Off Base 2011 AL All Stars

For some reason, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance granted me membership and occasionally asks me to vote on things. This time it's for the All Star Game.

Disclaimer: I may tend to overemphasize WAR (Wins Above Replacement) but at least I'm not some homer voting for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Catcher: Alex Avila, Detroit
9 HR, .300 AVG, .373 OBP, .532 SLG, .390 wOBA, 2.5 WAR
Avila is having a pretty good season which is more than you can say about the majority of catchers in the AL. Plus, his presence keeps the Tigers from having to stick Victor Martinez behind the dish.
Next In Line: Pass
If forced to choose, I suppose it's Carlos Santana.
10 HR, .232 AVG, .360 OBP, .414 SLG, .341 wOBA, 1.8 WAR
Santana has been a disappointment this year and I was tempted to put Matt Wieters here until I looked up his on base percentage. Woof.
Fans Pick (6/21): Russell Martin, New York
Yeah, yeah. He's not having a bad season but Avila is better. I'm actually a little surprised that Avila is second in voting.

First Base: Adrian Gonzalez, Boston
15 HR, .359 AVG, .410 OBP, .609 SLG, .437 wOBA, 7.4 UZR, 4.4 WAR
Gonzalez is having the monster season everybody expected out of him and might be the first half AL MVP. It's really hard to find a flaw in his game. I hate Boston and their tremendously run front office.
Next In Line: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit
15 HR, .327 AVG, .449 OBP, .580 SLG, .434 wOBA, -2.3 UZR, 3.2 WAR
Miggy is the model of consistency. He might have some off the field issues but once the season starts all he does is rake. Paul Konerko has been fantastic this season but Cabrera has 50 points of on base on him.
Fans Pick (6/21): Adrian Gonzalez, Boston
And, of course, Mark Teixeira is second in voting.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia, Boston
6 HR, .274 AVG, .390 OBP, .397 SLG, .360 wOBA, 8.6 UZR, 3.5 WAR
I really struggled between three players here but ultimately chose Pedroia because of his on base percentage and fielding. But it could have gone in another direction...
Next In Line: Howie Kendrick, Orange County
7 HR, .305 AVG, .364 OBP, .481 SLG, .374 wOBA, 7.8 UZR, 3.2 WAR
I might be cheating a little bit here because only 4.2 of Kendrick's UZR has come at second base since he's also played some first and outfield. Ben Zobrist was the other guy I liked but he's outclassed in OBP by both Pedroia and Kendrick even though Howie hates walking.
Fans Pick (6/21): Robinson Cano, New York
Not surprising at all. He certainly hits for power and the Yankees clearly don't care about middle infield defense.

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, New York
13 HR, .296 AVG, .375 OBP, .510 SLG, 6.9 UZR, 3.6 WAR
What can I say? A-Rod is having a really nice season.
Next In Line: Kevin Youklis, Boston
11 HR, .279 AVG, .395 OBP, .506 SLG, .395 wOBA, -3.1 UZR, 2.8 WAR
He has a great OBP as usual and is the best of the rest. Evan Longoria has struggled since returning from his injury, Adrian Beltre has a .306 OBP and Alberto Callaspo is Alberto Callaspo.
Fans Pick (6/21): Alex Rodriguez, New York
Yeah.

Short Stop: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland
12 HR, .296 AVG, .345 OBP, .498 SLG, .378 wOBA, -5.0 UZR, 2.8 WAR
Cabrera is having somewhat of a breakout season. He's already doubled his previous season high in home runs. I am surprised UZR doesn't much care for his defense.
Next In Line: Alexei Ramirez, Chicago
6 HR, .289 AVG, .348 OBP, .423 SLG, .341 wOBA, 5.9 UZR, 3.0 WAR
Ramirez has similar stats to Cabrera but might be the best fielding short stop in the AL. A flip flop of the two for the top spot wouldn't bother me. What bothers me is...
Fans Pick (6/21): Derek Jeter, New York
If Jeter is the starting short stop, I might skip the ASG. Jeter's 0.5 WAR is tied with Elliot Johnson. This is why you can't have fan voting and make the ASG count for something. Side note: somebody sent me a Jeter biography to review and I lost it.

Right Field: Jose Bautista, Toronto
22 HR, .325 AVG, .470 OBP, .654 SLG, .474 wOBA, -4.7 UZR, 4.5 WAR
Joey Bats has cooled off some since I was school girl giddy over his .500+ OBP but he's still a beast. The Blue Jays are talking about moving him back to third.
Next In Line: Carlos Quentin, Chicago
17 HR, .256 AVG, .358 OBP, .535 SLG, .389 wOBA, 0.4 UZR, 2.2 WAR
Matt Joyce with his higher average and on base is also an acceptable answer.
Fans Pick (6/21): Jose Bautista, Curtis Granderson, Josh Hamilton
They got Joey Bats right.

