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| Mike Trout is the future out west. |
The votes are in for this year’s All-Star game, and after unprecedented fan participation, the result is the same. On each side, a cast of distinguished, high-profile starters will be backed by a medley of up-and-comers and Old Reliables. It’s how the fans like it: a tribute to the guys who have been here before and a nod toward those who will be here in the future.
You see names like Derek Jeter and Rafael Furcal because fans want to preserve the eminence of the event. By the same token, you see names like Mike Trout and Bryan LaHair, because they want to advance the meaning of the game.
So are the “All-Stars” all stars? Let’s go position by position and see where the fans voted for stars, and where they voted for studs.
American League:
Catcher: Mike Napoli (TEX)
Reserves: Joe Mauer (MIN) and Matt Wieters (BAL)
Reaction: Well, here we have the first example of the pitfalls of fan voting. The Texas Rangers contingent, now one of the more invested fan bases in the game, simply muscled Napoli into the All-Star game, despite his mediocre numbers. Maybe its vindication for being snubbed last year, but he’s more exceptionally bad this year than he was exceptionally good in 2011. His .233 average and high strikeout propensity, which is an eyesore in and of itself, are not justified by league-leading power numbers (just 12 homeruns and 30 RBIs) and he plays below-average defense (a meager 18% caught-stealing rate.) With a Wins Above Replacement (actually a useful and digestible metric) of 0.3, Napoli’s resume for AL starter is about as persuasive as Josh Hamilton’s resume for D.A.R.E cover-boy. But Twins fans, rightfully grumbling that Mauer should be the starter, have only themselves to blame for not propelling their golden child past the Texas brute. Mauer, who at .330 is hitting almost .100 points higher than Napoli, leads all catchers in hits (90) and runs (42), leads all AL catchers in batting average and OPS (.876), and is tops in the AL with a .418 OBP. It’s criminal that he is not starting in Kansas City. Another Twins product, A.J. Pierzynski, was also betrayed by the voting system, finishing 4thbehind Wieters, who is having a solid, but not All-Star worthy campaign. Pierzynski on the other hand, has been upstaged only by Mauer at his position, pairing his always-impressive defensive game (31% caught-stealing rate) with a powerful and balanced performance at the plate. He leads all catchers in RBI (48) and all A.L. catchers in slugging (.524), while his 16 homeruns and .287 average rank second among A.L. backstops. He leads Wieters in every major offensive category aside from base on balls and yet somehow the fresh-faced kid from Baltimore is headed to K.C.
1st Base: Prince Fielder (DET)
Reserve: Paul Konerko (CWS)
Reaction: It’s been a quiet year for first baseman in the A.L. Typically a breed known for high averages and swollen power numbers, this year’s crop has fallen victim to the Year of the Pitcher. Between Fielder, Konerko, Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Morneau, among others, there is no want of ability, but some of those guys have gotten off to slow starts, others have sacrificed power in the name of high averages, and just about all of them have looked overmatched by the hurlers on the hill. The result is just one first baseman hitting over .300, just two with more than 50 RBI, and just one with over 20 homeruns (and that man happens to be Adam Dunn, who is also hitting .213, and who, accordingly, knocks one out with almost every other hit.) Point is, although Fielder’s numbers aren’t up to the usual standard, this year, they are the standard so he’s a rightful starter. A case could be made for Konerko, whose .332 average is second in the A.L. and who leads A.L. first baseman in OBP (.408), but his run productivity pales in comparison to Fielder’s. Prince has driven in 58 runs and scored 45 of his own, while Konerko, despite colonizing the base paths, has scored just 39 runs and driven in 42. It is a relief though, that Pujols or Gonzalez were not elected simply for their cachet or past accomplishments, and shows an awareness and an impartiality on the part of the fans that was less apparent in the catcher ballots. Sure, it helps that Fielder is a prominent player himself, but any time the fans honor stats over stature it is refreshing.
