The 2011 All Star Game rosters are filled out which means it's time to huff and puff about who's in and who's out. I'm a natural complainer so I usually enjoy this exercise more than the actual game itself. You can peruse my picks here.
Unlike its National League cohort, the American League Final Vote pool is full of legitimate All Star candidates. Ben Zobrist, Paul Konerko and Alex Gordon are all worthy of playing in the Midsummer Classic. It's a shame that Zobrist has to depend on Sprint giving some cash to MLB for a chance to get into the ASG. He has the 5th best fWAR (4.0) in the AL but might be getting punished for playing great defense at 2nd base and merely good defense in right field. It's not quite as egregious as Andrew McCutchen being left off the All Star roster and Final Vote squad but it's still a major oversight.
Paul Konerko is having a brilliant offensive season with 21 homers and a .317/.387/.567 slash line but is somehow still behind fellow non-All Star 1st baseman Mark Teixeira in fWAR (2.8-2.3).
Gordon is 11th in the AL in fWAR (3.4) and is having a nice season in the outfield to go with a .301/.368/.491 line. But middle of the pack set-up man Aaron Crow received the lone Royals ASG invite. I would clearly be inept at constructing an All Star team.
Now for the rest of the victims of fan and managerial ignorance.
3 Position Players
Dustin Pedroia
Pedroia was my pick for 2nd base based on his huge On Base Percentage advantage but I would have been fine with Howie Kendrick (made it) or Zobrist (didn't make it). Instead Robinson Cano gets the fan vote thanks to New York and the 14 homers. Cano doesn't have a great OBP or play good defense but, hey look, homers.
Jhonny Peralta
This is the fallout for fans voting for Derek Jeter like he was Justin Bieber competing on American Idol. See? Bill Simmons isn't the only one who can reference pop culture crap I don't care about. Jeter is out fWARing only Chad Pennington when it comes to AL short stops but let's hand him the keys to the ASG anyway. Asdrubal Cabrera was my pick and did make the actual team but Peralta is better in just about all percentage metrics. Alexei Ramirez probably isn't pleased about the Jeter fallout either.
Brett Gardner/Denard Span
They might not be the most dynamic hitters in the AL outfield talent pool but they are amazing defenders. They need to at least shag balls during the home run derby. Add Peter Bourjos into that mix too.
3 Pitchers
CC Sabathia
Sabathia has the second best FIP (2.66) and fWAR (3.9) behind Jered Weaver, co-leads the AL in wins at 11 with Justin Verlander and has a better ERA (3.05) than All Stars C.J. Wilson, David Price and Felix Hernandez. And he plays for the Yankees. What am I missing here?
Dan Haren
Haren is 6th in fWAR (3.3). He and Sabathia are the only 2 of the top 8 in fWAR to not make the All Star team. Haren is also 4th in FIP (2.71) and xFIP (3.08) but, like Sabathia, is on the outside looking in at the top 10 in ERA. His 7-5 record probably didn't do him any favors with the casual Internet voter either.
Jordan Walden
This will complete my Angels homer section of this segment. Walden is tied for 4th in fWAR (1.1) for AL relievers and tied for 5th in saves (18) despite not being deployed into the closer role due to a bad case of Fernando Rodney. He also throws 100 MPH which is a lot of fun to watch.
Showing posts with label all star snubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label all star snubs. Show all posts
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Off Base 2011 NL All Star Snubs
The 2011 All Star Game rosters are filled out which means it's time to huff and puff about who's in and who's out. I'm a natural complainer so I usually enjoy this exercise more than the actual game itself. You can peruse my picks here.
I'll begin with the jackassery that is the Final Vote. Hypothetically, this should be a chance for fans to pick one final player from the 5 most deserving left off the roster. In reality, it's a way for MLB to squeeze some more money out of Sprint.
Either way you choose to look at it, Andre Ethier, Todd Helton, Ian Kennedy, Michael Morse and Shane Victorino are your 2011 National League pool of Final Votees. Victorino should win running away since he has the 4th highest fWAR in the NL at 4.2 while playing a pretty center field. And it doesn't hurt that he's a bigger name on the better team than, oh say, Morse. I like Morse. I mentioned him in my All Star post and he might hit 30 home runs. But with just 20 some odd more plate appearances, Vitcorino is still the superior player.
Now for the rest of the victims of fan and managerial ignorance.
3 Position Players
Andrew McCutchen
He is, by far, the biggest snub of this year's snubs. He is 2nd in fWAR in the NL and 3rd overall in baseball! I realize not all fans or managers have 12-15 pages of Fangraphs open at once but his 12 home runs, 15 steals and .289/.390/.493 are plenty All Star worthy. Plus he plays the hell out of center field instead of just roaming around like a confused hobo a la Matt Kemp.
