The ballots are in and the coaches have made their decisions. The Major League Baseball all-star game roster (AL NL) is now official. Officially bias.
We should just call it the "all-favorites" game or the "all-I-might-want-to-trade-for-this-player-so-I'll-pick-him-for-my-team" game because there are plenty of players this season, like every season, that are getting disrespected by the product of a bad system and old-timers. Or, just hold it at the end of the season like football, which is how all all-star games should be. Frankly, the all-star game is getting more-and-more meaningless as the years progress. Some of the responsibility needs to be taken away from the coaches and into the hands of...well, statistics.
"But Dan, the all-star game isn't meaningless. It decides who has home field advantage for the world series!"
Correct! That is also unnecessary, but I can save that for another post.
Beef No. 1 - Derek Jeter playing...again. First of all, Asdrubal Cabrera is getting snubbed while still being on the team. Derek Jeter should be a reserve and not a starter. But if we're talking about snubs, what's wrong with Jhonny Peralta? Let's stack up the three shortstops side-by-side:
Derek Jeter - Batting Average - .260 / Home Runs - 2 / Runs Batted In - 20 / On Base Percentage - .324 / Slugging Percentage - .324
Asdrubal Cabrera - Batting Average - .291 / Home Runs - 14 / Runs Batted In - 49 / On Base Percentage - .341 / Slugging Percentage .496
Jhonny Peralta - Batting Average - .311 / Home Runs - 14 / Runs Batted In - 48 / On Base Percentage - .363 / Slugging Percentage - .538
I don't have some person vendetta against Derek Jeter. I think he's hilarious in those Gillette commercials. I just don't think he's deserves to play just because of his track record. The all-star game is supposed to be for the best players up until that point. Period.
Beef No. 2 - Tim Lincecum? Naturally. Matt Cain? Can't argue with that. Ryan Vogelsong? Can we get someone else's thoughts besides Bruce Bochy? The man must have slipped himself an Ambien and stayed up late with the National League bullpen selections because, to me, they don't make much sense.
Jonny Venters? How about Craig Kimbrel?
Tyler Clippard? Yeah, I know. The Washinton Nationals have to have a pick. But it would make more sense to get rid of Gaby Sanchez and give the Florida Marlins spot to Leo Nunez or Anibal Sanchez. Then make way for Michael Morse or Danny Espinosa who are both having breakout seasons.
And there are just so many better, more deserving things you could do with the Ryan Vogelsong's spot. Don't get me wrong. Ryan Vogelsong is having a great year with an even better story behind him. His spot would just be better served with arms like Tommy Hanson who has nine wins and a microscopic WHIP of 1.06 or Jhoulys Chacin whose managed to tally 92 strikeouts and post an 8-5 record. Impressive considering more than half of those wins have come in the thin air of Coors Field. Even Kevin Correia has unexpectedly pitched well. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace already has 11 wins before the all-star break.
Beef No. 3 - Carlos Beltran AND Jay Bruce making the team before Andrew McCutchen. This is what I mean when I say that the bias of coaches needs to be eliminated. The only reason I think Beltran made it over McCutchen is because Bruce Bochy has a shot at bringing the not-so-relevant New York Mets outfielder's bat to The Bay. Here are the numbers:
Carlos Beltran - Batting Average - .280 / Home Runs - 12 / Runs Scored - 44 / Runs Batted In - 54 / On Base Percentage - .370 / Slugging Percentage - .490
Andrew McCutchen - Batting Average - .291 / Home Runs - 12 / Runs Scored - 51 / Runs Batted In - 45 / On Base Percentage - .393 / Slugging Percentage - .491
Not to mention McCutchen's 15 stolen bases to Beltran's three. And Bruce? Well, he hits less often by about 20 points from each player. He has 18 home runs. All he does is hit the ball really hard and there's and event specially made for players like that. If you want him there then have Prince Fielder or David Ortiz draft him to one of their home run derby teams.
Beef No. 4 - What ESPN "experts" think about the picks. David Schoenfield writes "P.S.: Can we get rid of the rule that says the players have to vote in three relievers...Brandon League? Ugh." I'll give you a hint why he's in the all-star game. Because he leads the American League in the one category that relief pitchers want to lead. Still thinking? Okay, it's saves. Do we really hold the all-star game for the sake of watching Mariano Rivera come out every year to Metallica, throw 10-15 pitches and wave goodbye to the crowd as he heads into the dugout?
Call me crazy, but I watch the all-star game to watch talent, not to watch a majority of declining Hall-of-Famers reminisce about the good ol' days.