2nd Base: Robinson Cano (NYY)
Reserve: Ian Kinsler (TEX)
Reaction: No argument here. In a battle of rabid fan bases, “Yankee Universe” (I actually kind of despise this moniker despite being a member) catapulted homegrown hero Cano past Kinsler and his Lone Star Loyalists (?). It was a tough start to the year for Robby, but he started to heat up in May, was smoking by the end of it (.312 for the month) and then simply caught fire in June, hitting .340 over 100 at bats. And through the start of July, he’s continued his torrid ways with a .471 average. It all amounts to a .316 mark for the year, which leads all second baseman, decorated by 20 home runs, 50 RBI and 46 extra base hits, also tops for his position. His swing is something out of an instructional hitting video, except he’s a lot better than anyone who makes instructional hitting videos for a living. Swinging a baseball bat, especially against major league pitching, can be a violent motion; Cano does it so smoothly, so fluidly, and so effortlessly you’re forced to wonder how anyone ever gets him out. And with an innocence and a youthfulness that just gushes love for the game, no player was ever more fit for an All-Star game. He can be given to brashness, but when he holds a pose after a homerun it’s only because he hit it that far, and when he struts after a gold glove play it’s only because he made it look that easy, and when he flashes a loud smile, jawing jokingly with Jeter on the way back to the dugout, it’s only because he’s having that much fun. Not to mention, when you do things like this, you’re excused from any kind of arrogance. (Watch Ortiz at 1:15. He learned that face from Stephon Marbury, I believe.) As for Kinsler, he is a deserving All-Star as well, though Texas fans probably expect more out of him in the second half. After hitting 32 homeruns and racking up 77 RBI a year ago, his pace is a little less powerful this year, with only 9 homers and 40 RBI to date, but he has still been an integral part of this Rangers team. His potential to break out in a big way can be seen in his 33 multi-hit games. Jason Kipness of the Indians made a strong case for himself as well, besting Kinsler with 11 homers and 49 RBI, and hitting .381 with runners in scoring position, but if the fans didn’t vote in sensation Bryce Harper, there was no chance for Kipness. Them’s the breaks.
Shortstop: Derek Jeter (NYY)
Reserves: Elvis Andrus (TEX) and Asdrubal Cabrera (CLE)
Reaction: Derek Jeter is now a 13-time All-Star, after being voted in for the 7th year in a row. And though he has been the beneficiary of some dubious elections in the past, namely 2010 and 2011, Jeter fully deserves his All-Star title this year. (Also, people who get mad at Jeter for “monopolizing” his position in the All-Star game are the worst kind of people. Don’t blame the guy for being unanimously revered; he doesn’t vote himself in. Hate the game, not the player.) Anyway, after hitting .389 in April, owning pitchers like it was 1999, Jeter had wrapped up the shortstop balloting, put a bow on it, and attached a card that read, “Dear Elvis, Asdrubal, and Co: You can start an All-Star Game when I retire. History tells me it’s a pretty good time.” He has since cooled off, battling through a feeble June, but his 105 hits are second in the A.L., and his .309 average still leads all shortstops, where strong hitters come at a premium these days. The heavy-hitting prototype we once saw in Nomar Garciaparra, Alex Rodriguez and Barry Larkin is a dying breed, replaced now by the springy table-setter, a la Andrus, Cabrera, Alex Escobar, and Alexei Ramirez. But through this remodeling process, Jeter has kept on keeping on, scoffing at Father Time along the way. His defense isn’t what it used to be, mostly a product of his decreasing range, but if I’m playing Game 7 of the World Series tomorrow, I want The Captain starting at short. On the other hand, if I’m starting a franchise tomorrow, I’ll take Cabrera, who is actually something of a hybrid between the 1990’s model and the 2000’s model, and who is the centerpiece of a pesky Cleveland team. If his average (.294) were above that glamorized .300 mark, he might have pushed Jeter for the starting job in Kansas City, as he is setting the pace in the productivity department, with 11 dingers and 42 RBI. He also leads all shortstops in Wins Above Replacement, with 2.5, a mark of distinction for Cabrera, yes, but also a reflection of the waning influence of what was once the most dignified position in baseball. When the best shortstop in the game provides only “2.5” more wins than the “replacement level” shortstop, the value of owning a star at the 6-spot is greatly diminished. That’s for another time though.