Chase Headley
Headley was my pick to start the ASG so getting left off the roster completely counts as a snub. Placido Polanco won the fan vote and Chipper Jones won the heart of manager Bruce Bochy. Headley's .399 OBP is 57 points higher than the next closest 3rd baseman (Jones). That is, scientifically, a crapload of more value. While I'm at it, Ryan Roberts was probably more worthy than either Polanco or Jones too.
Miguel Montero
This might be a little nitpicky but find me a stat, aside from batting average, that Yadier Molina is better. I guess Justin Upton used the lone Diamondback spot.
3 Pitchers
Madison Bumgarner
Ryan Vogelsong made the ASG so this is pick depends of which side of the stat nerd fence you stand on. In basically three more starts, Bumgarner has been the better pitcher (2.55-3.21 FIP) and projects to be the better pitcher (3.16-3.48 xFIP) and has been the better player (2.9-1.5 WAR). But Vogelsong owns the shiny 6-1 reocrd and 2.01 ERA.
Jordan Zimmermann
Zimmermann bests Daniel Hudson here because the Nationals rep is Tyler Clippard. If you only get one All Star, Zimmermann should be the choice over Clippard before Hudosn should be the choice over Justin Upton. Although Hudson does have a gripe with Ian Kennedy over that Final Vote spot. Zimmermann has been great and is 8th in the NL in fWAR over All Stars Vogelsong, Matt Cain and Jair Jurjjens.
Craig Kimbrel
Kimbrel has a better K/9 (14.36), FIP (1.42) and fWAR (1.9) than any other reliever in the NL. Don't like those stats? He's still tied for 1st in saves. Now explain why he isn't in the ASG.
I'll begin with the jackassery that is the Final Vote. Hypothetically, this should be a chance for fans to pick one final player from the 5 most deserving left off the roster. In reality, it's a way for MLB to squeeze some more money out of Sprint.
Either way you choose to look at it, Andre Ethier, Todd Helton, Ian Kennedy, Michael Morse and Shane Victorino are your 2011 National League pool of Final Votees. Victorino should win running away since he has the 4th highest fWAR in the NL at 4.2 while playing a pretty center field. And it doesn't hurt that he's a bigger name on the better team than, oh say, Morse. I like Morse. I mentioned him in my All Star post and he might hit 30 home runs. But with just 20 some odd more plate appearances, Vitcorino is still the superior player.
Now for the rest of the victims of fan and managerial ignorance.
3 Position Players
Andrew McCutchen
He is, by far, the biggest snub of this year's snubs. He is 2nd in fWAR in the NL and 3rd overall in baseball! I realize not all fans or managers have 12-15 pages of Fangraphs open at once but his 12 home runs, 15 steals and .289/.390/.493 are plenty All Star worthy. Plus he plays the hell out of center field instead of just roaming around like a confused hobo a la Matt Kemp.
Chase Headley
Headley was my pick to start the ASG so getting left off the roster completely counts as a snub. Placido Polanco won the fan vote and Chipper Jones won the heart of manager Bruce Bochy. Headley's .399 OBP is 57 points higher than the next closest 3rd baseman (Jones). That is, scientifically, a crapload of more value. While I'm at it, Ryan Roberts was probably more worthy than either Polanco or Jones too.
Miguel Montero
This might be a little nitpicky but find me a stat, aside from batting average, that Yadier Molina is better. I guess Justin Upton used the lone Diamondback spot.
3 Pitchers
Madison Bumgarner
Ryan Vogelsong made the ASG so this is pick depends of which side of the stat nerd fence you stand on. In basically three more starts, Bumgarner has been the better pitcher (2.55-3.21 FIP) and projects to be the better pitcher (3.16-3.48 xFIP) and has been the better player (2.9-1.5 WAR). But Vogelsong owns the shiny 6-1 reocrd and 2.01 ERA.
Jordan Zimmermann
Zimmermann bests Daniel Hudson here because the Nationals rep is Tyler Clippard. If you only get one All Star, Zimmermann should be the choice over Clippard before Hudosn should be the choice over Justin Upton. Although Hudson does have a gripe with Ian Kennedy over that Final Vote spot. Zimmermann has been great and is 8th in the NL in fWAR over All Stars Vogelsong, Matt Cain and Jair Jurjjens.
