IHJJR's National League All-Stars
It's June 2, which means that before you can say, "Is the NFL lockout over yet?," Major League Baseball will be bombarding us with pleas to vote for this year's All-Star teams.
Personally, I have never found fan votes to be an accurate gauge of who is an "All-Star" player. Sure, it was great to see the fan vote make Joey Votto an All Star, but what about that same fan vote making Derek Jeter an All-Star for the umpteenth time despite a career-worst season. There are a bunch of things I would change about the whole affair, like how they make it a requirement that each team has a representative. No one wants to see Omar Infante as an All-Star. Same for Evan Meek. And Ty Wigginton? Gross. John Buck? Come on...
Anyway, before the MLB-sanctioned barrage of "epic" All-Star Game advertisements take over FOX, ESPN and MLB Network, I'd like to submit my 25-man National League All-Star roster.
Offensive Starters
C: Brian McCann (ATL)
1B: Joey Votto (CIN)
2B: Rickie Weeks (MIL)
3B: Placido Polanco (PHI)
SS: Jose Reyes (NYM)
LF: Ryan Braun (MIL)
CF: Matt Kemp (LAD)
RF: Hunter Pence (HOU)
It hurt me, as a Mets fan, to exclude David Wright from this list, especially by subbing in Polanco for him. But two facts remain: 1) David Wright is a shell of his usual self this season, offensively and defensively. His approach at the plate is wildly inconsistent with his career norms, and his bat speed is clearly down. 2) Polanco has filled in more-than-admirably in a Phillies lineup missing Chase Utley. Defensively, he's held in the infield together, and offensively his bat has helped spark multiple rallies this season. He's staving off old age with good old fashioned Ecksteinian grit. Gotta love it, I suppose.
Some might disagree with my leaving out Jay Bruce from the first-team offense. After a prolonged slump to begin the season, his torrid May has vaulted him to within spitting distance of Hunter Pence's numbers. But here's the thing: Pence is enjoying a career year and it's not being recognized as much because his name isn't Jay Bruce or Andre Ethier. And then there's Lance Berkman otherworldly numbers taking up the headlines in RF. Pence's performance has been spectacular thus far, and he deserves not just an All-Star nod, but a starting nod.
Offensive Replacements
C: Yadier Molina (STL)
1B: Gaby Sanchez (FLA)
2B: Brandon Phillips (CIN)
3B: Chipper Jones (ATL)
SS: Starlin Castro (CHC)
LF: Matt Holliday (STL)
CF: Andrew McCutchen (PIT)
RF: Jay Bruce (CIN)
I gave Molina the edge of Miguel Montero purely for defensive reasons. Molina is the best defensive catcher in the game, and that's enough to push him over the top when comparing him rather equally with Montero.
McCutchen was just a hair better than Colby Rasmus and Drew Stubbs in my book. Even though both are having fantastic seasons thus far, McCutchen's deadly combination of power and speed has lifted the Pirates heartily — they're only three games below .500 at this point. Sanchez over Prince Fielder was tough, but it's hard to argue with Sanchez's numbers so far. Oh yeah, and no Lance Berkman — he's been great, but c'mon, you're gonna tell me you'd rather have him at the plate than any of the outfielders on this page? I didn't think so...
Starting Pitchers
SP: Roy Halladay (PHI)
SP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
SP: Cliff Lee (PHI)
SP: Tim Lincecum (SF)
SP: Shaun Marcum (MIL)
SP: Anibal Sanchez (FLA)
I feel like these choices speak for themselves. Halladay is the best pitcher in the National League. Lee, despite some rather human numbers, has been his usual lights-out self. Kershaw and Lincecum have been typically dominant out west. Marcum has elevated his finesse game to a new level, and Sanchez has emerged as one of the National League's top starting pitchers. The only pitcher I feel bad about not including is Cole Hamels, who really has been amazing thus far this season. But if you compare him to Sanchez, it's hard not to see how he's been slightly worse. Ever so slightly...
The Bullpen
MR: Rafael Betancourt (COL)
LR: Jonny Venters (ATL)
CP: JJ Putz (ARI)
Raise your hand if you saw Putz being the best closer in the National League in March? Congratulations to all 15 of you. The rest of us stand amazed. Leo Nuñez was a close second, but it came down to the fact that Putz hasn't blown a save all season. Plus, his peripheral numbers are better.
As for Venters, he's proven to best reliever in the National League in that he can come in day after day, whether he's pitched two innings or one out, and he can get you out of whatever jam you're in. Love his results. Betancourt leads the National League in holds — which is more the result of situation than anything. He compares favorably with the Mets' Jason Isringhausen, but I didn't give it to Izzy because — even though his numbers are equal — he's pitched in about five fewer games.