3rd Base: Adrian Beltre (TEX)
Reserve: Miguel Cabrera (DET)
Reaction: The right guys here, but in the wrong order. It’s hard to argue with Beltre, who is hitting .324 with 14 homeruns and 53 RBI, and ranks 3rd with 32 multi-hit games, but Cabrera has been that much better. And he’s doing it all after switching to 3rd base in the offseason to make room for Prince at first, so he’s a “team-first, me-second” kind of guy too. Cabrera is so sweepingly good, he is at or near the top of every general hitting category – BA, HR, RBI, SLG, XBH – every situational one – BA men on base, BA runners in scoring position, BA after the 6thinning – and every obscure, essentially meaningless one. (Does it matter that he is second in the A.L. in BA at home? No, not really, but you might as well cover them all. And it’s not like Michael Jordan strove to lead the league in FG% at home, against Eastern Conference teams, in 10-point games, but that’s what happens, basically by default, when you are that transcendently good.) Cabrera’s numbers are best appreciated when measured not against fellow third baseman, a crop of players he totally outclasses, but against the rest of the league. His 189 total bases rank first in the Majors and his 70 RBI rank second. His 110 hits and 36 multi-hit games rank first in the A.L., as does his .382 average with runners in scoring position. His 25 doubles rank second in the A.L., while his .327 average and .563 slugging percentage both rank 5th. Just about the only offensive category he falls short in is base on balls, and when you can swing the stick like he can, why would you want to walk anyway? (Tom Brady doesn’t run the ball mainly because he doesn’t need to.) It would have been nice to see the hometown kid, Mike Moustakas get the backup job, but his paltry .269 average lets down his otherwise stellar numbers (14 homers, 35 extra-base hits, .966 fielding percentage.) He’ll get the nod soon enough.
Outfield: Josh Hamilton (TEX), Curtis Granderson (NYY) and Jose Bautista (TOR)
Reaction: The fans went with power in the outfield vote, selecting the three A.L. homerun leaders as the starters. Hamilton pounded the ball the entire first half, mashing 26 homeruns and knocking in 74 runs, good for 2nd and 1st in the Majors respectively, and then unleashed his brawn on the ballots, shattering the vote record set a year ago by Bautista. The Jays slugger garnered 7,454,753 votes in 2011, a number that Hamilton belittled this year by earning 11,073,744. He may have been aided in this chase by playing in a big market, but Hamilton put together the kind of first half that transcends team allegiances. Whether you root for the Angels, the Cardinals or the Yankees, as a fan of the game you have to admire what Hamilton was able to do over three months of baseball. And as for those six games in May in which he popped nine homeruns, well, uhh, that’s more dingers than a lot of guys hit in an entire season. This voltaic stretch of infallibility fell within a larger streak of 15 games, which saw Hamilton hit .418, amass 10 homeruns and 26 RBI, and register a preposterous 1.492 OPS. If he has another run like that – and don’t put it past him – he’ll find himself right back in Triple Crown contention. Perhaps most telling of Hamilton’s ability is the fact that he’s alone in this discussion. It is unfathomably difficult to hit for power and average, especially in this day and age of dominant pitching. Just take a look at the other two starters in the outfield, who pepper the bleachers with souvenirs but struggle to maintain high averages. Bautista, who leads the Majors with 27 homeruns and ranks 4th with 64 RBI, hits at just a .244 clip. And Granderson, who leads the brawny Bronx Bombers with 23 homers, is just .001 points better than Bautista, at .245. They both redeem these low marks with a discerning batter’s eye, ranking 4th and 5threspectively in the A.L. in base on balls, but what separates them from the divine Hamilton is this versatility at the plate. Hamilton can do just about anything with a baseball. He spreads hits like cream cheese on a bagel, covering all fields and all zones of the plate. There is no “good spot” to pitch him, no chink in his armor. Bautista and Granderson, on the other hand, are much more pull-inclined and prone to rolling over the outside pitch instead of driving it the other way. But they are paid to hit homeruns, the argument says, and they certainly earn their keep in this department. It is a great luxury to own a guy who can change the complexion of a game every time he is at the plate, even if these “homerun or bust” sluggers are on their way out of baseball. The Yankees embraced this identity at the start of the year and now boast the best record in baseball. As a team they hit just .261, 11thin the Majors, but they lead the way in homeruns with 133 and lead the way in the standings because of it. And the success they have found relying on the long ball may be part of the reason the fans chose Granderson over the more average-oriented Austin Jackson, who ranks third among all A.L. outfielders with his .332 average but whose Tigers sit in a disappointing third place in the Central. Not only is power what fans want to see, its what wins games. So by voting in the Grandyman, the fans quench their thirst for majestic shots into the night, and acknowledge a winning philosophy. It all makes them feel a little less shallow.
