2014 AL All-Star Picks

As promised, here is the AL addition of my all-star picks.  Enjoy.

First Base: Miguel Cabrera (Detroit)

This wasn’t as easy a pick as in years past.   Typically Cabrera has been leaps and bounds above other first basemen.  But this year he has some competition.  That comes in the form of Cuban defector Jose Abreu.  Abreu is tied for the league lead in homeruns and RBIs.  However, Cabrera is still right there in RBIs and runs despite not having the same homerun totals.  And he has done this with an average about 30 points higher. 

Honorable Mention: Jose Abreu (Chicago), Brandon Moss (Oakland)

Second Base: Jose Altuve (Houston)

Surprisingly, I felt like this was a fairly easy pick.  Altuve is leading the AL  in hits (118), average (.347) and stolen bases (37).   Altuve plays for the Astros, so I feel he does not get the credit he deserves, but he has been there best player the past 3 years and is having an all-star year this year.

Honorable Mention: Robinson Cano (Seattle), Ian Kinsler (Detroit)

Shortstop: Alexi Ramirez (Chicago)

I know!  I am a horrible person because I didn’t vote for Derek Jeter! The baseball gods will not be happy with me.  I’m sorry, but my opinion on the all-star game should be based on which players are having the best seasons and frankly Jeter is not having an all-star year.  There are many other deserving shortstops this year and it is pretty close.  But he is the only one who is in the top 4 in hits (1^st), RBIs (2^nd) and runs (4^th).

Honorable Mention: Erick Aybar (Los Angeles), Alcides Escobar (Kansas City)

Third Base: Josh Donaldson (Oakland)

Surprisingly this was also a pretty easy pick.  Donaldson is by and large best AL third baseman.  Despite a low average (.245), which I normally take very seriously, he leads AL third basemen in homeruns (18), RBIs (61) and runs (57).  No one with a more respectable average can compete with these numbers

Honorable Mention: Kyle Seager (Seattle), Adrian Beltre (Texas)

Catcher: Salvador Perez (Kansas City)

Honestly this was a pretty difficult pick.   There really isn’t anyone in the AL who stands out head and shoulders above anyone else.  Joe Mauer and Carlos Santana switched positions in the offseason.  And it seems the rest of the catchers are excelling in different areas.  In the end I went with Perez.  He is 3^rd in average (.283), 1^st in hits (81), 2^nd in homeruns (10), 2^nd in runs (33) and 1^st in doubles (17).  When combined with above average defense, he seemed to be the best choice. 

Honorable Mention:  Derek Norris (Oakland), Yan Gomes (Cleveland)

Outfielders: Jose Bautista (Toronto), Mike Trout (Los Angeles), Michael Brantley (Cleveland)

The first two of these picks were no-brainers.  Trout leads AL outfielders with 19 homeruns and 62 RBIs and has a solid .311 average.  Bautista has 17 homeruns, a .300 average and leads all players with 60 walks.  The third outfielder was an interesting choice.  There are many deserving players.  In the end I liked Brantley’s all-around game.  He is 3^rd with 54 RBIs, 1^st with 56 runs and 1^st with a .312 average.  Honestly I was surprised by how well he was doing, but the numbers don’t lie!

Honorable Mention:  Adam Jones (Baltimore), Yoenis Cespedes (Oakland), Brett Gardener (New York)

Designated hitter: Edwin Encarnacion

This was the second pick I had to change since I previously voted.  This is maybe the closest of any two players in my eyes.  In reality one could flip a coin between Encarnacion and Cruz.  Both are deserving picks.  They are practically even in all major stats.  Encarnacion: .281 average, 90 hits, 26 homeruns, 69 RBIs, 56 runs.   Cruz: .280 average, 89 hits, 26 homeruns, 68 RBIs 50 runs.  Honestly the deciding factor for me was on-base and slugging percentage. Encarnacion has an on-base percentage of .370 and slugging percentage of .603.  Cruz’s percentages are .346 and .569.  These are not huge differences, but with everything being so close, it’s enough to give Encarnacion the nod. 

