The Flawed MLB All Star System
June 7, 2017
Today I filled out my All-Star Game ballot, as I do every year, and I was surprised to find that most of the positions seemed to have obvious candidates to start for their league come July 11th at Marlins Park. However, like every year, I then juxtaposed my votes with the leaderboard as of now and was stunned to find that again the All-Star Game is a popularity contest. In the current voting format, small markets are overshadowed by the traditional markets, as year after year players from the likes of markets such as Minnesota, Tampa. Oakland, San Diego, and Cincinnati are constantly undermined by this process. Many of the fans ignore the statistics and vote according to their preferences for a player and likewise, withhold from voting for certain players because of arbitrary grievances towards them. The craziest part of this popularity contest is that it exists in a league in which the All-Star Game has significant implications: Game 7 Home Field Advantage! So after an hour of silence staring at the current voting polls, I decided to take into my own hands to accurately reflect who should be starting in this year’s All Star Game.
The Appropriate American League Starting Lineup:
Pitcher:
Dallas Keuchel: At 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA and a ridiculous WHIP rate, it would be a joke if this man didn’t start. He is the ace on the best team in baseball and even with Chris Sale’s Prodigious Strikeout numbers this is Keuchel’s moment.
Catcher:
Salvador Perez: Folks this one isn’t even close. The man’s numbers are .264, 11, 32, which is verging on prolific from the catcher’s position, and that is not even accounting for his illustrious defensive skill set.
First Base:
Yonder Alonso: Umm excuse me was there a confusion here? Actual people believe Miguel Cabrera deserves to start over Yonder Alonso? Alonso has been outstanding, accumulating 16 homers and 34 ribbies while maintaining a .297 average, in contrast to Cabrera’s underwhelming season with a stat line of .275/5/26. This is purely a reflection of Alonso being snubbed because he plays for Oakland.
Second Base:
Jose Altuve: I mean who else? This is as obvious as it gets. A stat line of .326/8/29 combined with the other defensive and baserunning elements Altuve adds…no brainer.
Third Base:
Miguel Sano: The third base position in the American League has not impressed so far this year. But the colossal slugger Sano from Minnesota has been a bright spot at his position. Even in his overlooked market, Sano’s .306/14/43 line is sufficient enough to bury the reputations of Donaldson and Machado who trail him in the voting.
Short Stop:
Carlos Correa: At this point it seems a foregone conclusion that Francisco Lindor will win the vote and start, but Carlos Correa is the real deserver of such recognition. Correa is a centerpiece of the blossoming Astro’s club, slugging his way to a .314/11/40 start and while Lindor’s has a far less impressive .263/12/26, he leads the voting because of the swagger and outwardness he possesses embracing the role as a star. Correa prefers to stay in the shadows and unfortunately that will cost him in this process.
Outfielders:
Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, George Springer: Anyone with a head on their shoulders would not waste any time arguing about whether Trout and Judge belong on this list, and they are respectfully numbers one and two in the entire voting. However, the third outfielder position is far more contentious and while currently Michael Brantley holds the spot George Springer deserves to start instead. While Brantley’s .303 batting average along with 5 homers and 24 RBI’s is nothing to snark about, it is undoubtedly less impressive than Springer’s mammoth start to the 2017 campaign; Springer has smashed the baseball to the tune of a .281/16/38 stat line. He has been a monster out of the lead off spot leading the league in runs. Clearly Cleveland voters are heavily invested in the voting process, but Brantley and Lindor’s current position atop the voting leaderboards reflects a systematic flaw snubbing two deserving Astro studs.
Designated Hitter:
Nelson Cruz: With no more David Ortiz, Nelson Cruz (.229/14/46) is the next best thing at DH.
The Appropriate National League Starting Lineup:
Pitcher:
Clayton Kershaw: 7-2 with a 2.28 ERA and top ten in nearly every positive category you can name. It looks like Kershaw will finally get a chance to start an All-Star Game.
Catcher:
Buster Posey: This is another one in the uncontentious category. Yasmani Grandal and Yadier Molina have each enjoyed a solid season, but Posey has been absurd. Posey is batting .349…from the catcher’s position. Otherworldly numbers from Buster who has also slugged 7 homers and 16 RBI’s to bolster his stat line even further.
First Base:
Ryan Zimmerman: I have really made an effort to look at this from every single angle, but I still can’t comprehend how Anthony Rizzo is set to start over Ryan Zimmerman in this year’s All-Star Game. Rizzo has a very average statline (.232/12/30) by his standards, while Zimmerman is having a career year. Zimmerman is first in Batting Average (.365), Third in Home Runs (16), and Third in RBI’s (48), yet somehow he is not getting recognized…unbelievable.
Second Base:
Daniel Murphy: There is just no debating this one. Another terrific season for Murphy in a Nationals uniform, and his .333/10/41 line is a fact no one can debate.
Third Basemen:
Jake Lamb/Anthony Rendon: I can’t bring myself to decide between these two sluggers, who haves similar numbers. Lamb (284/17/50) and Rendon (.294/11/36). Both have also played tremendous defense this year and have been consistent in their play, which are major reasons why their teams have each taken off in 2017. I shouldn’t be surprised but…Kris Bryant is leading the voting, even though he trails both players in nearly every statistical category. He is the recognizable name voters go to in this format.
Shortstop:
Zack Cozart: Here we go again small market Cincinnati. Cozart has had undisputedly the best start at the shortstop position this season boasting a (353/9/33) season miles beyond Corey Seager (.275/7/24). But in the end, it doesn’t matter because small markets will continue to suffer under this platform. But hats off to you Zack Cozart, those who follow baseball religiously are aware of your incredible season.
Outfielders:
Bryce Harper, Charlie Blackmon, Matt Kemp: Similarly to the American League, the outfield has two runaway leaders in Harper and Blackmon, but Cubs fans have stifled the race for the third place position in the outfield. Jason Heyward (.264/5/25) and Ben Zobrist (.233/6/18) currently hold the third and fourth spots in the voting; they are two Chicago favorites, but both realistically undeserving of an All Star Game appearance, let alone an opportunity to start. Matt Kemp (.327/10/30) is realistically the one who deserves to start this year. After a few quiet, but solid years for the Padres and Braves, he is hitting for both average and power, showing glimpses of his old form as a young Dodger.
How Can This Be Fixed?:
Whether they change the voting to baseball writers to mimic the Hall of Fame, or formulate a player vote system, change needs to be made. This game is too important to hinge on a popularity contest.
Written by Paul McGovern