The 3/8th All-Stars

We’re just over one-third of the way into the 2007 MLB season, and already, promos for the All-Star Game are consistently floating across the league website. The casual fan might think this is slightly too early for All-Star voting to begin…they may be right, but unfortunately it started A MONTH AGO. MLB’s All-Star voting starts notoriously early and at this rate, fans wouldn’t be surprised if they were given those cute little ballots with hanging chads during spring training. Yet one thing remains constant; for the most part, fans don’t know what the hell they’re doing. Manny Ramirez? Ivan Rodriguez? The fans are actually much better than usual so far, but there’s a few guys who are obviously getting by on name recognition only, as always…so without further adieu, I give you a poor man’s ballot for the 2007 “3/8th All-Stars…”

The League of Americans

Catcher
Jorge Posada (NYY)

There aren’t many positions where a .358 AVG, 2nd in all of baseball, won’t get you the nod. However, Victor Martinez (CLE) presents a formidable challenge to Posada’s dominance of AL catchers this year. Vic paces AL backstops with 12 HRs and 54 RBIs, with Jorge at 7 and 40 respectively. However, Posada’s 21 doubles make up for it and give him the edge in OBP and SLG to the tune of a .980 OPS. Martinez gets the fielding nod but Posada has clearly been the best offensive catcher in the AL, if not baseball.
Others considered: Martinez, John Buck (KC), Kenji Johjima (SEA), Ivan Rodriguez (DET)
Fan’s leader: Rodriguez

First Base
Kevin Youkilis (BOS)

This was an extremely close call for me as quite a few 1B in the AL were having great years, but no one stood out of the crowd. Carlos Pena of the Devil Rays would most likely get the nod if he had played the whole season, but only playing in 49 games costs him the starting spot here. It came down to Youkilis and Mark Teixeira (TEX). Tex has more HRs and RBIs and a slightly better OPS. Both players have very high BABIPs (batting avg on balls in play) as well, but Teixeira’s 55 strikeouts lead to a 34-point advantage in batting average for Youkilis. It’s a coin flip, but you can’t completely ignore batting average. Note that I only considered players whose primary position is first, no DH because the game is in San Francisco (NL park).
Others considered: Teixeira, Pena, Justin Morneau (MIN), Casey Kotchman (LAA)
Fan’s leader: David Ortiz (BOS)

Second Base
B.J. Upton (TB)

That’s right, a Devil Ray starting the All-Star Game! Second base has quietly been a solid position in the AL this year, with 4 players hitting .316 and above, with Upton’s .320 ranking third among the group. However, his .941 OPS easily outdistances the group, by over 100 points, and his 9 HRs and 13 steals show Upton’s 5-tool power. His strikeout rate is alarming with 68 K’s, and his fielding is ugly too with 12 errors. However, in 41 less at-bats than Brian Roberts (BAL), his closest competitor, his power numbers easily outdistance him. Upton is a work in progress but has been good enough to gain the starting nod here.
Others considered: Roberts, Placido Polanco (DET), Dustin Pedroia (BOS), Aaron Hill (TOR)
Fan’s leader: Polanco

Shortstop
Orlando Cabrera (LAA)

Yes, I’m a Yankee fan and I’m not picking Derek Jeter (NYY). First off, Jeter has 11 errors and has been an awful defender while Cabrera has done a sold job with the Angels. Secondly, the numbers are too eerily similar to pick. Cabrera’s batting .335, Jeter .329. Cabrera has 112 total bases in 248 at-bats, Jeter has 111 in 246. Cabrera has one two more hits, Jeter has three more runs, Jeter has one more HR and Cabrera four more RBI. It’s so close that the subpar fielding of Jeter has to come into major consideration. And while Jeter is hitting a ridiculous .455 with RISP, Cabrera’s .338 RISP AVG isn’t doing him any harm either. It’s the third straight meticulously close case that people are sure to argue, but I give the nod to Cabrera by a hair - check back tomorrow.
Others considered: Jeter, Carlos Guillen (DET), Jhonny Peralta (CLE), Miguel Tejada (BAL)
Fan’s leader: Jeter

