All Star Snubs S54

Jack Torrance - contributing reporter

All-star rosters are set, let's take a look at a few players who were snubbed from the game, starting with the American League. Our picks for Season 54 All Stars are in BOLD. All stats are compared to their league only, I didn't note someone leading the entire league. 

Editor note: HBD isn't the best about listing stats by position. It defaults to a player's set main position and doesn't always include where they actually have played. Yovani Bonilla is a perfect example, he's still labeled as a SS on New York's Roster Management; but he's played all but one game at RF. However, when you sort by RF under league leaders; he doesn't appear on the RF list. So while fun to write up, take it with a grain of salt that I didn't overlook someone by accident. 

• AMERICAN LEAGUE
• Catcher
• Chuck Herndon (Atl) - Herndon has filled in nicely for the injured who seems to still have over 100 days left in recovery. His slugging may be down, but that OPS is still riding right around his career norms. He has to be one reason Atlanta is still the top record in Cobbfather. 
• Jordan Taylor (Dov) vs Geoffery Sewell (Minn) - This one is tough, Lee Wood (Dov) has taken a few starts away from Taylor have been playing well though Wood has taken starts away from Taylor. Taylor is slightly better defensively and his power makes up for the slight difference in hits with their batting averages a wash. 
• First Base
• Wei-Yin Wan (Hun) - Get used to seeing this name, this time last season (S53) he was the Futures Game MVP; get ready to see him in many more All Star games to come. He leads the AL in hits and HRs, and 2nd in runs. He'd likely be much higher in RBI if the team around him got on base more often. 
• Vin Prieto (NY) vs Chuck Brinson (Bos) - We have to go Brinson has a SNUB here. His average is higher, has more RBIs and walks. What he lacks in comparison is every chick's favorite, the long ball. Even has less strike outs than Prieto; but Prieto has Brinson in the field, with more plus plays and a higher Ranger Factor; both of which seem to carry a good bit of weight in the all-star balloting. SNUBBED.
• Second Base
• Matty Moss (Atl) - No surprise here, Moss is routinely in the MVP voting at season's end and he continues to produce. Above .300 batting average, over 70 stolen bases and leagues the AL in runs. He's near the top in BB+HBP in the AL too, but given his stolen base total it's crazy to think pitchers are giving him a free base. 
• Al Cervantes (Phi) vs Carlos Soto (Hou) - Cervantes is another player routinely in the MVP voting but a lot of that has been carried by his .330+ batting average which seems to be down this season. None the less it's still above .300 and he seems to be walking more often. Soto on the other hand has similar with more HR, RBIs, and SBs. Cervantes wins in Plus Plays, but Soto in Range Factor. I'll give the nod to the older of the two since he's served at 2B more often and hasn't split time at 1B/LF. Should be a good fight for top AL 2B between these three for the next few years. 
• Shortstop
• Dayan Flores (Mty) - One of the top defensive players in the AL, but not the top. What he does offer above those above him is a batting above higher than his weight. 
• Efren Solis (Hunt) vs Yohan Nova (Hou) vs Jimmie Navarro (Atl) - Solis and Navarro are having very similar seasons though I'd give Solis the edge since he's better defensively. His +/- is +7 compared to -2 for Navarro, with fewer errors as well.  But this is where it gets tricky because Nova has split time around the diamond, playing the majority of games at SS. Given the difference at the plate and they aren't heads and shoulders above him on the field, I'd likely give Nova the nod here and might actually prefer him to start as well. SNUBBED.
• Alan Harris (Ana) - Harris unfortunately gets lost in the shuffle of being traded from the NL to the AL ~30 games ago, and Anaheim has shifted him to 3B. 
• Third Base
• Vince Saarloos (Atl) vs Woodie Yarnall (Bos) vs Chan Ho Jiang (NY) vs Benito Posada (Min) - Posada is the only one who doesn't have 100+ hits but leads them all in HRs and Ks. His OPS falls in line with Jiang but short of the other two. Saarloos appears the best of the bunch with the most XBH so we give him the first nod. The second likely goes with Yarnall with the slightly higher average and home runs over Jiang. 
• Left Field
