The staff was discussing last week how All-Star Voting is effectively a popularity contest; if a player’s team has a lot of fans or very passionate fans, he could end up starting the All-Star game over someone more qualified. So we decided to vote for the game ourselves. Who are the most deserving players for the All-Star game? Effectively, if statistics ruled the day and the best players started, who would they be? Here are the staff picks
CATCHER
J.T. Realmuto (Miami Marlins)- 9 votes
Francisco Cervelli (Pittsburgh Pirates)- 3 votes
Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs)- 1 votes
Yasmani Grandal (Los Angeles Dodgers)- 1 vote
FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves)- 13 votes
Jose Martinez (St. Louis Cardinals)- 1 vote
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett (Cincinnati Reds)- 7 votes
Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves)- 7 votes
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford (San Francisco Giants)- 7 votes
Trevor Story (Colorado Rockies)- 5 votes
Trea Turner (Washington Nationals)- 1 vote
Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs)- 1 vote
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies)- 13 votes
Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs)- 1 vote
OUTFIELD (3)
Lorenzo Cain (Milwaukee Brewers)- 10 votes
Nick Markakis (Atlanta Braves)- 10 votes
Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)- 7 votes
Brandon Nimmo (New York Mets)- 6 votes
Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals)- 3 votes
Charlie Blackmon (Colorado Rockies)- 3 votes
David Peralta (Arizona Diamondbacks)- 1 vote
Odubel Herrera (Philadelphia Phillies)- 1 vote
STARTING PITCHER (5)
Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals)- 14 votes
Jacob deGrom (New York Mets)- 14 votes
Aaron Nola (Philadelphia Phillies)- 14 votes
Patrick Corbin (Arizona Diamondbacks)- 9 votes
Mike Foltynewicz (Atlanta Braves)- 8 votes
Miles Mikolas (St. Louis Cardinals)- 5 votes
Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals)- 2 votes
Ross Stripling (Los Angeles Dodgers)- 1 vote
Noah Syndergaard (New York Mets)- 1 vote
Jack Flaherty (St. Louis Cardinals)- 1 vote
Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia Phillies)- 1 vote
RELIEF PITCHER (5)
Sean Doolittle (Washington Nationals)- 14 votes
Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers)- 14 votes
Brad Hand (San Diego Padres)- 12 votes
Adam Ottavino (Colorado Rockies)- 11 votes
Jeremy Jeffress (Milwaukee Brewers)- 5 votes
Dan Winkler (Atlanta Braves)- 3 votes
Kelvin Herrera (Washington Nationals)- 2 votes
Bud Norris (St. Louis Cardinals)- 2 votes
Brad Boxberger (Arizona Diamondbacks)- 1 vote
Jeurys Familia (New York Mets)- 1 vote
Arodys Vizcaino (Atlanta Braves)- 1 vote
Adam Cimber (San Diego Padres)- 1 vote
Jordan Hicks (St. Louis Cardinals)- 1 vote
Tony Watson (San Francisco Giants)- 1 vote
Seranthony Dominguez (Philadelphia Phillies)- 1 vote
See the complete voting below!
| Nick Pollack | Ben Palmer | Dave Cherman | Jonathan Metzelaar | Andy Patton | Michael Augustine | Adam Garland | |
| C | J.T. Realmuto | J.T. Realmuto | Yasmani Grandal | J.T. Realmuto | J.T. Realmuto | J.T. Realmuto | J.T. Realmuto |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Jose Martinez |
| 2B | Ozzie Albies | Ozzie Albies | Scooter Gennett | Ozzie Albies | Scooter Gennett | Scooter Gennett | Scooter Gennett |
| SS | Trevor Story | Javier Baez | Trea Turner | Trevor Story | Trevor Story | Brandon Crawford | Brandon Crawford |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Kris Bryant | Nolan Arenado |
| OF | Bryce Harper | Matt Kemp | Matt Kemp | Charlie Blackmon | Matt Kemp | Matt Kemp | Brandon Nimmo |
| OF | Nick Markakis | Nick Markakis | Nick Markakis | Matt Kemp | Nick Markakis | Nick Markakis | Christian Yelich |
| OF | Lorenzo Cain | Brandon Nimmo | Lorenzo Cain | Starling Marte | David Peralta | Lorenzo Cain | Lorenzo Cain |
| SP | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer |
| SP | Jacob deGrom | Jacob DeGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob Degrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom |
| SP | Miles Mikolas | Aaron Nola | Miles Mikolas | Miles Mikolas | Stephen Strasburg | Miles Mikolas | Stephen Strasburg |
| SP | Aaron Nola | Mike Foltynewicz | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola |
| SP | Mike Foltynewicz | Nick Pivetta | Patrick Corbin | Patrick Corbin | Patrick Corbin | Mike Foltynewicz | Patrick Corbin |
| RP | Sean Doolittle | Josh Hader | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle |
| RP | Brad Hand | Sean Doolittle | Brad Hand | Brad Hand | Brad Hand | Adam Cimber | Brad Hand |
| RP | Josh Hader | Adam Ottavino | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader |
| RP | Adam Ottavino | Brad Hand | Adam Ottavino | Adam Ottavino | Brad Boxberger | Adam Ottavino | Adam Ottavino |
| RP | Jeremy Jeffress | Seranthony Dominguez | Kelvin Herrera | Jeremy Jeffress | Arodys Vizcaino | Jeremy Jeffress | Bud Norris |
