The MLB All Star game is on July 12th and voting is underway to pick the starting lineups for the National League and American League teams. Our baseball experts give their choices, with Chengez picking the AL team and Aditya picking the NL Team.
American League Selections
C: Salvador Pérez (KC)
It has not been a tremendous offensive years for catchers, especially in the American League, but Pérez has been the best of the group. He leads AL catchers in home runs, runs, and RBI's, in addition to having the best defensive WAR*. Despite missing about a week due to injury, he also leads the the league in games played and plate appearances. His durability, consistency, and impressive counting stats makes Pérez the easy selection here.
Honorable Mention: Matt Wieters
The rest of the options are pretty underwhelming but Wieters is the best of the bunch and is playing solid defense and having a decent first half offensively.
1B: Miguel Cabrera (DET)
After a slow start, Cabrera has been on an absolute tear, reminding everyone he is still one of the best hitters in the game. His OPS is currently above .900 and he has the best wRC+ among AL first basemen with 53. Cabrera is even holding his own among his peers in the defensive metrics, although that is not saying much; all qualified AL first baseman are currently playing below average defense.
Let's just say winning the gold glove at the position this year will not exactly be something to boast about.
Honorable Mention: Chris Davis (BAL)
While his 2015 season was going to be hard to follow up, Davis is doing an admirable job, with an .853 OPS and 18 home runs.
2B: Jose Altuve (HOU)
What doesn't Altuve do well? His slash line is a ridiculous .340/.421/.545, he already has 18 bases, and his defense is above average too. He's also shown substantial improvement, flashing more power with 12 home runs so far in addition to taking his plate discipline to another level; his walk rate is up a whopping 6.4%. Altuve is in the discussion for AL MVP and definitely deserves the nod at second base.
Honorable Mention: Robinson Cano (SEA)
He is finally healthy again and starting to look a lot like the guy we got used to seeing on the Yankees; Cano's showing power, producing runs, and hitting for good average in the middle of a potent lineup.
3B: Josh Donaldson (TOR)
This one could not get any closer. Donaldson and Machado have both had amazing first halfs. But the slightest of edges goes to Donaldson. He has the higher WAR (by 0.1), and has actually been playing third base all year long (Machado had switched over to shortstop for a while thanks to an injury to JJ Hardy). Donaldson has also played more games, shown better plate discipline, and has surprisingly been the better baserunner.
Honorable Mention: Manny Machado (BAL)
With all the talk about Trout and Harper being the future of the game, Machado sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, but he is an absolute stud and could possibly end up having the best career of the three.
SS: Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
In this new era of several terrific young shortstops, Bogaerts has risen to the top of the crop. His stardom was not immediate, but in his third full season in the big leagues, the Red Sox phenom is finally breaking out, combining his ability to hit for a high average (currently at .349) with better power (he has 9 home runs already after hitting only 7 all of last year). Bogaerts has also drastically improved on defense, making him one of the best all-around players in the game today. That's quite the resume for a guy who is only 23 years old.
Honorable Mention: Francisco Lindor (CLE)
He's become the best defensive shortstop in the game and has not regressed offensively like some predicted. If his bat is legit, Lindor has a chance to challenge Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Corey Seager for the title of best shortstop for years to come.
OF: Ian Desmond (TEX)
The comeback player of the year in the AL is a pretty easy choice this season. The Rangers took a flyer on Desmond after he struggled mightily with the Nationals last year and decided to move him from shortstop to the outfield, and the transition has been seamless. Instead of throwing balls into the stands, Desmond is now using his rocket arm to gun down runners trying to advance bases on him. His athleticism allows him to cover a lot of ground. And most importantly, he's having his best year ever with the bat, sporting an impressive slashline of .322/.371/.527. Texas should probably open up the extension talks now if they hope to retain Desmond his offseason.
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)
He's the best player in the game and he's having another fantastic season. He's currently tied for the league lead in WAR and is ranked in the top 5 of essentially every important hitting category in addition to playing solid defense in the outfield. It's easy to forget about Trout because of how consistent his production has been the past few years, but playing at that high of a level isn't easy, despite how he sometimes makes it look.
OF: Jackie Bradley Jr. (BOS)
JBJ always had good pop, speed, athleticism, and plate discipline. The tools were never in question. But the biggest reason for his breakout year has been his strikeout rate. It has plummeted down from 27.1% to 18.9%, meaning he's hitting the ball in play more often, which has led to increases in his batting average and on base percentage. He has finally forced the Red Sox to keep him in lineup and show off all the talent that he possesses. Though some regression may be inevitable, Jackie Bradley Jr.'s breakout certainly seems legit.
Honorable Mentions: Mookie Betts (BOS)
He's scored 65 runs and driven in 54 out of the leadoff spot for the best offense in the AL and is on pace for a 30/30 season, while also playing above average defense. What's not to love? Betts is a superstar in the making.
DH: David Ortiz (BOS)
A 40 year old who announced he will retire at the end of the year is currently leading the league in OPS, and it's not particularly close. Big Papi is sitting at an absurd 1.109, which is more than a 100 points more than the 2nd place hitter, Jose Altuve. He already has 18 home runs and his driven in 60 RBI's. Ortiz is going out with a bang and he should easily earn the starting nod at designated hitter despite some strong competition from the likes of Nelson Cruz and Victor Martinez.
