{"id":588,"date":"2012-07-02T10:25:08","date_gmt":"2012-07-02T15:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.baseballroundtable.com\/?p=588"},"modified":"2012-07-03T09:32:00","modified_gmt":"2012-07-03T14:32:00","slug":"the-all-stars-a-b-but-still-debatable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/the-all-stars-a-b-but-still-debatable\/","title":{"rendered":"The All Stars – a B+, but still debatable."},"content":{"rendered":"

The MLB All Star selections are in (minus the final five vote).\u00a0 Overall, a pretty good job by the fans and managers, I’d rate the selections a B+ or A-. \u00a0That better than many years, but, \u00a0as always, there is some disapointment and debate.\u00a0 Here are BBRT\u2019s commentary on the\u201dsnubs\u201d of 2012, as well as my vote for the final spot.<\/p>\n

#1 Snub<\/strong> \u2026 Voters select Pablo Sandoval (Giants) to start over David Wright (Mets)<\/strong><\/span> at third base.\u00a0 Look at the numbers, Sandoval\u2019s 45 games, .300 average, 6 HRs and 25 RBI are respectable \u2013 but put them up against Wright\u2019s 76 games, .354 average, 9 HRs and 50 RBI and I know who my starter would be.<\/p>\n

#2<\/strong> \u2026 V<\/strong>oters select Mike Napoli (Rangers) to start at catcher for the AL.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span> Yes, Napoli hit 56 homers in 2010-11 and was a post-season star, but he\u2019s not even close to my first choice.<\/p>\n

Check out the numbers:<\/p>\n

Totals as of June 1 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 HR \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 RBI \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Avg.<\/p>\n

Mike Napoli\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .235<\/p>\n

Joe Mauer (Twins) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 36 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0.324<\/p>\n

A.J. Pierzynski (White Sox) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 45\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .285<\/p>\n

Matt Wieters\u00a0\u00a0 (Orioles) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 38\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .249<\/p>\n

My choice:\u00a0 A.J., with Mauer and Wieters on the bench.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Encarnacion deserves to be at the 2012 All Star game.<\/p><\/div>\n

#<\/strong>3 \u2026 No reserve spot for Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays)<\/span> <\/strong>on the AL squad. Encarnacion\u2019s rung up a .291 average, with 22 HRs and 55 RBI in 76 games.\u00a0 Who would I drop?\u00a0 At the reserve DH spot, the AL has Adam Dunn with 79 games, a .210 average, 24 HRs, and 58 RBI.\u00a0 Some additional factors:\u00a0 Encarnacion has 8 SBs to 0 for Dunn; 50 Runs to 44 for Dunn; and has struck out 54 times, compared to Dunn\u2019s league-leading 126.\u00a0 Dunn does lead Encarnacion in walks 64 to 32, but still trails in OBP .359 to .373 and Slg. Pct. .507 to .572.\u00a0 Overall, I give Encarnacion the nod for the final DH spot behind David Ortiz (Red Sox) and Billy Butler (Royals).<\/p>\n

#4<\/strong> \u2026 Voters select Buster Posey (Giants) to start over Carlos Ruiz (Phillies) and Yadier Molina (Cardinals)<\/strong> <\/span>at NL catcher.\u00a0 Okay, we have a trio deserving backstops here, but the numbers swing in Ruiz\u2019s favor and drop Posey to third.<\/p>\n

Totals as of June 1 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 HR \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 RBI\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Avg.<\/p>\n

Buster Posey \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 42\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .303<\/p>\n

Carlos Ruiz \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 43\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .356<\/p>\n

Yadier Molina \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 45\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .312.<\/p>\n

#5<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2026 Matt Kemp selected<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0by the voters having played only 36 games played.<\/strong><\/p>\n

#6<\/strong> \u2026 \u00a0A few I\u2019d classify as truly deserving<\/strong><\/span>, even at the expense of other selections:<\/p>\n

Aaron Hill (2B. – Diamondbacks)<\/p>\n

Johnny Cueto (SP – Reds)<\/p>\n

Austin Jackson (OF – Tigers)<\/p>\n

Ernesto Frieri (RP – Angels)<\/p>\n

Zack Grienke (S P- Brewers)<\/p>\n

Jason Kipnis (2B – Indians)<\/p>\n

Finally, my votes in the final five for each league.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

First the NL, going with tradition here and voting for the Braves’ Chipper Jones<\/strong><\/span> to make a final All-Star appearance, honoring a 19-career which now stands at a .304 average, 460 HRs and 1,590 RBI.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Frieri … my AL final five vote … wearing an Angels uniform, of course.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the AL, going with the surprise \u00a0flame thrower – Angels closer Ernesto Frieri<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 For the season (Padres and Angels), Frieri has pitched in 35 games, 36 innings, giving up only 16 hits, fanning 60 and notching a 0.75 ERA.\u00a0 With the Angels, he\u2019s pitched in 24 games (10 saves), totaled 24.1 innings, given up just 7 hits and no runs, and whiffed 42.\u00a0 Fans need to see this guy pitch on the big stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The MLB All Star selections are in (minus the final five vote).\u00a0 Overall, a pretty good job by the fans and managers, I’d rate the selections a B+ or A-. \u00a0That better than many years, but, \u00a0as always, there is some disapointment and debate.\u00a0 Here are BBRT\u2019s commentary on the\u201dsnubs\u201d of 2012, as well as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n