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2019 All-Star Game Snubs and Miscues

Year after year, we see some dramatics that follow the All-Star voting for Major League Baseball for players that deserved to be in the All-Star Game at the halfway point of the season. A great deal of veteran players argue that the selection process effect their chances of leverage during the arbitration talks for extension and possibly a bigger contract for clubs they play for or where they seek to play in free agency. This year, there are collections of names that come to mind that should have been selected and deserve to play in the Summer Classic. The following names are a full roster for both leagues that should be taken into consideration of players to watch that could be potential All-Stars and just might be in selections in years to come.

American League

C: Christian Vazquez, Boston Red Sox- No one in the American League in the catching position is in the stratosphere of Gary Sanchez, and I don’t know how many innings James McCann will go, but I will bet it would be the time that his fellow All-Star pitcher Lucas Giolito makes his appearance in the game. Christian Vazquez is a nice substitute to replace McCann; who is matching him in hits (73-72), slightly behind in runs, by two (36 to 38), and leading in the home run category (13 to 8) against McCann. What should have gained Vazquez some more brownie points was launching a home run in the London Series against the New York Yankees hitting .333 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs in London Stadium. The flaw in this case is that no Red Sox pitching was favored, also veteran service time is taken into consideration; McCann serving one more year ahead of Vazquez. McCann has earned his spot in the White Sox lineup, including his right to be called an All-Star.

1B: Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles- This spot was reserved for Luke Voit of the Yankees, but due to the injury, replacements have to be made. It is known that Chris Davis is the everyday starter for the Baltimore Orioles at first base, but it is Trey Mancini getting it done at the dish. A man that has never been claimed as an All-Star, he is beating the starter and reserves (Carlos Santana, Jose Abreu, and Daniel Vogelbach) in hits at the halfway marker in the 2019 campaign. Mancini is not beating everyone in remaining categories following that, so it is best to only compare him to Vogelbach. Mancini has Vogelbach beat in batting average and guaranteed to get on base versus the stats of Vogelbach crushing him in the home runs and RBI department. However, they share the same OPS stat at .882 and getting on base is what takes priority in the All-Star Game. Perhaps Mancini would have had the advantage if Davis was finally off the Oriole’s payroll and would see more time at first base, which would only give him the opportunity to have better stats at the position.

2B: Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox- DJ LeMahieu is having a career season with the Yankees and has earned his third All-Star appearance. It is very unfortunate that Tommy LaStella has broken his leg in his well-deserved first All-Star bid. Since Gleyber Torres of the Yankees is replacing LaStella and Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays (injured after being named), a solid back up would be Chicago White Sox’s Yoan Moncada. Moncada’s 2019 has been exceptional with .304 batting average, 16 home runs, and 47 RBIs. He is also stealing more bases than Lowe and Torres. Like Torres and LeMahieu, Moncada has been a duel utility man in the White Sox infield, holding down more games at third base than second. Perhaps at losing out at the Manny Machado sweepstakes, the White Sox potential third base star is in the hands of the Cuban superstar. At either position, Moncada would have been a great back up player for the American League All-Star team.

3B: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox- Matt Chapan’s first All-Star bid was a redemption point from his snub last season, however it is Rafeal Devers who is having a better season than both Chapman and Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros. An absolute snub at the polls, Devers is leading American League third basemen in batting average (.331), runs (38), and RBIs (61) and not trailing behind in other categories. That is better than starter Bregman and reserve Chapman. Devers has been the Boston Red Sox best on base hitter and producer of offense alongside Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez. If you think Devers getting on base chances are not as impressive, he is also leading the league in total bases at 188. Alongside Martinez and Bogaerts with their All-Star bids, Devers should be alongside both of them AND be in the lineup alongside Martinez in the starting lineup for the American League. A true travesty, this is one of the major cases that proves that the All-Star voting system is entirely flawed.