Well there it is!  Did I get them right or do you think I snubbed someone?  Let me know what you think!  I really enjoyed doing this and I hope you enjoy (or get angry, haha) reading it.  God Bless!

*stats as of 7/2/14

2014 NL All-Star Picks

On July 15, Major League Baseball will play its 85^th All-Star game.  So I thought I would have fun with this one and talk about who the starters in the game should be.  This entry will deal with the National League and will be followed by an entry on the American League.  So without further ado, here are my National League All-Star starters.

First Base: Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona)

This was a pretty easy one for me.   Goldschmidt is second in the NL with 15 homeruns, second with 53 RBIs, first with 58 runs, first with 27 doubles and fourth in batting average.  He is the only first bagger who ranks in the top 5 in all those categories.  And for the record leads all first basemen with 7 steals. 

Honorable mention: Freddie Freeman (Atlanta), Anthony Rizzo (Chicago)

Second Base: Dee Gordon (Los Angeles)

This guy is the best basestealer in baseball, leading the majors with 40.  I think in today’s game of homeruns and more homeruns, guys who can steal bases are underrated.  This guy is fast and he is smart.  Plus he has a solid .288 average, is fourth with 42 runs scored, leads the majors with 9 triples and is playing above average defense. 

Honorable mention: Daniel Murphy (New York), Chase Utley (Philadelphia)

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado)

This was another pick which was pretty easy.  Tulowitzki is generally regarded as the best shortstop in baseball.  The only downside he has is that he is injury prone.  But he has stayed healthy this year and is putting up the numbers.  He leads all shortstops with 18 homeruns and 65 runs, is second with 47 RBIs and leads all players with a .353 average. 

Honorable mention: Hanley Ramirez (Los Angeles), Starlin Castro (Chicago)

Third Base: Todd Frazier (Cincinnati)

I originally did my all-star voting a few weeks ago, and in that time I have had to change my mind on this pick.   Originally I voted for Matt Carpenter with the mindset that Frazier and Carpenter are different type hitters.  Frazier had the RBI’s and homeruns but Carpenter had hits and runs.  Well Frazier has stepped it up and now has a slightly higher average and is about even in runs.  So although I love my hometown guy, I’ve got to give it to Frazier.

Honorable Mention: Matt Carpenter (St. Louis), Casey McGehee (Miami)

Catcher: Yadier Molina (St. Louis)

I dealt with this subject in my last entry.  Honestly, this is one of the most even positions.  Jonathan Lucroy leads Molina in the offensive categories, with Molina still putting up solid numbers.  But of any position, defense is important for catchers, and this is where Molina has a big advantage.  Lucroy has allowed 45 steals in 62 attempts.  Molina has had 34 stolen base attempts against him total, throwing out half.  So, I feel Molina is a better all-around player.

Honorable Mention: Jonathan Lucroy (Milwaukee), Devin Mesoraco (Cincinnati)

Outfield: Giancarlo Stanton (Miami), Andrew McCutcheon (Pittsburgh), Charlie Blackmon (Colorado)

Stanton was an easy pick.  He leads NL outfielders with 21 homeruns and 60 RBIs and 1run behind the NL leader.   McCutcheon  was also a fairly easy pick.  He leads with a .314 average, second with 24 doubles, is a smart basestealer (12 for 12) and is an impeccable defender.  The third spot was difficult to choose.  In the end I went with Blackmon.  He got off to the best start of any player and while he has slowed down he still has solid numbers.  He is among the leaders in hits, runs, RBIs and stolen bases. 

Honorable Mention: Carlos Gomez (Milwaukee), Yasiel Puig (Los Angeles), Hunter Pence (San Francisco)

Agree? Disagree? Let me know! I love debating this stuff.  Again, my AL starters will follow shortly.  I figured that would be too much to put into one entry.  Hope you enjoyed reading.  God Bless.

*stats as of 7/2/14