All-Stars!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
This one is just for fun...
A lot of people have issue with sending the best players from the first half of the season to the all-star game because:
a. Variance
b. 2nd half of the season doesn't count?
c. Stars should go, not just people who've played well over 40-60 games (voting happens way before midseason)
While those are all valid points, I think it is more fun if you let people who are having a great first half go. I think anything that maximizes the number of different players who get to go is a good thing. Yes stars should go, but a new guy getting in over someone who might be a better player but doesn't start the year off well isn't terrible either. Anyway, on to my "who deserves to go:"
AL
C: Joe Mauer
Easy. The best hitting catcher in the AL and one of the best defensive Cs too. I know I've been whining about his lack of power this season but Mauer has been the team's MVP so far and has maybe been the AL MVP to this point. Funny note: 15th in the AL in VORP and 14th in MLV (not positionally adjusted). That doesn't seem right to me.
1B: Youkilis
Hitting better than Morneau so far and is also a better fielder.
2B: Mark Ellis (haha… yeah)
Ellis is the best fielding 2b in the AL; from what I can tell Kinsler and Roberts have had really rough years so far in the field and Polanco has been pretty average.
3B: A-Rod
No contest. He's actually hitting better so far this year than his overall line last year and he's an above average defensive 3B (Early UZR numbers had him at #2 in the MLB this year actually)
SS: Orlando Cabrera
There aren't any shortstops in the AL doing anything impressive at the plate. Cabrera has the 2nd highest VORP but also is a much better fielder than #1, Michael Young. Interesting note: to this point in the season I think Jeter has performed very near replacement level (overall).
LF: Damon
I like doing it by position in the OF. Damon is having a hell of a year at the plate, the best of any AL left fielder, and is also a much better fielder than his competition.
CF: Sizemore
Hamilton is having a great year at the plate, especially when it comes to the counting stats, but he isn't really a CF. By that I mean he isn't a very good fielder. Sizemore is a great fielder and is having almost as good a year at the plate (better walk rate, similar IsoP, worse average)
RF: J.D. Drew
Easily outhitting all other RFs and I don't think he's a terrible fielder.
DH: Milton Bradley
He's been the best hitter in the AL this year so far.
Note:
I didn't follow the MLB's ballot when doing this. I also made some homer/favorite picks when actually voting:
C Mauer, 1B Morneau, 2B Ellis, 3B A-Rod, SS Cabrera, OF Sizemore, OF Bradley, OF Hamilton, DH Kubel!
NL
C: McCann
Has put up the biggest numbers at the plate this year by far. I don't think he's great defensively, but since I'm not totally sure and he's by far the best hitter, he wins. 1B: Pujols
Pujols was my first thought. Even with the time he's missed due to injury I think he has likely been about as valuable as Berkman... not too far back offensively, way better defensively. Then I thought that since he was still on the DL maybe I should give it to Berkman. Then I thought it was stupid that you don't vote an NL DH into the game (they should always have a DH in the all-star game!) and decided I'd put Berkman there.
2B: Utley
Uggla has actually produce more offense I think, but its mostly due to him running really hot in BABIP and Utley being quite unlucky on balls in play. Utley is a way better defender anyway.
3B: Chipper
Easiest one yet. He's even been really good defensively this season… which I don't think has happened for a while.
SS: HanRam
Mashing as usual and actually playing solid, dare I say, maybe even good defense at SS? Everyone who said they'd rather have Jose Reyes at this time last season:
LF: Burrell
He's been the best hitter so far and isn't all that far behind anyone in the field I don't think. Plus I think he has a good arm.
CF: Beltran
McLouth has been hitting better but Beltran is MUCH better defensively. I might jump Rowand over him too after accounting for defense.
RF: Brian Giles
This one was pretty tough. Ryan Ludwick has been mashing for the Cards but Giles is also putting up good numbers at the plate while playing his home games in the biggest pitchers park in the MLB. He is also great defensively whereas Ludwick is average at best.
DH: Berkman
Probably the most productive hitter in the MLB to this point in the season (partially due to Chipper/Pujols injuries).
I think I'm going to do pitchers later this week.
A song off of my favorite CD of the last week or two:
Posted bySL__72 at 1:03 AM
Labels: All-Star Voting, Fleet Foxes, MLB All-Star Game, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song