SS: Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics- Another name that comes up in the shorthand list of snubs is Marcus Semien. At the halfway point of the season, Semien has been a workhorse and not missed a single game by started 91 of them this season. Xander Bogaerts should be starting for the American League over Jorge Polanco. Comparing the difference of Semien and Polanco is only by a close measure in statistic. Semien is beating Polanco by one tenth of a number in WAR 3.2 to 3.1, ahead in runs 58 to 57, and ahead in RBIs 47 to 42. They are both tied in home runs at 13, however where Polanco has the edge is his batting average sitting at .316 vs Semien’s .267, and another factor to include is Polanco’s defense for the Twins have been more than impressive. It would be a “who’s who” on which player should have gotten an All-Star bid between Polanco and Semien. It is not stressed to the idea that the vote was guided by a team effort, the Minnesota Twins are performing on a remarkable level right now. Compared to the Oakland Athletics, they are playing a great deal of catch up that even Semien cannot rally by himself.

LF: Tommy Pham, Tampa Bay Rays- Justice for the man who said that the All-Star voting system is rigged, the fans of the American League should have rallied together and gotten behind Tommy Pham and let him play alongside his teammate and rookie Austin Meadows. Pham has been more than humble with his transition from a huge baseball community to one of the smallest in the entire league. With his stats all over the place for left fielders, Pham is holding down the second highest WAR among other players in his position behind “back from the dead” Michael Brantley. As far as stats go with “new school vs. old school” and how players should be valued these days, Pham is one of those veterans that are getting it done at both sides of his position. He has criticized the concept of how the league values player like himself, and he has every right to voice his opinion. Who knows, maybe next season everyone will be generous enough to award him with an All-Star bid so it makes his free agency more interesting at the end of the 2020 regular season.

CF: Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins- Again, I have someone out of place of their original position (he plays right field), but give me sometime to present to you one of hottest hitters from Germany named Max Kepler. Kepler took over for the times when Byron Buxton took stints on the injured list this season, so he hustled filling in big shoes. Outside of the wonderful team performance, Kepler is the only center fielder in baseball hitting over 20 home runs whose name is not Mike Trout. Kepler is having a career year, only sitting at .268 batting average he has 84 hits, 55 runs and RBIs which are normally what he finishes with on a yearly basis. Behind Trout in almost every category, Kepler has a 2019 WAR at 3.1, which is set to be another career high. Having been a key asset in the Twins offensive lineup, he has been another true snub and one that should have more momentum being an international star. Not too many baseball stars come out of Europe, and Kepler could have been a big one that would have gained more popularity from fans interested from across the Atlantic Ocean.

RF:Domingo Santana, Seattle Mariners- It has been more of a redemption year for Domingo Santana when he arrived in Seattle from Milwaukee. Without hesitation, he was off on a tear for hitting home runs in the 2019 campaign. In the top five in the position in the home runs for his position, Santana leads in RBIs for right fielders at a total at 63 at the halfway marker. The argument for Santana, however, grows to be difficult for the crowded positions for players that deserve to play in the All-Star. Austin Meadows has his first appearance with his season with the Tampa Bay Rays makes just as good as an argument for someone to start, the same would go for Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals who has been long overdue for his appearance in an All-Star Game. In a theory of “what if” maybe there would have been some redeeming factors if Santana was featured in the Home Run derby.

Alex Cora will be the representing manager of the American League as he was the winning league manager with the World Champion Boston Red Sox last season. He has been dealing with a great deal of his pitchers not attending after being selected due to pitching on Sunday with Mike Minor and Charlie Morton. The Texas Rangers pitching staff is doing great things with Minor as the ace with an 8-4 record, 114 strikeouts, and 2.54 ERA. Lance Lynn is complimenting him well right behind him leading the entire majors with 11 wins in 18 starts and a 3.91 ERA, it would be essential for him to take Minor’s place as a teammate. Shane Bieber was selected from the Cleveland Indians as a replacement for the American League, his teammate Trevor Bauer should be alongside him as well who has been just as supportive with a 3.74 ERA and 140 strikeouts; however, his record (7-6) hurts his chances of being a late name selected for the Summer Classic. Someone who has similar numbers as Bauer’s that should be taken into consideration is Matthew Boyd of the Detroit Tigers. Boyd has a whopping 142 strikeouts so far in the 2019 season, he is on pace to have his career high at the end of the season. It would be in the American League’s best interest to consider a young Boyd to make his first All-Star appearance. Relief has great amount of pitchers selected for the American League and Shane Greene of the Tigers gaining his first bid is well deserved. Ken Giles of the Toronto Blue Jays would also make a great selection and making his first bid. Giles holds a 1.45 ERA and 13 saves this season. Aroldis Chapman of the Yankees will be making his sixth All-Star appearance and has higher chance of closing out the game for the American League over everyone.