Center Field: Curtis Granderson, New York
21 HR, .278 AVG, .356 OBP, .584 SLG, .401 wOBA, 1.3 UZR, 3.9 WAR
Granderson, all of a sudden, learned how to hit lefties and hit them hard. That was always the major flaw in his game and now he looks like a star. I mean, he does still strikeout at a 27% clip. But he hits lefties now!
Next In Line: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston
8 HR, 24 SB, .310 AVG, .372 OBP, .374 wOBA, 1.5 UZR, 3.1 WAR
As much as I wanted to put Denard Span and his silly 10.2 UZR in this spot, I couldn't put him past an Ellsbury who gets on base 37% of the time. That's a dangerous guy.
Fans Pick (6/21): Jose Bautista, Curtis Granderson, Josh Hamilton
The fans have two right.

Left Field: Brett Gardner, New York
4 HR, .286 AVG, .363 OBP, .432 SLG, .347 wOBA, 13.2 UZR, 2.8 WAR
Gardner won't make the All Star team and Yankees fans are always looking for ways to upgrade left field but Gardner might be a star in another market. He's a natural center fielder and is spectacular in left. He is in the top ten in voting but I doubt he finishes there. Those might be some of the kindest words I've ever written about a Yankee.
Next In Line: Brennan Boesch, Detroit
10 HR, .300 AVG, .359 OBP, .485 SLG, .364 wOBA, 0.3 UZR, 1.8 WAR
Boesch won't make the team either but he's having a nice season. I'm not sure if anyone outside of Detroit or fantasy circles realizes it though.
Fans Pick (6/21): Jose Bautista, Curtis Granderson, Josh Hamilton
Sure, this would probably be Hamilton's spot if he hadn't missed a month with an injury. He's still going to make the team and is having a really good season. He just missed a lot of time.

DH: David Ortiz, Boston
17 HR, .313 AVG, .391 OBP, .586 SLG, .421 wOBA, 2.6 WAR
Big Papi has looked like he was finished on a few occasions over the past couple of seasons. But in 2011, Ortiz is raking again. He's hitting so well that he's driving Terry Francona to the brink of insanity in considering playing Adrian Gonzalez in the outfield during interleague so Ortiz can play first base.
Next In Line: Victor Martinez, Detroit
6 HR, .332 AVG, .383 OBP, .498 SLG, .381 wOBA, 1.6 WAR
After Ortiz, it's not a great year for the designated hitter. There aren't even that many full time DH's. Martinez has played 20 games behind the plate but I'm counting him so I dont have to plug in Billy Butler or Bobby Abreu.
Fans Pick (6/21): David Ortiz, Boston
No way to argue with that.

Starting Pitcher: Jered Weaver, Orange County
2.01 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 3.41 xFIP, 3.7 WAR
I can make a case for four or five other guys but, let's face it, I love Weaver. And with the lowest FIP and second lowest ERA, he deserves it too.
Next In Line: Justin Verlander, Detroit
2.54 ERA, 3.04 FIP, 3.09 xFIP, 3.0 WAR
Verlander has one no-hitter this year and fell just short of picking up a second. Verlander and Weaver were both first round picks in 2004 along with number one overall pick Matt Bush.

Relief Pitcher: Jordan Walden, Orange County
2.45 ERA, 2.01 FIP, 3.08 xFIP, 1.3 WAR
Sure, he walks too many hitters but he throws 100 MPH on the reg and is fun to watch.
Next In Line: Al Alburquerque, Detroit
2.05 ERA, 1.78 FIP, 2.38 xFIP, 0.9 WAR
His name is Al Alburquerque. I rest my case.

Off Base 2011 NL All Stars

For some reason, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance granted me membership and occasionally asks me to vote on things. This time it's for the All Star Game. Next time I hope it's about dogs wearing hats.

Disclaimer: I may tend to overemphasize WAR (Wins Above Replacement) but at least I'm not some homer still voting for Buster Posey.

Catcher: Brian McCann, Atlanta
13 HR, .305 AVG, .380 OBP, .532 SLG, .386 wOBA, 2.8 WAR
McCann has been the best catcher in baseball but has an easier path to the ASG with Buster Posey out for the season. There shouldn't even be a question about this selection.
Next In Line: Miguel Montero, Arizona
9 HR, .278 AVG, .354 OBP, .483 SLG, .364 wOBA, 2.4 WAR
Montero appears pretty close to McCann in WAR but evaluating catcher defense is a tricky thing. Even though Dave Cameron explained it to me in 140 characters or less, I'm still not sure how they calculate defense for catchers into WAR. McCann is clearly the superior hitter. Montero is underrated though.
Fans Pick (6/20): Brian McCann, Atlanta
Too easy to screw up.