| Alex Fast | Austin Perodeau | Austin Bristow II | Rick Graham | Jeff Davis | Grayson Blazek | Andrew Gould | |
| C | Francisco Cervelli | Francsico Cervelli | J.T. Realmuto | Wilson Contreras | J.T. Realmuto | Francisco Cervelli | J.T. Realmuto |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman | Freddie Freeman |
| 2B | Ozzie Albies | Scooter Gennett | Ozzie Albies | Ozzie Albies | Scooter Gennett | Ozzie Albies | Scooter Gennett |
| SS | Brandon Crawford | Brandon Crawford | Brandon Crawford | Trevor Story | Brandon Crawford | Trevor Story | Brandon Crawford |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado | Nolan Arenado |
| OF | Brandon Nimmo | Lorenzo Cain | Bryce Harper | Bryce Harper | Brandon Nimmo | Lorenzo Cain | Brandon Nimmo |
| OF | Nick Markakis | Matt Kemp | Nick Markakis | Nick Markakis | Nick Markakis | Nick Markakis | Odubel Herrera |
| OF | Lorenzo Cain | Brandon Nimmo | Charlie Blackmon | Charlie Blackmon | Lorenzo Cain | Matt Kemp | Lorenzo Cain |
| SP | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer | Max Scherzer |
| SP | Jacob DeGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom | Jacob deGrom |
| SP | Patrick Corbin | Ross Stripling | Mike Foltynewicz | Mike Foltynewicz | Mike Foltynewicz | Jack Flaherty | Miles Mikolas |
| SP | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola | Aaron Nola |
| SP | Mike Foltynewicz | Mike Foltynewicz | Patrick Corbin | Patrick Corbin | Noah Syndergaard | Patrick Corbin | Patrick Corbin |
| RP | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle | Sean Doolittle |
| RP | Brad Hand | Brad Hand | Dan Winkler | Brad Hand | Brad Hand | Brad Hand | Brad Hand |
| RP | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader | Josh Hader |
| RP | Kelvin Herrera | Adam Ottavino | Adam Ottavino | Adam Ottavino | Adam Ottavino | Adam Ottovino | Adam Ottavino |
| RP | Dan Winkler | Jeurys Familia | Jeremy Jeffress | Bud Norris | Jordan Hicks | Dan Winkler | Tony Watson |
You’ll notice a few players received only one vote, others were unanimous. Let’s hear from some of the staff about their picks.
Yasmani Grandal– “Grandal doesn’t get much love from WAR, but WAR has never been good at capturing catcher defense. I get the 34 point gap in wRC+ and 46 point gap in wOBA between him and Realmuto. But Grandal has quietly turned into one of the best pitch framers in the game and that’s helped keep the Dodgers afloat amongst countless injuries to the pitching staff and significant disappointment in the lineup. Not to mention Realmuto is one of the worst pitch framers by those same statistics.”- Dave Cherman
Jose Martinez– “The selection of Jose Martinez over Freddie Freeman looks really bad I know. I see what Freeman is doing and realize that he’s been the best 1B in the NL in pretty well every offensive category and that he leads all 1B in the league in fWAR. I voted on June 15th, and at that time Jose Martinez was hitting .321/.389/.518 with 10 HRs his wOBA and wRC+ were ranked 2nd among National League 1st baseman. I knew that most others were going to select Freeman as he was clearly the best option for NL 1B analytically, and I decided to go against the grain and highlight the success of Martinez who has been one of the best hitters among NL 1st baseman this year and one of the better hitters overall over the last calendar year. Since I voted, Martinez has just 2 hits and his batting line now sits at .302/.376/.486 with 10 HRs and his .372 wOBA and 137 wRC+ both rank 5th overall among 1B in the NL and Brandon Belt, Joey Votto, and Paul Goldshmidt now rank ahead of Martinez. This makes my Martinez selection look even worse, but I stand by the fact that he deserves an all-star nod this year and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves.”- Adam Garland
Scooter Gennett– “Anybody who picked Ozzie Albies is overvaluing first impressions. He shattered even the most lofty expectations by registering nine homers and a .411 wOBA through April, but the 21-year-old has fallen hard by batting .205 (17-for-83) in 19 June games. Although still worthy of All-Star consideration, he’s not starting on my fake All-Star team with a .302 OBP. That honor belongs to Scooter Gennett, whose .383 wOBA shatters Albies’s .336 clip. This wouldn’t even be a debate if Cincinnati’s late bloomer had his otherworldly May (.478 wOBA) in April and Albies enjoyed his opening power surge in May or June.”- Andrew Gould
Ozzie Albies-“For me, the vote for top NL second baseman was the most difficult decision of all the selections. Scooter Gennett, in his 6th season in the league, has put together an incredible first half and I certainly understand the viewpoint of many others who believe he deserves the top nod for NL 2B. I have to go with Ozzie Albies, however. As a highly touted 5 tool player – he has lived up to the hype and for me what makes it so impressive is that he is doing so in his 1st full major league season. His first half highlighted has been by a 16 home runs, 56 runs scored, 44 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, a .982 fielding percentage and a NL leading 41 extra base hits. All this comes even with him having been mired in a slump of sorts where he saw his batting average drop over 40 points from Mid May to Mid June. While I certainly understand the argument that Scooter put together a more complete and consistent first half, I have to give the edge to Ozzie as his impressive season has occurred in tandem with his first 500 at-bats in the big leagues.”- Grayson Blazek