Craig Kimbrel
Kimbrel has a better K/9 (14.36), FIP (1.42) and fWAR (1.9) than any other reliever in the NL. Don't like those stats? He's still tied for 1st in saves. Now explain why he isn't in the ASG.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Shot Of The Night
Shot Of The Night is Off Base Percentage's toast to a player who had an exceptionally good or bad night. There's always a reason to drink.Tonight we're bringing back the Big Red: 1/2 oz Irish cream, 1/2 oz Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps for the shot of the night, even though it's disgusting. And it's in honor of Joey Votto.
I detailed Joey Votto's All Star snub earlier and the kid backed me up today. Votto went 3-4 with 2 homers and 2 RBI to raise his slash line to .318/.418/.599. If you don't believe that he should be the starting first baseman for the NL, we can't be friends.
Omar Infante: 0-4, 2 strikeouts.
Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay
Halladay threw another complete game. His bullpen management is fantastic. Halladay gave up 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 7 and lowering his ERA to 2.33. Oh, he also only threw 93 pitches. I'm not sure he's human.
Our Required All Star Snubs Post
Derwood isn't a big fan of the All Star game or the Angels. So it makes perfect sense that he will be traveling to the Big A to watch the game this year while I sit at home and curse him under my breath. He also despises the All Star selection process but I find it fascinating and infuriating. So I'll be your guide through this Joey Votto/Jered Weaver fueled rant. Buckle up kids, it might get nerdy.Joey Votto: This is the one everybody is up in arms over and it's deserved. All of Votto's counting stats are right there with Pujols. I know the players and especially Charlie Manuel aren't looking at advanced metrics but I sure am. In wOBA, Votto (.424) is crushing Pujols (.409) and more importantly Ryan Howard (.363). Don't like/understand wOBA? Everybody likes WAR and Votto (3.6) is still better than Pujols (3.1) and much better than Howard (1.2).
Votto is at least the best first baseman in the National League this season and deserves to be an All Star. But hey, Omar Infante and his 0.5 WAR might come in handy if you need a 5th short stop in the 14th inning. Actually, you'd probably be better off playing Votto at short stop and not even letting him take the field.
Jered Weaver: Obviously, this one bothered me the most. Weaver was asked to take over the ace role for the Angels and not only did he handle it, he has become one of the best pitchers in the league. Oh yeah, the All Star game is also in his home park.
As Keith Law pointed out yesterday, only 2 of the top 10 pitchers in WAR made the AL squad. But hey, if you look at FIP, 3 of the top 10 made it! Fine, don't like advanced metrics? Weaver leads the AL in strikeouts (124), 9th-ish in least walks (26), 6th in ERA (2.82) and his BABIP is a perfectly sustainable .299. I went a little nerdy there at the end, huh?
CC Sabathia: 1.9 WAR, 3.94 FIP, 93 strikeouts, 37 walks = All Star
Fransisco Liriano: I have him on my fantasy team and didn't realize how good of a season he's having. He leads the AL in WAR (4.2), FIP (2.10) and tied for 3rd in strikeouts (116). I might be crazy but I would rather have Liriano available to close a game than, oh say, Jose Valverde.
Kevin Youkilis: Shame on you Joe Girardi. Youk should be in there over A-Rod and especially over David Ortiz. Youkilis is easily one of the top 10 players in the AL if you look at any stat except for batting average (.299) but you have to get Jose Bautista (.236) in there.
Stephen Strasburg: I'm not calling him a snub so much as I have a problem with Evan Meek. Seriously, would you rather have Strasburg for an inning or Evan Meek. I'll save you the trouble of looking up which team Meek plays for, he's the Pirates lone rep. Simple solution: pull Corey Hart, plug in Andrew McCutchen, pull Meek and put in Strasburg. Everybody is a winner. Well, except for Meek and Hart.
Anybody but Omar Infante: *head explodes*
I could go on but I'd like to actually watch some baseball but I'll leave you with this...
Actual NL Lineup: C Yadier Molina, 1B Albert Pujols, 2B Chase Utley, 3B David Wright, SS Hanley Ramirez, OF Ryan Braun, OF Jason Heyward, Of Andre Ethier
WAR NL Lineup: C Brian McCann, 1B Joey Votto, 2B Chase Utley, 3B David Wright, SS Troy Tulowitzki, RF Andres Torres, CF Marlon Byrd, LF Matt Holliday
Actual AL Lineup: C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Evan Longoria, SS Derek Jeter, OF Ichiro, OF Josh Hamilton, OF Carl Crawford, DH Vlad Guerrero
WAR AL Lineup: C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Adrian Beltre, SS Alex Gonzalez, RF Ichiro, CF Alex Rios, LF Carl Crawford, DH Vlad Guerrero
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