MLB All-Star Game: 5 Shocking AL Snubs

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May 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman

Jason Kipnis

(22) reacts after being hit by a pitch for the second time during the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

It happens every year, especially after the first voting update, that a lot of all-star caliber players are judged by the all-knowing fans as not worthy of their vote. This year is no different. However, what is different from this year is it’s apparently now mandatory for all citizens of Kansas City Missouri to vote a straight Royals ticket or they’ll be exiled into Kansas (ew).

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Controlling five of the nine starting positions on the American League all-star team, it only makes sense that there are going to be some serious snubs – players that should be starting based on their stats and talent, but who get ignored by the fans, or because they’re not playing for the Kansas City Royals.

Fans can be a fickle bunch, voting for names rather than what gives their league the best chance of succeeding, but such is the risk the MLB is willing to take by giving their faithful fans the judicial power of deciding who plays and who doesn’t.

Part of the reason the initial voting results are important is because it wakes up a lot of fans. They realize that their players aren’t where they should be and they get out and vote. I imagine that on further updates, not as many Royals will be duking it out on the leader board, but who knows. Alex Rios hasn’t played since mid-April, yet he’s higher than the best No. 3 hitter in the league, Michael Brantley. Makes total sense.

But without further ado, let’s take a look at who’s getting snubbed this early in the all-star race (spoiler: no Royals are on this list)

Next: Number 5

5. Stephen Vogt

May 20, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher

Stephen Vogt

(21) reacts after striking out agains the Houston Astros in the top of the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t have to say much, given how well Stephen Vogt’s numbers speak for themselves. Vogt has roughly half the votes of Salvador Perez. While Perez is surely worthy of being an all-star, the fact remains that he’s only first on this list because Royals’ fans are going ham.

Compare the stats for yourself:

[table id=7 /]

I get it, Vogt is the veteran and Perez is the flashy new thing, but come on, voters, look at the numbers. How does Perez merit twice the votes of Stephen Vogt? Defensively, Perez has the slight upper hand, but not 700,000 votes worth of an upper hand. Vogt is better in literally every single relevant offensive category.

Stephen Vogt will be an all-star. So it’s not the biggest atrocity. But he should be starting. It’s early and there’s still plenty of time for the voters to get with the program and get Stephen Vogt the votes (kind of rhymes, doesn’t it?) he deserves. The big question is will they? Kansas City fans can only vote 25 times each, they have to be reaching their limit.

Next: Number 4

4. Josh Donaldson

Apr 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman

Josh Donaldson

(20) on ground after being struck by a pitch from Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher

Steve Geltz

(not in picture) in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Rays beat Blue Jays 4-2, Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

On a team like the Toronto Blue Jays, who get guys across the plate like it’s easy or something, it may come as no surprise that the statistical leader at third base in the American League is from the Canadian representation. What is surprising is that that third baseman is doing better than Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista.

Another victim of Royals fever, Josh Donaldson finds himself 400,000 votes behind the Moose, Mike Moustakas, despite being grossly superior in nearly every major statistical category. Again, have a look for yourself:

[table id=8 /]

Forgive me if I don’t think that .015 points of a batting average and a better nickname is worth 400,000 votes. The case for Josh Donaldson is the exact same as the case for Stephen Vogt. The better player is being kept out of the starting role, at least initially, because of the zealotry of the Royals.

Donaldson needs a bit less from voters than Vogt though, and for that reason I’m cautiously optimistic that he’ll be starting at third base when the final results come around.

Next: Number 3

3. Prince Fielder

May 28, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter

Prince Fielder

(84) reacts to hitting a foul ball in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Miguel Cabrera is a pretty good player, and no one should ever complain about him getting the nod for the start at first base for the American League. but if you were to ever raise a complaint, this would be the year. Prince Fielder is far and away the best offensive first baseman in the league this year and he’s not even cracking the top five in first basemen.

2. Michael Brantley

Apr 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder

Michael Brantley

(23) hits a RBI single during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve covered in depth how Michael Brantley is the most underrated player in the game and the fact that he only has the 9th most votes of any American League outfielder is further proof of such. Hitting a very solid .313 (5th among AL outfielders), Brantley also boasts four home runs and the fifth most RBIs among AL outfielders (28). He’s also managed a respectable 7 stolen bases.

And then there’s Alex Rios, who hasn’t played since mid-April. Again, thanks Royals fans! Rios is pulling up in 6th place on the vote whereas the always-overlooked, near-MVP Michael Brantley is 150,000 votes behind.

Maybe it really is just that the Tribe isn’t blessed with the fresh zealotry that other teams have. Cleveland isn’t a big market sports city and these names get lost on the ballot as irrelevant. It’s no fault of the players, all they can do is put up all-star caliber stats (and vote 25 times themselves).

Michael Brantley deserves to be starting in the outfield alongside Mike Trout and Adam Jones. His stats are right up their with those big names, he just doesn’t have the big name to go with the stats.

To add insult to injury in Cleveland, check out number one on the list.

Next: Number 1

1. Jason Kipnis

May 3, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) at second base after a double during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been pretty widely established by anybody with any connection to baseball that the biggest snub of the intial results is Jason Kipnis. As Matt Snyder of CBS Sports points out: “The most egregious mistake in the collective voting so far comes at second base in the AL.”

Snyder isn’t wrong. We’ve already debated who should be starting between Altuve and Kipnis (see here) and so far the vote is coming back that it should be Jason Kipnis that tops the list, not Jose Altuve.

What makes this even more ‘egregious’ is the fact that Kipnis isn’t even on the board. Omar Infante (surprise!), Ian Kinsler, Devon Travis and Dustin Pedroia fill out spots two through five and you just have to wonder how this could have happened.

Jason Kipnis leads all AL second basemen with a .346 average. His .949 OPS is best in the league as well. His 5 home runs are tied for second and 22 RBIs isn’t exactly a shabby figure either.

The same that was said about Michael Brantley can be said about Jason Kipnis, he doesn’t have a big name, he plays in Cleveland and he’s not a Royal. The only positive out of this is that there is such an outcry for Jason Kipnis that he should see a powerful spike in votes come the next few updates.

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