bumgarner and Jordan Zimmermann.

The not so obvious picks: Patrick Corbin, Travis Wood, Jeff Locke and Jose Fernandez.

Each team has to have an All-Star, so that’s where Wood and Fernandez (he’s deserving nonetheless) fit in. The Pirates have four All-Stars and the Diamondbacks have one. So they’re covered.

With that said, Latos has a better WAR, K/9 rate and FIP than Locke and Corbin. Corbin does has a sparkly 10-1 record and 2.40 ERA–not that win-loss records matter. And Locke does have the second-best ERA in the NL.

Still, Latos has a case–a strong one, may I add.