National League All-Star Selections & Snubs | Antone's Blog

12:40 PM ET 07.08
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I already took a look at the American League All-Star Selections, now I will take a look at the National League All-Star Selections, including starters, reserves, and who got snubbed.

National League All-Stars

Catcher: Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs, .289, 15 HR, 52 RBI, 132 OPS+

Reserves:
Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves, .293, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 137 OPS+
Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers, .305, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 9 SB, 122 OPS+

Snubbed:
Bengie Molina, San Francisco Giants, .293, 6 HR, 53 RBI, 93 OPS+

Comments: Not much to argue about here because all 3 guys who made it are having great seasons for catchers. Molina is on pace for over 100 RBI as a catcher, so he is at least worthy of a mention as someone who in most years would probably be deserving of an All-Star selection.

First Base: Lance Berkman, Houston Astros, .349, 22 HR, 69 RBI, 12 SB, 188 OPS+

Reserves:
Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, .350, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 188 OPS+
Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres, .284, 22 HR, 70 RBI, 138 OPS+

Snubbed:
Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs, .306, 15 HR, 53 RBI, 128 OPS+
Mark Texiera, Atlanta Braves, .276, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 132 OPS+

Comments: You can't go wrong with either Berkman or Pujols at 1B. Pujols will end up starting as the DH. Derrek Lee and Mark Texiera are having strong seasons but there is no room for them on this team, since the NL is stacked at 1B.

Second Base: Chase Utley. Philadelphia Phillies, .294, 24 HR, 67 RBI, 9 SB, 148 OPS+

Reserves:
Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, .289, 23 HR, 58 RBI, 4 SB, 161 OPS+

Snubbed:
Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs, .292, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 119 OPS+
Orlando Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks, .302, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 113 OPS+
Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds, .292, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 18 SB, 113 OPS+

Comments: Believe it or not Dan Uggla is actually having a better season with the bat than Chase Utley, posting a 161 OPS+ compared to Utley's 148. This is another position in the NL that is loaded with talent, which would explain how Brandon Phillips gets left off despite being on pace for 25+ HR, 30+ SB, and 100+ RBI.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins, .304, 21 HR, 43 RBI, 21 SB, 149 OPS+

Reserves:
Miguel Tejada, Houston Astros, .283, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 7 SB, 101 OPS+
Christian Guzman, Washington Nationals, .313, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 102 OPS+

Snubbed:
Jose Reyes, New York Mets, .297, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 31 SB, 124 OPS+
J.J. Hardy, Milwaukee Brewers, .295, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 124 OPS+

Comments: Hanley Ramirez is a beast but Miguel Tejada has no business playing in this game. Jose Reyes is having the best season of his career and should be in the All-Star Game instead of Tejada. I understand the selection of Guzman because the Nationals don't have anyone else who is worthy.

Third Base: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves, .388, 18 HR, 50 RBI, 199 OPS+

Reserves:
Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs, .283, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 127 OPS+

Snubbed:
David Wright, New York Mets, .286, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 9 SB, 135 OPS+

Comments: I'm not sure how David Wright gets left off here in favor of Aramis Ramirez. Wright has better numbers across the board and he also has more star power. I can't imagine Wright missing many more All-Star Games throughout his career. Wright will probably be voted in as the extra player though.

Outfield: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers, .284, 21 HR, 59 RBI, 8 SB, 124 OPS+
Outfield: Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs, .283, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 7 SB, 124 OPS+
Outfield: Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago Cubs, .287, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 8 SB 112 OPS+

Reserves:
Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies, .343, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 11 SB, 152 OPS+
Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals, .290, 17 HR, 58 RBI, 146 OPS+
Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates, .280, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 9 SB, 131 OPS+

Snubbed:
Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies, .279, 21 HR, 53 RBI, 155 OPS+
Xavier Nady, Pittsburgh Pirates, .321, 12 HR, 53 RBI, 142 OPS+
Jason Bay, Pittsburgh Pirates, .285, 17 HR, 45 RBI, 6 SB, 142 OPS+,
Carlos Lee, Houston Astros, .292, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 128 OPS+

Comments: The NL Outfield is all screwed up. The three reserves are all having better seasons than the starters and Fukudome shouldn't even be an All-Star, nevermind a starting All-Star. Pat Burrell is having the best season of any NL OF with a 155 OPS+ and he wasn't even selected to the game. Burrell and David Wright are probably the biggest snubs in both leagues, luckily I think they will both end up playing in the All-Star Game, because I think Wright will win the last player vote and Burrell should be named as an injury replacement for Alfonso Soriano.