National League

C: Wilson Ramos, New York Mets- Like Sanchez of the Yankees, Wilson Contreras is having a career year with the Chicago Cubs and continues to break his career numbers this season, behind him is Yasmani Grandal who is having just as good as year with the Milwaukee Brewers. A veteran who has been to the All-Star game before is Wilson Ramos, especially the year before and playing for the American League via the Tampa Bay Rays. Ramos is in a tug-of-war with J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies for the replacement spot, almost catching him in home runs (9 to 10) and beating him in RBIs (41 to 39), however, Realmuto is crushing him in the runs category 52 to 35. It seems like both Realmuto and Ramos are having a hard time being key pieces on their new rosters. Like the argument for Vazquez, if there were more Mets pitching in the All-Star game, it would give him a case to actually be participating in the Summer Classic.

1B: Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates- This may be my only case for someone who was selected to be in the All-Star game, but was snubbed as a back up. Josh Bell has tapped into some unreal numbers and emerging as one of the best first basemen in the entire majors this season. Comparing Bell to the man who is starting for the National League with Freddie Freeman, the numbers do not lie. Bell is besting Freeman in home runs (27 to 23), tied in runs (68) and is blowing him out of the water in RBIs (84 to 66). Bell is only a tenth of a point behind Freeman in WAR this season, but that goes along with playing for a winning team with the Atlanta Braves over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freeman also erupted in his May stats to give him a boost in voting for All-Star selection. Still, this is another prime example of the unjust system on how the order of the voting works and should acknowledge the presence of a player who is playing beyond expectations. Bell has come from a great deal to get to where he is compared to a player like Freeman. Knowing how humbling of a player Freeman is, he should be able to step aside and let someone who deserves the start to play and he be the backup.

2B: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves- There is nothing against the hustle and play of Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but with an overcrowded outfield that has way too much talent it is understandable why he is starting at second base. Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves should be considered as a reserve along with Mike Moustakas of the Milwaukee Brewers. A man who had a big payday this season, Albies is getting it done with 54 runs, 49 RBIs and 6 stolen bases at the halfway point this season. However, Albies has been playing catch up in the home run department sitting at a total of 14 versus Moustakas 24, which is leading all second basemen in the National League. Allies WAR this season is also sloughy off below 2 flat where the select players of the National League all have the stat higher than he does. If I was a betting man, Albies would be leading all of the players that were selected in his league in all categories by the end of the season. He is a key asset in the Braves lineup and that is the reason why they went on to extend him.

3B: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres- Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals was originally selected for this portion of the All-Star snubs, but after being selected and replaced due to injury it always falls to the next player. The utility man Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers was named as a selection over someone who should be representing the National League for the first time: Manny Machado. It is in expectation that the manager of the National League, Dave Roberts, might be holding a grudge against a player who had the lack of “hustle” for a team that was on the verge of winning a World Series last season, but that should not dismiss what Machado has done compared to Muncy. Deadlocked in stats, Machado has more hits than Muncy (88 to 81), but is falling short in every other category in runs (51 to 55), home runs (20 to 21), and RBIs (58 to 60). In the consideration where every stat counts, Muncy is beating Machado in WAR by 0.7 (3.4 to 2.7). With consideration of the starters ahead of them with Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant, it might be safe to assume that either Muncy or Machado may not have seen the field in this year’s All-Star Game.

SS: Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves- This one is reaching, but the only player Dansby Swanson should be replacing in the All-Star Game this season should be Trevor Story. The reason for making that statement, Story has lingered with injury despite his tremendous performance so far this season. Swanson deserves the high merits as well, finally coming into the mold in the player the Braves invested in as the first overall draft pick of 2015 from Vanderbilt University. Swanson is sitting at a .274 batting average with 17 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases in his 2019 campaign. Story’s WAR is higher than Swanson’s even though he has just returned from injury. Swanson is finally building momentum of being a contributor to the Brave’s arsenal; he could be a named All-Star in the coming years hopefully not considering this year being his ceiling.