• Yoervis Colome (NY) - Having a stellar season for the Empire and helping keep them within striking distance of the Expos. He's #2 in HR for AL LF and third in SBs; though perhaps his manager should slow him down a bit as he's been caught 50% of the time. He's number 1 in Runs but that's more about the team around him. 
• Domonic Malone (Dov) vs TJ Christenson (Atl) - The Atlanta police have been on the look out for Christenson for some time now, but nobody seems to know where he went. Sure he's near the top in HR, H, and SBs; but that .242 average hurts. His OPS is only average for AL LFers. Malone on the other hand, who had a down year for New Orleans last year as a role palyer, struggling in every category across the board has tried his best to redeem himself; setting career highs across the board. What a tale of two seasons. We'll gladly give him the nod. Some in Helena are calling for Bronson James but only his HR total stands out, outside of his high K/BB rate. 
• Center Field
• Livan Pascual (Bos) - Speedster of the AL, #3 in SBs with just over 40 and a .285ish batting average. He also has 12 plus plays on the season, so he's providing a ton of value out in the field as well. Seems the obvious lock for the All-star game. 
• Cyrus Sisk (Hun) vs Adam West (Atl) vs Anibal Castillo (Hou) - Sisk is another .280ish hitter with just over 10 HRs, his K/BB rate is slightly unfavorable but he does walk a ton compared to his counterparts. Defensively he's pretty solid and will give Pascual a run for the AL CF Gold Glove. West on the other end, strikes out a tick less but walks about half as much and provides a much lower batting average without providing much more in terms of power. With Castillo, as with every other Corgis that was traded, appears to miss out on the All-Star game; like his former teammate Harris, Castillo also switched leagues which doesn't help his cause. It's a close call but we'll go with Sisk who has been in the AL all season and provides a solid glove for anything hit to deep center. 
• Right Field
• Johnnie Daniels (Atl) - Often overshadowed by his teammates Crain and Moss, Daniels belongs at the top of many batting discussions and surely deserves this spot on the All-star team. 
• Paco Garces (Mty) vs Pedro Alberro (Hel) vs Reymond Balboa (Phi) - Many good names for the backup option in the American League. You could go for speed and average with Alberro or power with Balboa or a combination of power/speed with Paco Garces. Defensively Alberro is likely the best of the bunch but not in enough way to make a big difference. We'd likely go with Garces' SBs and AVG over the additional HR Balboa provides but think we might prefer Alberro's AVG and SBs over Garces' HRs. SNUBBED.
• Designated Hitter
• David Andrus (Mty) - Some might try to use Andrus as a catcher, but he's DH'd nearly 85% of his games played so we'll keep him here. 
• Starting Pitchers
• Arismendy Costilla (CSP) + Zephyr Gross (Atl) + Damaso Ethier (Atl) + Norm Cunningham (Hou) + Joaquin Owen (Phi) + Quilvio Infante (Atl) + Santiago Cora (Mty) - No surprise to see the three Atlanta pitchers on the list, they've had a quality rotation for a few years now. And Costilla is having a fantastic season, hard to believe he's only 32 and been pitching season Season 42, and making anywhere from 37-40 starts a season. Cora is another whose typically on this list, and he's been a little unlucky this season considering his lower OAV and WHIP. Cunningham has been superb for Houston this year, he's currently 9-0 with 12 of 15 quality starts a 2.16 ERA. Any one of these guys would make a great ace to any pitching staff. 
• SNUBBED. - None. Hard to argue with Carlos Concepcion (CSP) but he's been hit harder than the other All-Stars even though he has an AL leading 2.09 ERA. Luckily those walks and hits just haven't turned into runs. Mitch Dillard (Hou) is another, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on this list next year. Tony Lim (CSP) has turned out quality start after quality start, actually I'd probably take him over Quilvio Infante. 
• Relief Pitchers
• Whit Benoit (Hel) + Darby Hatcher (Hou) + Stephen Ramirez (Atl) + Bruce Saunders (Seo) + Max Blankenship (Mty) + Fautino Salas (Atl) - Ramirez, Saunders, Hatcher and Benoit are all top of the saves list. Blakenship continues to produce, saving 9/10 with a 1.49 ERA, deserting 26 runners on base. Salas could be saving games on just about any other team in the league. 
• SNUBBED. - None, it appears there might be a lack of quality relief pitchers in the American league.

