MLB All-Star Game Fan Vote Races

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The starters for the MLB All-Star game are once again being chosen by fans, as they have for many years. The fans make some mistakes, but overall they tend to choose some of the best players in Major League Baseball to attend the game. This season is no different. Despite a good majority of the National League leaders coming from the Cubs, the leaders are mostly the best players at that position. With that said, there remains tight races between players in terms of votes.

Anyone that is within ~500,000 votes of the leader still has a chance to win the vote. The close races all include players that will probably reach the MLB All-Star Game regardless of whether they win the vote or not; however, it is still an important honor for players to be able to start the game.

With nearly half of the season being played already, the sample sizes of stats are large enough to recognize which players are for real this season. Some players have stepped up while others have fallen. Some rising players, like Jackie Bradley Jr., have made their way to the top of All-Star ballots, but others like Corey Seager are still in the hunt to start the game.

A couple races include three players vying for one single spot, but the majority of races is a split decision between two very good players. The player who deserves to win may not win in the end, but maybe this will convince you enough to make your final few votes for the right person at each position.

Next: Cubs vs. Nats

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The first close race is between National League second basemen, Ben Zobrist and Daniel Murphy. Ben Zobrist has been excellent at second base for the first place Cubs, but Daniel Murphy has also been incredible for the Nationals. Murphy was very impressive during last year’s postseason, which often means signing such a player is dangerous. The Nationals got the opposite effect from Murphy, as he has excelled during his time in Washington.

A majority of Zobrist’s numbers are influenced by the incredible hot streak he had towards the end of May into the beginning of June. He is slashing .298/.410/.460 with 22 extra base hits and a wRC+ of 137 while being incredibly sturdy at 2nd base for the Cubs. Those are certainly All-Star worthy numbers, but let’s take a look at Murphy’s numbers to.

Murphy is currently slashing .349/.391/.577 with 36 extra base hits and a wRC+ of 156. Those numbers are incredibly good, especially from a position that isn’t known for having a player that contributes so much offensively. Murphy has also been consistent at second base, but Zobrist probably has the defensive edge.

Zobrist certainly has a great quality for an All-Star Game player, versatility. However, if we are only considering performance at second base Murphy probably gets the edge. It’s certainly close, and the fans cannot really make the wrong choice here. Murphy’s numbers have been incredible during the first half of the season, but Zobrist has also been very impressive. I give Murphy the slight edge over Zobrist in this contest.

Next: Giants vs. Cards

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Catcher is one of the most difficult positions to judge based on simple numbers from a stat sheet. Understanding the value that a catcher brings to his team often requires watching the player interact with his pitchers and how he frames, throws, and blocks the ball. In the current state of the league, catchers are not known for their prowess at the plate. Finding a catcher that is solid defensively and offensively is incredibly difficult. These All-Star Game candidates have been able to combine offensive and defensive skills to become great players.

Buster Posey is having another fine season for the Giants, slashing .285/.348/.458 with 8 home runs and wRC+ of 130. He is also well-known for his ability to work with pitchers. Newly acquired Cueto and Samardzija have looked great with the Giants this season, partly because of Posey. Posey has gotten it done on both sides of the ball this season, which is why he is one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball.

Yadier Molina is also known as one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball. His throwing ability is his best defensive asset, but he isn’t lacking in either of the other two areas either. This season he’s hitting .261/.332/.341 with 1 home run and a wRC+ well below average at 86. Cardinals fans are strong supporters of their players, hence the number of votes for Molina, but he’s simply not in the same class as Posey this season.

Wilson Ramos is another catcher playing for one of the best teams in the National League this season. Despite not often being considered among the ranks of Posey and Molina, he has managed to put together a monstrous season at the plate to close the gap between him and those already considered elite. This season he is hitting .342/.385/.563 with 12 home runs and a very impressive wRC+ of 153. His hitting alone is good enough to get him into the All-Star Game, fan vote or not, but his defense isn’t too shabby either.

It’s tough to say that Buster Posey isn’t the outright leader in this category, because he has been for almost every season of his career; however, Ramos is absolutely raking right now. Posey has a complete game, but Ramos has simply outperformed the San Francisco start this season. Ramos has tough competition in Posey and Molina, but he has performed well enough to earn the vote this season.

Next: Royals vs. Tigers

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Two American League Central sluggers are duking it out for the starting spot as American League All-Star first basemen. Both have been leaders for their teams for many years and strong competitors against each other. Once again they are head to head competing for something.

Eric Hosmer picks the ball extremely well at first base, but his bat is his strongest asset. He is hitting .310/.369/.500 with 12 home runs and a 132 wRC+. He had a great 2015 as a member of the All-Star team, but his numbers in 2016 are even better than the previous year. He’s absolutely clubbing the ball both for power and average.

Miguel Cabrera is one of the most prolific hitters of his generation, so it’s not shock that he’s once again in competition for a starting All-Star spot. This season he’s hitting .296/.370/.522 with 16 home runs and a wRC+ of 133.

These two players are both having very good seasons, and their numbers are incredibly close. It seems like a cop out to say that voting for either of the two players would be a good choice, but that is definitely the case here. Hosmer and Cabrera have both been slugging and trying to help their team compete in a very competitive division. Both of the players are deserving of All-Star spots, and both will most likely be there. A vote for either of these players is a vote well-used.