LF: Juan Soto, Washington Nationals- In his sophomore season with the Washington Nationals, Juan Soto is still tearing it up as one of the youngest left fielders in the game. In the shadow of Ronald Acuña Jr., it has to be difficult competing with someone who came up the same time Soto has. Acuña is beating Soto in all stats except RBIs, 54 to 52 and it is just as close in the rest of the stats that follow. What hurts Soto’s chances is actually falling to injury in the “sophomore curse” where he has missed more games than Acuña, but if he saw just as many games, he may be neck-and-neck with the star Braves left fielder. Soto has some time to adjust his style and become a named All-Star in the coming years. After all, he is the future to what the Washington Nationals seemed to have left go with their last biggest All-Star; Bryce Harper.

CF: Alex Verdugo, Los Angeles Dodgers- If David Dahl is complimenting alongside Charlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies (or it should be Dahl instead of Blackmon because Blackmon has been there before) then Alex Verdugo should be complimenting alongside Cody Bellinger for the Los Angelis Dodgers. All power to younger players getting their first chance to play in All-Star game, but Verdugo’s WAR this season is higher than Dahl’s (2.1 versus 1.7). Where Dahl has the opportunity to start and play every day for the Rockies, Verdugo has been picking up the pieces after Dodger’s signing A.J. Pollock went down with an injury and has been starting in center field ever since. There is no dismissing the batting stats of Dahl; they are blowing Verdugo out of the water. As much where this is rambling, there is still much confusion of which starting player is playing where for the National League. Acuña plays left field, yet Bellinger and Christian Yelich play right field; how much crowded talent can sit in the center field position?

RF: Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres- There is no confusion on who the better right fielder is in the National League this season. Reigning MVP Yelich is doing everything possible to be the first back-to-back MVP since Miguel Cabrera. Bellinger is the only legitimate threat of challenging him for that crown and being one of the youngest players to do so. So deciding who will play where in the starting lineup for the National League will be a challenge for manager Dave Roberts. However, what is even more of a challenge is the club of Hunter Renfroe of the San Diego Padres. In his 27-age season, he is he only right fielder trailing behind Bellinger and Yelich in stats in the 2019 campaign. He has smashed 26 home runs, collected 39 runs, and hit in 48 RBIs. What hurts his chances the most is his groaning batting average at .248, which is why there is a reason why veteran skills takes precedent with Blackmon getting the nod over Renfroe. Still, even if this year’s outfield is extremely crowded for the National League, his stats are extremely impressive and is something to keep an eye on from the potential that the Padres have to offer in the coming seasons.

Dave Roberts has favored a great deal of his Dodgers pitching staff to be joining the National League All-Stars with veteran Clayton Kershaw and first time selections with Walker Buehler and Hyun-jin Ryu. A fellow division rival who should earn his first All-Star bid is German Marquez of the Colorado Rockies. Marquez is at a fantastic record of 8-3 and 120 strikeouts. However, pitching in Coors Field does not have a generous effect on his ERA which sits at 4.38, but Marquez’s WAR this season hangs with the best of pitching this season at 3.3. Max Scherzer being replaced by Sonny Gray of the Cincinnati Reds is a wise decision by Roberts. Joe Musgrave of the Pittsburgh Pirate and Zack Wheeler of the New York Mets are great comment selections to get middle inning appearances to get the National League out of tight situations. Kirby Yates of the San Diego Padres getting his first All-Star bid is more than deserved having a career season with 29 saves and a 1.18 ERA. Another great relief selection would be the Pirates’ Felipe Vasquez who is 19 saves, but his 2.14 ERA may hurt his chances of being a late time selection. The National League will hope to have the lead late in the game and end up giving the ball to Yates for their best chances to win.

Do you agree with some of these All-Star snubs? Hopefully baseball fans can see the light in recognizing exceptional talent for the 2020 season if the mentioned players continue to have exceptional seasons.

At the end of this post, there is great recognition and grief that we remember Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs who passed last week. Skaggs was a first overall pick by the Angels in 2009 in the MLB draft of 2009. His career numbers hold a record of 28-38 with a 4.41 ERA and 476 strikeouts. Skaggs was on pace to become the future ace of the Angels rotation in the coming years for the team. We keep his family and teammates in our consideration and we hope to see a respectful moment of silence by the MLB during the 2019 All-Star game.

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