Pitcher: Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds, 11-3, 2.36 ERA, 116 K, 190 ERA+
Pitcher: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants, 10-1, 2.49 ERA, 122 K, 171 ERA+
Pitcher: Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks, 12-4, 3.43 ERA, 100 K, 132 ERA+
Pitcher: Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-5, 2.83, 103 K, 160 ERA+
Pitcher: Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers, 10-2, 2.77 ERA, 97 K, 156 ERA+
Pitcher: Aaron Cook, Colorado Rockies, 11-6, 3.66 ERA, 64 K, 126 ERA+
Pitcher: Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs, 9-3, 2.96 ERA, 73 K, 151 ERA+
Pitcher: Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs, 9-3, 3.24 ERA, 93 K, 138 ERA+
Pitcher: Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs, 4-2, 2.91 ERA, 22 SV, 154 ERA+
Pitcher: Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, 1.00 ERA, 19 SV, 444 ERA+
Pitcher: Billy Wagner, New York Mets, 0-1, 2.31 ERA, 19 SV, 177 ERA+
Pitcher: Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants, 0-1, 4.37 ERA, 24 SV, 98 ERA+

Snubbed:
Johan Santana, New York Mets, 7-7, 2.96 ERA, 109 K, 138 ERA+
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies, 9-5, 3.22 ERA, 110 K, 138 ERA+
Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves, 8-4, 3.09 ERA, 75 K, 133 ERA+
Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-7, 3.12 ERA, 107 K, 141 ERA+
Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves, 9-6, 3.19 ERA, 73 K, 128 ERA+
Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals, 10-2, 3.61 ERA, 56 K, 117 ERA+

Comments: There is no way that Brian Wilson should be an All-Star over Johan Santana and Cole Hamels. Who would have thought when the Mets made the trade for Santana that he wouldn't even make the All-Star team? In fact, Clint Hurdle had a chance to pick Santana and went with Billy Wagner instead, not sure what he was thinking with that one. Hurdle also went with his own guy, Aaron Cook, over Santana and Hamels.

More: American League All-Star Selections

Comments (5) Add A Comment

July 8, 2008 01:24 PM ET

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Snubbed catcher: Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates.

Thanks for including Nady and Bay, though.

T Rocks

Mysterious, PA

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July 8, 2008 02:12 PM ET

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I didn't include Doumit because he doesn't have as many at-bats as most other full time catchers but he probably deserves mention.

Antone

Providence , RI

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July 8, 2008 02:43 PM ET

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I don't know why Fukudome was voted into the All Star Game. I love the guy, as he has made this Cubs team a more patient team. But he didn't deserve to go, and I certainly didn't vote for him. But maybe it is as some say: The Japanese fans voted him in.

Anyway, as for 3B. The stats aren't that much different. In fact, the only areas that Wright has an advantage over Ramirez are SLG (14 point difference,) TB (23,) and RBI (10.) BUT, you have to look at the flip side: Ramirez has pretty much been keeping pace with Wright in far fewer plate appearances (Wright has 406 TPA, and Ramirez has 359, a difference of 47.) And he hasn't even seen as many pitches as Wright (1,616 pitches seen by Wright, and 1,452 pitches seen by Ramirez.) So technically, Ramirez is doing better. In fact, there are key stats that show this: Ramirez has a lower GO/AO ratio, fewer ground outs, fewer times of hitting into a double play, and fewer strikeouts. And he has been better defensively, as well. He has a better fielding percentage, more double plays, and less errors. Wright has the better range factor and more put outs. But that is in 76 more innings of work. Wright has only twenty three more put outs in 76 more innings. And let's not forget the fact that Ramirez is only the reserve 3B. He isn't the starter. You want Wright in the ASG? Vote him in. He supposedly was hot on the trail of Corey Hart when the first update was announced yesterday.

I also have a problem with OPS+. It doesn't take into account the fact that southpaws cannot hit well in certain parks, and righties cannot hit well in others. It is not indicative of a player's skills. That's why I don't use it.

cubs/bears

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July 8, 2008 02:59 PM ET

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OPS+ is as good of an indicator of overall offensive performance as any stat out there to me. Until someone creates a stat that includes everything then I think it's the best stat out there. I also have issues with it though because it doesn't include things like SB and Runs Scored, so I agree it is not perfect. I'm not sure the exact calculation of the stat but I know it does take into effect park adjustments and things like that. I don't use the stat alone either, I would look at different stats plus that one and then make a determination.

My point about Wright is that to me leaving Wright off the All-Star team in favor of Aramis Ramirez would be like leaving Derek Jeter off the All-Star team in his prime in favor of Michael Young. When two guys are having similar seasons, I always lean towards the guy who is a perennial All-Star. Ramirez is definitely deserving of an All-Star berth though.

If Corey Hart beats out David Wright and Pat Burrell for the last spot then that would be outrageous.