Trea Turner– “How did he only get one vote? I think a plain look at the numbers gives this to Turner easily. I know Story has had an unbelievable bat, but he’s got a -4.0 UZR/150 and 0 DRS, easily the worst of the 3 All-Star caliber shortstops, and defense that bad is enough for me to disqualify Story. It’s the same reason I can’t vote Machado in the AL. Turner, meanwhile, ranks 5th and 1st in those stats, both ahead of Crawford. When it comes to offense between Turner and Crawford, Crawford has the edge, but not by enough for me to go with him. Oh and Turner leads all NL shortstops in fWAR. Maybe I should’ve led with that.”- Dave Cherman
Kris Bryant– “Two fractional numbers; 0.8 and 4.40. That represents the average fWAR and FIP of pitchers that Bryant has had at least 20 PA against this season. Arenado faced an 0.5 and 4.52 average fWAR and FIP. And, lets face it, Bryant is the dreamy-er of the two.”- Michael Augustine
Bryce Harper– “Harper has accumulated just 1 fWAR so far this year. To put that into perspective, that’s fewer than Jason Heyward, Jon Jay, and Jorge Soler. A big reason for that is that has been his defense; he’s been an absolute butcher in the field, with a -14.2 UZR/150 and -6 Defensive Runs Saved. That might play if he was hitting like vintage Harper, but his .212 average is a liability. Now his other offensive are still fairly impressive everything considered: .818 OPS, 19 homers, 45 RBI, 6 stolen bases. But his 115 wRC+ still has him ranked 16th among all qualified right fielders, behind fellow National Leaguers like Brandon Nimmo, Nick Markakis, and Christian Yelich. Seeing Harper start the All Star Game in his home park would be cool, but I just think that, statistically, there are a handful of guys that are much more deserving.”- Jonathan Metzelaar
Noah Syndergaard– “The final NL SP was a very tough decision. Corbin and Strasburg are both deserving of that spot as well. I ended up picking Syndergaard as he was having another solid year prior to his recent finger injury. Strasburg being on the shelf helps as well, as he likely would have been my second choice. Corbin is having a fantastic year, but it’s difficult to justify giving up that spot to a guy who’s really having success for the first time in his career over the more established guys.”- Jeff Davis
American League All-Stars to be announced tomorrow!
How can anyone justify putting Blackmon in the outfield? His defense has been putrid and his offensive numbers are worse than about 15 other outfielders. If “statistics rule the day,” he doesn’t belong anywhere near the All-Star Game this year.
I messaged the writers who voted for him to defend their choice.
My votes leaned heavily on fantasy numbers, particularly from a points league perspective. Taking defense into account, I probably would have gone with Cain.
The criticism about his defense is more than fair, and definitely something I usually take into account, though I don’t think I’m alone in weighing offensive performance more heavily. That said, I don’t agree that Blackmon’s worse than 15 other outfielders as a hitter. He’s eighth among NL outfielders in wOBA and fifth in home runs, and with the exception of Lorenzo Cain, everyone above him in wOBA is a below-average defender as well. I think in retrospect I would have subbed Lorenzo Cain into Blackmon’s spot, as he’s had an excellent year on every front so far. But I don’t think including Blackmon is indefensible. I think guys like Blackmon, Nimmo, Odubel, etc. are all kind of in the same cluster.
Hardly indefensible… there are more indefensible selections on that list IMO. There is also the reality that established superstars have a much more difficult job than upstarts like Nimmo or Pivetta. Blackmon gets pitched tough every time at bat. There is also a point to be made that this isn’t a wRC+ leaderboard. The season to this point isn’t a measure of talent level, maybe Blackmon has a monster second half and his exclusion looks like a mistake in a few months. Guys with name recognition are always all-stars – I don’t see anyone quibbling with Harper’s inclusion, who has objectively been terrible for all of June… I actually don’t have a problem with that even though it sounds bad to say that “stars” are all-stars on name alone – they really do have a more difficult job description than the other guys. Even in a statistically down year, they are valuable. As for defense, go throw him in LF and watch how valuable his defense becomes… there are a lot of apples and oranges here – statistics often lose that. So many good reason to elect so many players… probably just as many against if you are so inclined.