Outfield Reserves: Adam Jones (BAL), Mike Trout (LAA) and Mark Trumbo (LAA)
Reaction: The power trend continues here, as Trumbo and Jones round out the top five homerun leaders among A.L. outfielders, with 22 and 20 dingers respectively. Trumbo in fact, has been Hamiltonian in his flexibility at the plate, boasting leading numbers in all three Triple Crown categories. His 57 RBI are 4th among A.L. outfielders and his .306 average is 5th. Jones has shown impressive offensive balance as well, sporting a .289 average to go along with his 44 RBI and 41 extra-base hits. More importantly, the supple centerfielder has been the face of the renaissance down in Baltimore, helping the Cinderella Orioles to a 45-40 first half record. And then there’s the 20-year-old rookie in Los Angeles of Anaheim – wherever that is – who has made mincemeat of opposing pitchers, charming the monkey-waving fanbase along the way. He’s a different breed than his cohorts in the outfield, what with his short, compact swing, his aggressiveness on the base paths, and his glorification of singles, but he is no less vital to his team. In fact Trout, who leads the A.L. with a .343 average and leads the Majors with 26 stolen bases, could be the “most” indispensable guy out of these six. His 4.6 Wins Above Replacement are 1.3 the superior to Hamilton’s and third in the MLB, behind only Brett Lawrie and David Wright. Trout’s been quite a catch for the Angels, who are 43-21 since bringing him up from the minors. The voting results here are a microcosm of the pattern we mentioned at the top: established stars starting, emerging stars backing them up. Although in five years, this reserve trio could very well see their names in the starting lineup. Alex Rios has put together a strong season as well for the White Sox, but he’s stuck in that unglamorous middle ground between flourishing youngster and proven superstar, which probably hurt him in the balloting. He’ll need a few more years like the one he is having this year to make the jump to the ladder.
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz (BOS)
Reserve: Billy Butler (KC)
Reaction: In what is basically an avenue to vote in more position players, one of the true DH’s left in the game won the vote. He certainly deserved to. Ortiz, amid constant speculation about how much he has left, has been the one shining beacon in Boston this season, his glow penetrating the brume of injuries, underachievement, and defeatism surrounding the Sox. Ever the exploitative hitter in Fenway Park, he has sprayed hard hit balls all over the field’s quirky confines, targeting the Green Monster in left as much as the bullpens in right. This indiscriminate approach at the plate has seen him hit 46 extra-base hits (tied for first in the A.L.), 22 of them homeruns. And as always, he has thrived in the game’s key situations, hitting .352 with runners in scoring position and doing his best to keep the Red Sox above water in the unforgiving A.L. East. He’ll need some of his pals – cough, Adrian Gonzalez, cough – to start pulling their weight if the Sox are to make a run in the second half. Billy Butler, one of the many budding stars in Kansas City, will delight the hometown crowd if he can do more of what he has done all year on Tuesday night. The beefy first baseman leads the Royals in homeruns (16), RBI (52), and trails only Alcides Escobar in the batting average department (.294). He is the quintessential DH –brazenly husky, heavy-footed, angry at baseballs – and an easy guy to like. He packs a hearty pop at the plate – and a juicy chaw in his lip – and plays the game like a Little Leaguer who never grew up. An inspiration for young, overweight first baseman everywhere, he’s just a generally jolly dude, even if he’s mercilessly mean to opposing pitchers. In this era of obsessive training and meticulous swing work, it’s refreshing to see an enormously talented player rely on his own natural devices. He swings the stick extremely hard, hits the ball extremely far, and rounds the bases extremely slow, playing the game the way it works for him. The way he learned to love it. He’s a good face for the sport and a very worthy All-Star. Edwin Encarnacion, with almost identical numbers to Butler but seven more homers, deserves to be headed to K.C. as well but there are only so many D.H. spots. If the game were in Toronto, it would probably be him, not Butler, backing up Ortiz.
National League reaction on deck.
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