Next: Triple Threat

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Both leagues are chocked full of great young shortstops. In no way is that clearer than the All-Star Game vote in the National League, which features two rookies and a second year player at the top of the ballot. Story is most well-known for his ridiculous start to his rookie season as he blasted 7 home runs in his first week of MLB play. However, the other two shortstops in this talk have also played incredibly well through the entire 2016 season to date.

Addison Russell currently leads the vote along with many of his Cubs teammates. Russell has been outstanding at the shortstop position this season, making both the spectacular plays as well as the routine ones. He’s hitting .236/.327/.378 with 7 home runs and a 89 wRC+, which puts him well below his two competitors offensively.

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Trevor Story got off to the hot start as was mentioned above, but he also has some defensive value. The strongest part of his game is at the plate, where he is hitting .271/.339/.559 with 19 home runs and a wRC+ of 119. His play at the plate has been very impressive so far this season, but not as impressive as the man in third place of voting, Corey Seager.

Seager was considered the number one prospect in baseball last season as he prepared to make his debut in late 2015. In 2016 he has lived up to the hype in every facet of the game. Seager is now hitting .298/.356/.528 with 16 home runs and a 138 wRC+. His bat has been the best among the young shortstops in the National League, and it should earn him a spot on the All-Star Roster.

Fans from Colorado and Chicago are voting strong for their players, but Seager has far superior numbers to both of the top two candidates. While there’s still time, consider putting Seager on your ballot to get him the well-deserved start.

Next: Rockies vs. Cubs

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This is another extremely close competition between two very good young players both offensively and defensively. Bryant may lose some votes because of how little he has played third base this season compared to last, but that’s still his main position. If we disregard defensive ability, which is very hard to compare with numbers, and assume that Bryant and Arenado are about even defensively it makes the comparison much easier. They are both very impressive hitters, and their hitting is what makes them shine to fans.

Kris Bryant doesn’t understand what a sophomore slump is. He’s hitting .265/.357/.520 with 18 home runs and a wRC+ of 133. His average is a little lower than one would like from a star player, but he makes up for it with his power. His strikeout rate is also down from last season, which has led to the second year player blossoming in 2016.

Nolan Arenado has a year on Bryant in the league, but it surely doesn’t seem like it. Arenado is hitting .296/.376/.585 with 21 home runs and a wRC+ of 136. Those numbers are slightly better than Bryant’s numbers but the two are very close.

If hitting is the only facet considered, Arenado should probably get the vote. You cannot go wrong voting for either of the two, but just as with Zobrist the defensive flexibility that Bryant provides is a valuable asset for an MLB All-Star team. If you’re looking to vote for the best third basemen, Arenado should get the vote. If you’re looking for the best fit on an All-Star team, Bryant should get the vote. It’s safe to say, however, that both of these young stars will be on the National League All-Star team.

Next: Sox Vs. O's vs. Royals

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This competition among outfielders is one of the most interesting competitions throughout Major Leauge Baseball simply because of how different these three players are from each other. All three outfielders remain in the hunt for the final spot in the outfield where Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mike Trout have basically cemented their position. Mark Trumbo has been a power hitter this season, Cain has been his speedy defensively minded self with on base ability, and Betts has been a combination of both.

Mark Trumbo has stepped onto the scene this season as one of the best outfielders in the game. His defensive ability is nothing to write home about, but his offense has been very impressive all season long. He’s hitting .279/.330/.554 with 22 home runs and a wRC+ of 132, which is very impressive for a player who has never posted a wRC+ over 125 and only once has he gotten close.

Lorenzo Cain is one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, if not the best. He covers so much ground in center field that it feels impossible to get a hit by sending a ball anywhere near him. Although his defensive ability is what is most talked about, his offensive skills are very good as well. This season he’s hitting .291/.337/.418 with 8 home runs and 100 wRC+, which is above average especially considering how good he is in the field.

Mookie Betts has played incredibly well this season, keeping him in the same class as other Boston young stars like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts. Betts holds his own defensively, and he carries a big bat. He’s hitting .289/.330/.506 with 16 home runs and a wRC+ of 117.

Betts has been the best overall hitter among these three, but Cain and Trumbo are strong in their own regards. Cain has the defensive prowess while Trumbo has the great power. I think that Betts deserves the vote because of his all-around game but none of these players will be left off the roster.

Next: Take Your Pick

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This might be one of the most intriguing competitions among All-Star votes. Donaldson is the reigning MVP, who is quietly having another season very similar to 2015. Machado is the young talent who some put in the same class as Harper and Trout. There will most likely be many more years to come where we debate over who is the better of these two strong third basemen. Both have great defensive skills and make spectacular plays, and both are incredible with a bat in their hands.

Manny Machado has played some time at shortstop this season, but it’s still safe to say that his position remains third base. He is hitting .325/.384/.609 with 18 home runs and a wRC+ of 159. Those numbers are incredible both in terms of power and getting on base. His slash line is nearly perfect to what teams want and his wRC+ is well above 100.