MLB All-Star Game Snubs: Positional oversights in AL and NL
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sick of “ASG snub” pieces yet? No? Maybe? Okay, good.
With elective, subjective, preferential voting and nominating processes, opinions always clash with others. All-Star Game’s often enter into this territory, be it in football’s Pro Bowl or the mid-season breaks of hockey, basketball and baseball. For that reason, long live the All-Star Game snubs.
Fans probably care more to talk about them than players do. But the ASG is for the fans and kids, after all. Major League Baseball’s balloting for the starting lineups nearly ruined an American League lineup, and injuries to big name players like Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Cabrera shortly before the Midsummer Classic shifted squad’s landscapes some. Starting pitchers not on enough days rest are also omitted on a regular basis, further displacing the deserved roles of said impact players.
Even with all that, there are still noticeable snubs across the league. Hometown fans might have something to say about a player representing their club getting snubbed, while the general population might be more passive towards an alleged snafu. If you’re passionate about the topic, this is for you. If you aren’t, take a gander anyway while you sip your beverage of choice while cloaked in apathy.
Next: American League Infielder
1B Mitch Moreland – TEX
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Forget the Royals’ Mike Moustakas, who was nominated by his manager Ned Yost for the final vote and — surprise, surprise — won it. That was of course after Brett Gardner replaced Alex Gordon in left field and Brian Dozier was named to replace Jose Bautista as a reserve.
Mitch Moreland was not nominated by Yost, but there are a number of players certainly more deserving of an All-Star Game appearance than is Moustaskas. Hitting only .125 over his last 11 games and has seen has batting average flop from as high as .327 on June 26 to where it presently sits at .297, Moose is lucky to have been named to his first ever ASG.
Moreland has more home runs than Moustakas, more RBI and a higher OPS. There is a reason Prince Fielder petitioned Rangers manager Jeff Banister to play mostly at designated hitter this season, and that reason is Moreland. Not only for his glove, but the 29-year-old has played in only 68 games this season and ranks fourth in OPS (.865) at his position in the AL, fifth in home runs (16), seventh in RBI (46) and ninth in total bases.
Next: American League Outfielder
LF Yoenis Cespedes – DET
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Teammate J.D. Martinez got the nod, but Yoenis Cespedes is the best overall outfielder on what is arguably the best outfield position group in the entire American League. Martinez’ 25 home runs are impressive, but Cespedes’ 3.3 WAR is second on the Detroit Tigers to only Miggy.
Plus, the guy has won the Home Run Derby in consecutive years from 2013-14. Based on showmanship alone and to give Cespedes the chance to be the only person along with Griffey to have won a Derby three times, he should have been included on the roster. He was nominated for the final vote to Yosts’s credit, but one player who was not that is just as big of a snub in the outfield is the Red Sox’ Mookie Betts.
The 22-year-old is doing it all for Boston this season on defense in center field while hitting for power, getting on-base and stealing bases. Brock Holt is a valuable asset, but it’s hard to argue Gardner, Adam Jones or Lorenzo Cain over Betts. He leads his club and all the aforementioned outfielders except for Cain with 4.2 WAR.
Next: American League DH
DH Alex Rodriguez – NYY
Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
With Nelson Cruz and Fielder both on the AL roster, this could have went to Kendrys Morales of the Royals, or Alex Rodriguez.
A-Rod is doing a lot of things right in his return from a year long suspension in 2014, including keeping a low profile in the eyes of the Big Apple’s always buzzing media.
His .898 OPS ranks first among designated hitters who have logged 200 at-bats at the position in 2015. Rodriguez’ 18 homers put him inside the top 20 across all MLB and his .278 BA is much improved over his .244 mark from 2013.
At 39 and with what A-Rod is accomplishing, it’s tough to deny him any credit. His 2.4 oWAR looks a lot better than Morales’ 1.1, and not much else should matter for an everyday DH.
Next: American League Pitcher
LHP Mark Buehrle – TOR
Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Buehrle earned his fifth All-Star game nod last season. His ERA was substantially lower at 2.64 in the first half then, but it’s still respectable at 3.34 in 2015.
He’s tied for the second most wins of any starters in the AL with 10. If not for those 10 victories, his Toronto Blue Jays would be floundering in the AL East as Buehrle has easily been their most consistent and reliable starter in 2015. His WHIP of 1.16 is lower than Boston’s Clay Buchholz (1.21), whom many believe was snubbed of an ASG appearance this year.
Forever a workhorse, Buehrle has been one of the most dependable names on the mound for years now. A consumate professional, he has logged 14 straight seasons with 30 or more starts and already has four complete games in 2015, better than anyone else across MLB.
Not overly electric, Buehrle earns every pay check when he suits up for a start and has won at least 10 games in every season since becoming a full-time starter in 2001 for the White Sox.
Next: National League Infielder
1B Adam Lind – MIL
Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Adam Lind would have needed to fight for at-bats if he stuck with the Blue Jays. In Milwaukee, there’s no need for that, especially when he is the most valuable player offensively for the Brewers.
Ryan Braun squeaked his way onto the National League roster with the injury to Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday, but Lind is the one who should have been representing the Brew Crew with fellow teammate Francisco Rodriguez.
He leads his team with 2.8 WAR and ranks fourth at his position in BA with a .292 mark ahead of All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Lind also has a higher OPS and only three fewer home runs. His 15 are impressive when one considers A-Gon hit five round trippers in his first three games of the season, drastically reducing his pace. Lind’s 52 RBI rank 10th in the NL, as does his OBP of .375.
Next: National League Outfielder
CF Charlie Blackmon – COL
Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
This is a tough one. Starling Marte and Cameron Maybin were real possibilities here, but Charlie Blackmon deserves recognition again after many figured his 2014 All-Star campaign to be a fluke.
The Rockies’ outfielder is building nicely on his 2014 numbers. At this time last season, his line was .305-53-14-52-18. This time around, Blackmon’s line is .291-52-11-40-23. But the biggest change has been an improvement with his road numbers, where he has hit eight of his 11 homers.
Blackmon is second to only Billy Hamilton of the Reds for most stolen bases by an NL outfielder, is sixth in OBP and second in triples with five. Most shockingly perhaps, Blackmon is third in total bases amongst NL outfielders. Add to all of that his defensive value where his UZR of 5.7 ranks 10th amongst NL outfielders playing in a home park where balls sail effortlessly through the air at Coors Field, it’s more apparent his value was overlooked.
Teammate Nolan Arenado is having an unbelievable year and is fully deserving of playing in his second All-Star Game, but Blackmon is second to only him in WAR on the Rox and is quietly building a name for himself as one of the better all-around center fielders in the game today.
Next: National League Pitcher
RHP Drew Storen – WAS
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports
Whereas Max Scherzer has been the rock of the rotation in 2015 for the Nats, Drew Storen has been the cohesive binding agent for the bullpen.
When Rafael Soriano faltered in the second half at closer for Washington in 2014, Drew Storen picked up right where he left off after recording 43 saves as the Nationals’ closer back in 2011. He stepped in relieving Soriano with 11 saves and a 1.03 ERA in the second half of ’14.
This year, his 27 first half saves rank tied for third in MLB with only two blown opportunities. His tidy 1.89 ERA is nothing to scoff at either, nor is his K/9 of 10.3. In 33.1 IP this year, Storen has only surrendered a single home run and his BAA of .208 is second to only Scherzer for Nats pitchers with more than 30 innings pitched.
It’s tough to omit any of the relievers on the NL roster, but Storen definitely deserved to be nominated on the final vote ballot, as he probably could’ve given winner pitcher Carlos Martinez a run for his money.