• NATIONAL LEAGUE
• Catcher
• Braulio Guardado (Buf) - Alex Tarraga passed the HR torch to Guardado last season and he hasn't looked back. Hard to argue with a .310+ avg and 30+ HRs at the break. 
• Gregorio Cordero (NO) vs Will Roth (OK) - I'm a little to surprised to see Cordero still on the ballot, especially since he's been on bedrest for the last 10 or so games. Sure he's having a great catching season but Roth is having his own great season in Oklahoma City. Roth actually leads all NL catchers in AVG, H, and RBI. SNUBBED.
• First Base
• Sticky Baez (SJ) vs Yusmeiro Troncoso (Aus) vs Keith Halter (NO) vs Omar Gonzales (Har) - Lots to unpack here and seems the moves from Columbus to New Orleans and Tokyo to Hartford have hurt both Halter and Gonzales in the All-star voting. Baez lags behind both in OPS and SBs. Troncoso's value is purely based on his defensive contributions, bringing in 12 plus plays with 0 errors but he's still 40 points in average to Halter. I'd probably go Halter over O-Zo as the starter give the average and SB difference. DOUBLE SNUBBED.
• Second Base
• Javier Quevedo (NO) vs Shea Crowe (Chi) - Just like last year, Q and Crowe battled it out for the starter gig in the All-Star game; they have separated themselves from the NL pack; no questions they belong. I think the fans got the starter correct as well. 
• Shortstop
• Bruce Sager (Har) - Talk about your night and day difference in Shortstops after the Hartford team moved away from Garabez Belliard and his strikeout records. Sager is having a career year, hitting a tick above .300; well above his previous career high of .268. Many experts will be watching to see what he does in the second half. If he can continue, the Rising Stars will be in a good position. But nobody can question that he belongs in the All-star game this year. Sager has also offered plus defense for the Rising Stars.
• J.O. Avila (Buf) vs Sal Thompson (SFE) - Thompson known around the league for his defense, has a leading 14 plus plays and Fld% at Short. Avila isn't known for his defense, but he's not a liability either. Avila offers the higher average; for the All-Star game I'll take the plus defense coming off the bench over the extra 30 points in average. SNUBBED. 
• Third Base
• Jhonny Rijo (Chi) vs Rip Bromberg (Pit) vs Leonel Martinez (Har) - Rijo and Bromberg are the two you'd expect to see, but Martinez continues to have a stellar season for the Rising Stars. Rip leads the NL in batting average and has improved his game, hitting more XBH than he typically has in the past. Rijo has Martinez in average and OPS but walks less and I'll give him the nod as well; though I expect to see Martinez squeeze from time to time.
• Left Field
• Juancito Martin (NO) - Reigning NL MVP having a down year but he ranks as top left fielder in OPS. If only he got caught less times trying to steal. Even in a down year I think he's proven enough to gain the appearance. 
• Bernie Molina (Har) vs Leury Barcelo (Was) vs Shannon Bunch (Tok) - Molina hasn't been far behind Martin and seems to find a way to increase his batting average each of the last 4 seasons. What Molina does at the top of the order, Barcelo does better middle of the order providing the additional home runs and RBIs. His average might be slightly lower but he tops Molina in OPS. Bunch while I think he belongs in the discussion has been a notch below the other three. We'll go with Barcelo, SNUBBED.
• Center Field
• Bonk Burnett (Har) - Bonk is the clear top center fielder in the NL, hands down. He doesn't strike out much, he brings the power along with a high average. I'll take one of each please. 
• Bey Combs (SJ) vs Francis Jefferson (Buf) - This one is eerily close across the board but we are going with San Juan's bright spot in the season, Combs whose been on the field for more games and slightly 
• Right Field
• Douglas Laxton (NO) vs Brace Lansing (OK) vs Charley Rhymes (VC) vs Geovany Rios (Mon) - Two Americans vs Two Not Americans. Easiest choice I've ever had to write about. It helps that both Laxton and Lansing are by far the better two players but the two Canadians are trying! As far as what they've done so far this season, I'd give the start to Lansing for the similar HR but higher SB total. 
• Starting Pitchers
• Nigel White (Har) + Bennie Swann (NO) + Louis Combs (NO) + Doc Cortes (Pit) + Mike Karsay (Was) + Alton Drew (Chi) + William Thompson (NO) + Rico Bonilla (NO) - Not to surprised to see all 4 of the New Orleans pitchers here as the team leads the NL in ERA, Ws, and Quality Starts. No doubt White will be on the Cy Young list again by the end of the season, and Cortes was a fantastic signing by Pittsburgh. Drew is a usual on this list and having another quality season. Mike Karsay having a great season and is 10-4 with 12 QS. 
• SNUBBED - Gregor Lopez (Buf) is hard to overlook, especially the way he's been pitching since being moved back into the rotation. 9-1 with a 2.16 ERA. Brian Fukudome (Pit) with Pittsburgh was another solid signing and bringing exactly what their owner needed with 16 of 20 quality starts; NL leading. I'd likely take either one over Rico Bonilla of New Orleans who seems to be having a bit of a down year compared to his recent ones at least. 
• Relief Pitchers
• Ronnie Andrews (NO) + Jeff Jones (Por) + Wilmer James (VC) + Seth Buford (Chi) + William Corcoran (Pit) + Dilson Melendez (Chi) - A bunch of the usual saves leaders in Jones, James and Andrews; while Jones has the most I tend to lean towards Andrews more with the lower OAV, WHIP, and ERA the other two. Bufurd is turning out quite a good season for Chicago but he's blown the most saves of them all. At first I question Corcoran, as he doesn't even appear to be a main setup man for his franchise, but looking deeper a 1.03 WHIP, .208 OAV, and he's held 18 inherited runners on base; near top of the NL. 
• SNUBBED - None, I see a few names like Nate Washington (Tok) who is similar to Corcoran, by holding runners but I just can't see myself removing any of the names above. Joe Madson is another but he's not quite above the other relief pitchers playing in the All Star game. Actually I'd likely take Yao-Hsun Higahioka (NO) over Melendez giving his current status as one of the elite setup men who could be saving games elsewhere.