Alright there you have it. Use the comments to bash all of my choices!
On deck: June call-ups to look out for in the National League
Personally, I have never found fan votes to be an accurate gauge of who is an "All-Star" player. Sure, it was great to see the fan vote make Joey Votto an All Star, but what about that same fan vote making Derek Jeter an All-Star for the umpteenth time despite a career-worst season. There are a bunch of things I would change about the whole affair, like how they make it a requirement that each team has a representative. No one wants to see Omar Infante as an All-Star. Same for Evan Meek. And Ty Wigginton? Gross. John Buck? Come on...
Anyway, before the MLB-sanctioned barrage of "epic" All-Star Game advertisements take over FOX, ESPN and MLB Network, I'd like to submit my 25-man National League All-Star roster.
Offensive Starters
C: Brian McCann (ATL)1B: Joey Votto (CIN)
2B: Rickie Weeks (MIL)
3B: Placido Polanco (PHI)
SS: Jose Reyes (NYM)
LF: Ryan Braun (MIL)
CF: Matt Kemp (LAD)
RF: Hunter Pence (HOU)
It hurt me, as a Mets fan, to exclude David Wright from this list, especially by subbing in Polanco for him. But two facts remain: 1) David Wright is a shell of his usual self this season, offensively and defensively. His approach at the plate is wildly inconsistent with his career norms, and his bat speed is clearly down. 2) Polanco has filled in more-than-admirably in a Phillies lineup missing Chase Utley. Defensively, he's held in the infield together, and offensively his bat has helped spark multiple rallies this season. He's staving off old age with good old fashioned Ecksteinian grit. Gotta love it, I suppose.
Some might disagree with my leaving out Jay Bruce from the first-team offense. After a prolonged slump to begin the season, his torrid May has vaulted him to within spitting distance of Hunter Pence's numbers. But here's the thing: Pence is enjoying a career year and it's not being recognized as much because his name isn't Jay Bruce or Andre Ethier. And then there's Lance Berkman otherworldly numbers taking up the headlines in RF. Pence's performance has been spectacular thus far, and he deserves not just an All-Star nod, but a starting nod.
Offensive Replacements
C: Yadier Molina (STL)1B: Gaby Sanchez (FLA)
2B: Brandon Phillips (CIN)
3B: Chipper Jones (ATL)
SS: Starlin Castro (CHC)
LF: Matt Holliday (STL)
CF: Andrew McCutchen (PIT)
RF: Jay Bruce (CIN)
I gave Molina the edge of Miguel Montero purely for defensive reasons. Molina is the best defensive catcher in the game, and that's enough to push him over the top when comparing him rather equally with Montero.
McCutchen was just a hair better than Colby Rasmus and Drew Stubbs in my book. Even though both are having fantastic seasons thus far, McCutchen's deadly combination of power and speed has lifted the Pirates heartily — they're only three games below .500 at this point. Sanchez over Prince Fielder was tough, but it's hard to argue with Sanchez's numbers so far. Oh yeah, and no Lance Berkman — he's been great, but c'mon, you're gonna tell me you'd rather have him at the plate than any of the outfielders on this page? I didn't think so...
Starting Pitchers
SP: Roy Halladay (PHI)SP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
SP: Cliff Lee (PHI)
SP: Tim Lincecum (SF)
SP: Shaun Marcum (MIL)
SP: Anibal Sanchez (FLA)
I feel like these choices speak for themselves. Halladay is the best pitcher in the National League. Lee, despite some rather human numbers, has been his usual lights-out self. Kershaw and Lincecum have been typically dominant out west. Marcum has elevated his finesse game to a new level, and Sanchez has emerged as one of the National League's top starting pitchers. The only pitcher I feel bad about not including is Cole Hamels, who really has been amazing thus far this season. But if you compare him to Sanchez, it's hard not to see how he's been slightly worse. Ever so slightly...
The Bullpen
MR: Rafael Betancourt (COL)LR: Jonny Venters (ATL)
CP: JJ Putz (ARI)
Raise your hand if you saw Putz being the best closer in the National League in March? Congratulations to all 15 of you. The rest of us stand amazed. Leo Nuñez was a close second, but it came down to the fact that Putz hasn't blown a save all season. Plus, his peripheral numbers are better.
As for Venters, he's proven to best reliever in the National League in that he can come in day after day, whether he's pitched two innings or one out, and he can get you out of whatever jam you're in. Love his results. Betancourt leads the National League in holds — which is more the result of situation than anything. He compares favorably with the Mets' Jason Isringhausen, but I didn't give it to Izzy because — even though his numbers are equal — he's pitched in about five fewer games.
Alright there you have it. Use the comments to bash all of my choices!
On deck: June call-ups to look out for in the National League
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