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About the Author - gearhead
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MLB All-Star Game: Who Got Snubbed
28
comments
Seriously, Where's Pat Burrell?
>7 days ago
Just like every year when the All-Star teams are announced, there's numerous complaints about who got snubbed and who shouldn't be in. We've already seen that with the inexplicable Jason Varitek selection. Just like ever year though, we'll all forget two days after the game is played. For the time being, who has a legit reason to feel snubbed?American League
Evan Longoria, Rays: There's been some complaints about first place Tampa Bay only getting two All-Star. Longoria can still make it three if he wins the Final Vote. If he doesn't though (likely with Giambi on that list), Longoria will be the biggest AL snub. The rookie has hit the bigs running, hitting .283/.354/.535, with 16 homers. His OPS+ of the 138 leads the Rays, who are of course the best first half story and turnaround in baseball. Longoria was passed over in favor of Carlos Guillen and Joe Crede. Guillen is the only Tiger, but why is Crede and his 114 OPS+ there over Longoria?
Brian Roberts, Orioles: I know, I'm a homer. However, Roberts is second among AL second basemen in OPS, leads the entire AL in triples, and is fourth in the AL in stolen bases. Pedroia and Kinsler are the only second basemen on the roster. Roberts could have easily made it three, and should have been the token Oriole over closer George Sherill. Sherill is only there due to his saves, even though his ERA isn't that great and most of his saves end up being adventures that raise all O's fans blood pressures.
Jermaine Dye, White Sox: Normally you'd think being second among AL outfielders in OPS and tied for second in the league in homers while being on a surprising first place team would be enough for an All-Star berth. Not for Dye, who's left on the Final Man ballot. Dye, along with Carlos Quentin, has kept the White Sox offense afloat while guys like Thome and Konerko have struggled. Problem is, it's hard to take out any of the current outfielders, so Dye's best chance is probably replacing the injured Ortiz.
Felix Hernandez, Mariners: King Felix currently ranks 5th in the AL in ERA among starters, with a very nice 2.83. Now, admittedly John Danks and Shawn Marcum have better ERAs, but which of those three would you rather see? Hernandez is also 10th in strikeouts. Hernandez got screwed because Ichiro was voted in to be the M's rep, and the new trend towards taking as many closers as starters.
Jon Lester, Red Sox: Lester has been the Sox best starter all season. He ranks 8th in ERA and 8th in inning pitched. Oh, he also threw a no-hitter. Oh, and he's beaten cancer. Given his contributions to his team plus his story, I'm surprised Francona didn't take him. Yes, there are already a lot of Red Sox. I'm sure (Varitek) one of them (Varitek) could be taken out (Varitek) to make room for Lester (Varitek). Who could it be (Varitek)?
National League

Pat Burrell, Phillies: I know. His defense and baserunning are atrocious at best. However, Pat the Bat has been tearing the cover off the ball all year. He ranks sixth in the NL in OPS, behind only Chipper, Berkman, Pujols, Holliday, and Uggla. Burrell (who is on the Final Man ballot) got passed over thanks to Soriano, Fukudome, and Braun being voted in, McLouth being the sole Pirate, and Ryan Ludwick getting a nod despite screaming first half fluke (as shown by his horrible June). Burrell's had a better season than all five of those outfielders.
Jose Reyes, Mets: Yes, the Mets are underachieving, but Reyes is not among those. He ranks 3rd in OPS among NL shortstops, behind Hanley Ramirez and JJ Hardy. Again, between Reyes and Hardy, who do you want to see? Reyes also leads the NL in stolen bases and triples. Reyes got passed over by Cristian Guzman and Miguel Tejada. Guzman is the token National in every sense of the word. There is no other worthy in any way. However, how did Tejada (hitting .280/.323/.436) make it over Reyes (hitting .299/.360/.485)? Berkman's on the team, so Tejada isn't the token Astro.
Jason Bay, Pirates: No one's noticed, but Bay is having a great year, hitting .289/.395/.527, with 17 homers (only 45 RBIs, but it is the Pirates after all). Bay probably would've made a better Pirate rep than McLouth, but team construction might have played a factor here. McLouth is the only true centerfielder on the NL team.
Johan Santana, Mets: The New York media thinks he's a bust, but a 2.96 ERA and 109 K's is not bust level performance. Santana ranks 5th in ERA, 3rd in inning pitched, and 5th in strikeouts. Was his 7-7 record really the reason he was left off?
Cole Hamels, Phillies: This might be a bigger screwjob than Santana. Hamels this year is 9-5 with a 3.22 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 128.2 innings. That makes Hamels 10th in ERA, 4th in strikeouts, and 2nd in innings pitched. Hamels got squeezed out by the closer fetish, particularly the strange selection of Brian Wilson, the worst NL All-Star. Wilson is on there because he has 24 saves, which leads the National League. That's the only reason, since his ERA is 4.37, terrible for a relief pitcher. He's not the token Giant either, since Lincecum is on the roster. Either Hamels or Santana would've worked over Wilson.
Who do you feel is this year's biggest All-Star snub?
FanIQ Says...
(66)
Read More: MLB, 2008 MLB All-Star Game
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