Third Base
Alex Rodriguez (NYY)

Finally, an easy one! A-Rod leads the league in HRs and RBIs and has a 1.081 OPS. No competition here for the 3B spot as the fans finally get one right.
Others considered: Mike Lowell (BOS)
Fan’s leader: Rodriguez

Outfielders
Magglio Ordonez (DET), Vladimir Guerrero (LAA), Grady Sizemore (CLE)

Magglio is my MVP for the first third of the season. He paces the league with a .367 batting average and a ridiculous 1.108 OPS. He also leads the league with 30 doubles and has hit 13 homers while driving in 56. Vladimir Guerrero hasn’t been too shabby either, with 12 homers and 54 RBI and a great 1.015 OPS. Here’s where things get tricky. Nobody has a clear hold on the third outfield spot, so based on his combination of power, discipline, speed, and defense, I give the nod to the emerging superstar Sizemore. He’s hitting a solid .289 with a great OBP of .405, has hit 11 home runs, scored 54 runs, and stolen 18 out of 20 bases. And no statistic can cover the all-out diving catches he makes weekly in center field. In this outfield, Sizemore would cover CF, with Ordonez in left and Guerrero in right.
Others considered: Torii Hunter (MIN), Gary Sheffield (DET), Ichiro Suzuki (SEA), Curtis Granderson (DET), Alex Rios (TOR), Nick Swisher (OAK), Carl Crawford (TB)
Fan’s choices: Guerrero, Suzuki, Manny Ramirez (BOS)

Starting Pitcher
Dan Haren (OAK)

Barry who? How about a 1.58 ERA and a ridiculous 0.86 WHIP for your All-Star starter. Another ingenious pickup by Billy Beane, Haren has been unhittable all season long and anchored Oakland’s rotation.
Others considered: Chad Gaudin (OAK), C.C. Sabathia (CLE), James Shields (TB)

The Lineup:
1. CF Sizemore
2. 1B Youkilis
3. LF Ordonez
4. 3B Rodriguez
5. RF Guerrero
6. C Posada
7. SS Cabrera
8. 2B Upton
9. SP Haren

[Fishercat]

I can't really disagree with any of the AL picks. Maybe Cabrera, but as you said, it's close

NL, I would prefer on Hanley Ramirez for the awesomeness that is him. And the outfield is a big cluster anyway.

Good job.

[browntown653]

The Cabrera/Jeter/even Guillen battle goes back and forth every day, as do the NL OFs...if I'm writing this today, maybe I take Rowand over Soriano.

It's open to discussion though certainly.

[redsrbetter]

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this one browntown. Great article once again. It is always intriguing to me to see where everyone sits nearing the All-Star break. My votes were submitted about a week ago and they are very similar to yours.

I like how you distinguish the difference between the fans vote and what is deserved. We all know that Jeter will be the selection by the fan vote. That is just the way it goes. Deserved or not. We wouldn't want to see him cry over this, would we? (MVP voting ring a bell?)

One guy I would want to point out for 2B in the NL would be Orlando Hudson. The guy is known for a great glove, but his bat has made a wake up call in Arizona this season. He has been going the other way with pop this year and the numbers show. Utley is clearly the better player by far, but Hudson would be a great selection for LaRussa this year.

I am excited about this year's All-Star break. I always love to see what Reds player is represented. More than likely I will just see Griffey this year. But a few years ago was great when 5 players were selected. Well, great until just before the festivities kicked off most of them got hurt.

Do most of you guys like that at least one player is represented from every team? Or would you have it simply being the best players get the nod? Selecting one player from every team may please some fans (like me), but there are times where a player is well deserving of getting the opportunity and they do not get it because someone from the Royals had to take up a spot. Just some thoughts.

Great read browntown!

DIGG, delicious, YB, FB +rep

[Providence A's]

rep+...despite the fact that I don't care for the ASG at this point. It's become such a joke to me.

[bwitty24]

At least it is better than the NBA All Star Game.

Nice article Brown.