First Base: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee
20 HR, .306 AVG, .426 OBP, .608 SLG, .439 wOBA, 0.6 UZR, 3.7 WAR
Fielder might not be the prettiest site at first base but he's absolutely mashing at the plate. I think he's eating cheeseburgers again.
Next In Line: Joey Votto, Cincinnati
9 HR, .318 AVG, .440 OBP, .489 SLG, .406 wOBA, 2.7 UZR, 3.2 WAR
Votto is probably the best first baseman in the NL. It was hard for me to pick Fielder over him but the 100+ points of slugging won me over even though Votto is the better OBPer. It's also worth noting that Votto's .377 BABIP looks sustainable compared to his MLB track record.
Fans Pick (6/20): Albert Pujols, St. Louis
This should come down a bit after the injury. Votto is second in voting.

Second Base: Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee
14 HR, .287 AVG, .356 OBP, .498 SLG, .375 wOBA, 1.9 UZR, 3.3 WAR
A healthy Weeks is great player. He's not Chase Utley in the field but he's not terrible either.
Next In Line: Danny Espinosa, Washington
13 HR, .242 AVG, .321 OBP, .464 SLG, .348 wWOBA, 4.9 UZR, 2.8 WAR
He doesn't walk much and strikes out a lot but he has some serious pop for a second baseman. It seems like he's being overlooked outside of fantasy circles.
Fans Pick (6/20): Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati
Weeks is second and, because it's fan voting, Utley is third. I'd like to see Espinosa get some more love.

Third Base: Chase Headley, San Diego
2 HR, .295 AVG, .389 OBP, .402 SLG, .357 wOBA, -2.7 UZR, 2.0 WAR
It is a wasteland for National League third baggers. Headley hasn't shown the usual power for the hot corner spot this season but he's a solid OBPer even if the BABIP comes down a little. It's hard to imagine Headley is a below average fielder after posting an incredible 16.5 UZR last year.
Next In Line: Ryan Roberts, Arizona
10 HR, .258 AVG, .345 OBP, .458 SLG, .354 wOBA, 0.7 UZR, 2.1 WAR
Talk about criminally overlooked...
Fans Pick: Placido Polanco, Philadelphia
Well, he does play for a team people have heard of.

Short Stop: Jose Reyes, New York
3 HR, 26 SB, .338 AVG, .382 OBP, .511 SLG, .395 wOBA, 0.7 UZR, 4.3 WAR
He's arguably your first half NL MVP. And if he keeps this up, some team is going to significantly over pay for a career slugging percentage and one year of good health.
Next In Line: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
13 HR, .274 AVG, .338 OBP, .488 SLG, .357 wOBA, 7.2 UZR, 3.0 WAR
Tulo has cooled off after his ridiculous start and fallen well behind Reyes as the top NL short stop even though he's much slicker fielder.
Fans Pick (6/20): Troy Tulowitzki
I fully expect Reyes to have passed Tulo when the next update comes out. Yuniesky Betancourt is in 5th. Hahahahaha.

Right Field: Justin Upton, Arizona
12 HR, .301 AVG, .382 OBP, .521 SLG, .397 wOBA, 2.9 UZR, 3.3 WAR
Still just 23-years-old, Upton is on the verge of super stardom. Is what my keeper league team is hoping for.
Next In Line: Carlos Beltran, New York
10 HR, .276 AVG, .370 OBP, .479 SLG, .372 wOBA, -0.3 UZR, 2.3 WAR
I don't love this pick and could easily be talked into three or four other guys here. Lance Berkman has the best season stats but I can't, in good conscience, stick a traffic cone in right field for the ASG.
Fans Pick (6/20): Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday
They really need to designate outfield spots.

Center Field: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles
20 HR, 21 SB, .328 AVG, .420 OBP, .620 SLG, .452 wOBA, -8.3 UZR, 4.2 WAR
He's flat out raking. I haven't watched enough of him to know if Kemp is the disaster in center that the metrics make him out to be.
Next In Line: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh
1o HR, .289 AVG, .393 OBP, .474 SLG, .388 wOBA, 6.5 UZR, 4.0 WAR
He's really, really good. Kemp just has him blocked.
Fans Pick (6/20): Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday
Oddly, not a center fielder among them.

