Call to the Pen’s National League All-Star team

Jun 11, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) singles in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
2014 stats: .351/.445/.623, 18 HR, 45 RBI, 61 R, 1 SB

Tulo was the NL’s only unanimous selection, and I can’t find anyone that could argue he doesn’t deserve that distinction. He’s putting up MVP numbers. There’s no other way to put it. We can compare his numbers to the other NL shortstops, but that’s almost unfair.

Almost. He’s the only NL SS batting over .300. The closest in OBP is Hanley Ramirez at .354. And SLG is even less of a contest (Starlin Castro at .471). So you have to compare his offense to the entirety of the National League, right?

So I will. His bWAR of 5.1 is the best in the NL, as is his fWAR of 4.6. He leads the league in BA, OBP ,SLG, runs scored, and wRC+ (182). There’s a couple of others, too. Tulo is second in home runs and third in total bases. And his production has been steady for the last two months of the season following an insane first month.

Mar/Apr: .364/.477/.727
May: .341/.429/.614
June: .348/.426/.528

In viewing his game logs, Tulowitzki’s OPS has not fallen below 1.000 since April 17. After that game against the San Diego Padres, it was .934. And his OPS as it currently stands (1.067) has not been that low since April 19 (1.058).

If not for the fact the Rockies were sitting in third place and 11 games back in the NL West, you’d hear even more about him.

I think it’s safe to say Tulowitzki will be a member of the NL All-Star squad, making this his fourth.