Left Field: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
15 HR, .309 AVG, .395 OBP, .550 SLG, .417 wOBA, -4.2 UZR, 3.4 WAR
The Brewers don't run the best defensive club out there but they sure can hit.
Next In Line: Michael Morse, Washington
13 HR, .306 AVG, .352 OBP, .546 SLG, .383 wOBA, -3.0 UZR, 1.5 WAR
Okay, Matt Holliday is probably more deserving and will get voted in anyway but Morse has been fun this season. Sue me.
Fans Pick (6/20): Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday
Braun and Holliday are getting in for sure.

Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia
2.51 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 2.35 xFIP, 4.2 WAR
He's still the best but...
Next In Line: Cole Hamels, Philadelphia
2.51 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 2.48 xFIP, 3.6 WAR
Eerily similar.

Relief Pitcher: Jonny Venters, Atlanta
0.57 ERA, 1.99 FIP, 2.23 xFIP, 1.5 WAR
Venters has been the Braves workhorse, pitching 47.1 innings so far. He's been lights out just like his bullpen counterpart...
Next In Line: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta
2.84 ERA, 1.75 FIP, 2.34 xFIP, 1.4 WAR
Kimbrel also has an insane 13.74 K/9.

The Real All-Stars Come Out in Anaheim

Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Alex Rodriguez-all household names. But who were the real all-stars in Angels Stadium the past three days? Here's the Offbase all-star team, voted in by the members of the Paynow Grocery Store produce department based on career achievement.


Offbase All Stars
Manager - Papa Dawg



Career record: 169-302 in parts of six seasons with the San Vinson Vipers and the Qwayne Valley Riverrats of the Independent-Backwood League.

Claim to fame: Once ate seven ounces of infield dirt during an argument with an umpire.

Secret shame: As manager of Qwayne Valley, he dressed up Nancy "Heater" Rebsin as "Ned Resbin" for a 2008 playoff game. After two scoreless innings, Rebsin had her hat fly off during a windy third inning, revealing her strawberry blonde hair. As a result, the Riverrats forfeited the game and in the Blue parking lot, a gang of hooligans made off with several road cones. Papa Dawg was blamed for both incidents and fired the next day.


1B - Brian Wallenfang, No. 10



Career stats: .225/.239/.307 in eight seasons with Paintlick Hardware softball team.

Career highlight: none

Lowlight: After an argument with first-base umpire Verne Corey (July, 1998), was beaten to near-death by the first-base bag.


2B - Mick Teto, No. 14



Career stats: Led Ernie League in 1999 with 104 ground outs.

Highlight: During recent Teto family wiffle ball game, struck out Grandma Cathy in three consecutive at bats.

Lowlight: Suspended in May, 2007 after testing positive for performance-enhancing koala bear fur.


SS - Julio Oseguera, No. 11



Career stats: Hit .196 in only season in Uruguay Winter League (2002).

Highlight: Opposite-field single off Ronnie Paulding put runners at first and second with no one out in the fourth inning. The Canelones Asados didn't score and lost 11-3.

Lowlight: Lived underneath right-field bleachers at Asados Stadium (November-December, 2002).


3B - Bobby Ortiz, No. 61



Career stats: Hit 8 of 30 total pitches thrown (60 M.P.H.) at 17th Avenue Bert's Batting Cage, July 7, 2010.

Highlight: Named his new bat Sawed Off.

Lowlight: Got confused during a transaction with some neighborhood kids and accidentally traded bat for a half-eaten bologna sandwich.

RF - Don Love, No. 44



Career stats: OPS+ of 9 in four seasons for Team 7 of the Oscar Park Co-Ed Thursday League

Highlight: Sacrifice bunt (June, 2007)

Lowlight: Opening day 2008, had season-ending injury in first-inning at bat after violent sneeze.


CF - Manny Jabba, No. 50



Career stats: 3.7 PPG for Kerner High School. [Never played baseball].

Highlight: Elected to Jabba Family Hall of Fame.

Lowlight: Suffered index finger injury on bus ride to induction; lost fingernail.


LF - Burt Long, No. 3



Career stats: .170 OBP for 1982 Wotts Valley Renegades.

Highlight: Purchased No. 3 jersey, personally stitched LONG on back.

Lowlight: Replaced on 1983 Renegades by squirrel (Otto).


C - Johnny Anaheim, No. 26



Career stats: 11 sacrifice bunts

Highlight: Changed last name to Anaheim after Angels defeated Boston 2-0, April 3, 1997.

Lowlight: Former last name: Zurclinoff


SP - Gavin Larmore, No. 3



Career stats: 29-76, 9.47 ERA, 6 PANTS FALLINGS

Highlight: none

Lowlight: Swallowed a rosin bag during bench-clearing brawl (July, 2000)