Honorable Mention: Nelson Cruz (SEA)
The the back end of the contract will probably look really ugly, but right now, Cruz is worth every penny, posting an .899 OPS and continuing his onslaught on American League pitching.
SP: Steven Wright (BOS)
Like the Red Sox team this season, the American League hitting has been tremendous, while the pitching has been rather lackluster besides a few standouts. The most surprising standout in the AL has been Steven Wright, and with all apologies to Chris Sale, I think Wright deserves the start. The peripherals are not going to give much love to a knuckleballer, but Wright has the best ERA in the AL. He will probably never get this chance again while Sale is a perennial all-star who is in the mix to start this game yearly. And if Wright continues to have a good feel for his knuckleball by the time the exhibition in San Diego comes around, the NL team might be looking awfully foolish the first couple of innings.
Honorable Mention: Chris Sale (CWS)
He's been the most consistent pitcher in the AL outside of Wright all year long. He has one of the nastiest sliders in the game, always racks ups the strikeouts, and has a great chance to win his first Cy Young award later this year.
Who would you select to start the All-Star Game for the American League? Let us know in the comments.
*All statistics used in this article are courtesy of FanGraphs, and were accessed on June 26, 2016.
American League Selections
C: Salvador Pérez (KC)
It has not been a tremendous offensive years for catchers, especially in the American League, but Pérez has been the best of the group. He leads AL catchers in home runs, runs, and RBI's, in addition to having the best defensive WAR*. Despite missing about a week due to injury, he also leads the the league in games played and plate appearances. His durability, consistency, and impressive counting stats makes Pérez the easy selection here.
Honorable Mention: Matt Wieters
The rest of the options are pretty underwhelming but Wieters is the best of the bunch and is playing solid defense and having a decent first half offensively.
1B: Miguel Cabrera (DET)
After a slow start, Cabrera has been on an absolute tear, reminding everyone he is still one of the best hitters in the game. His OPS is currently above .900 and he has the best wRC+ among AL first basemen with 53. Cabrera is even holding his own among his peers in the defensive metrics, although that is not saying much; all qualified AL first baseman are currently playing below average defense.
Let's just say winning the gold glove at the position this year will not exactly be something to boast about.
Honorable Mention: Chris Davis (BAL)
While his 2015 season was going to be hard to follow up, Davis is doing an admirable job, with an .853 OPS and 18 home runs.
2B: Jose Altuve (HOU)
What doesn't Altuve do well? His slash line is a ridiculous .340/.421/.545, he already has 18 bases, and his defense is above average too. He's also shown substantial improvement, flashing more power with 12 home runs so far in addition to taking his plate discipline to another level; his walk rate is up a whopping 6.4%. Altuve is in the discussion for AL MVP and definitely deserves the nod at second base.
Honorable Mention: Robinson Cano (SEA)
He is finally healthy again and starting to look a lot like the guy we got used to seeing on the Yankees; Cano's showing power, producing runs, and hitting for good average in the middle of a potent lineup.
3B: Josh Donaldson (TOR)
This one could not get any closer. Donaldson and Machado have both had amazing first halfs. But the slightest of edges goes to Donaldson. He has the higher WAR (by 0.1), and has actually been playing third base all year long (Machado had switched over to shortstop for a while thanks to an injury to JJ Hardy). Donaldson has also played more games, shown better plate discipline, and has surprisingly been the better baserunner.
Honorable Mention: Manny Machado (BAL)
With all the talk about Trout and Harper being the future of the game, Machado sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, but he is an absolute stud and could possibly end up having the best career of the three.
SS: Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
In this new era of several terrific young shortstops, Bogaerts has risen to the top of the crop. His stardom was not immediate, but in his third full season in the big leagues, the Red Sox phenom is finally breaking out, combining his ability to hit for a high average (currently at .349) with better power (he has 9 home runs already after hitting only 7 all of last year). Bogaerts has also drastically improved on defense, making him one of the best all-around players in the game today. That's quite the resume for a guy who is only 23 years old.
Honorable Mention: Francisco Lindor (CLE)
He's become the best defensive shortstop in the game and has not regressed offensively like some predicted. If his bat is legit, Lindor has a chance to challenge Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Corey Seager for the title of best shortstop for years to come.
OF: Ian Desmond (TEX)
The comeback player of the year in the AL is a pretty easy choice this season. The Rangers took a flyer on Desmond after he struggled mightily with the Nationals last year and decided to move him from shortstop to the outfield, and the transition has been seamless. Instead of throwing balls into the stands, Desmond is now using his rocket arm to gun down runners trying to advance bases on him. His athleticism allows him to cover a lot of ground. And most importantly, he's having his best year ever with the bat, sporting an impressive slashline of .322/.371/.527. Texas should probably open up the extension talks now if they hope to retain Desmond his offseason.
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)
He's the best player in the game and he's having another fantastic season. He's currently tied for the league lead in WAR and is ranked in the top 5 of essentially every important hitting category in addition to playing solid defense in the outfield. It's easy to forget about Trout because of how consistent his production has been the past few years, but playing at that high of a level isn't easy, despite how he sometimes makes it look.
OF: Jackie Bradley Jr. (BOS)
JBJ always had good pop, speed, athleticism, and plate discipline. The tools were never in question. But the biggest reason for his breakout year has been his strikeout rate. It has plummeted down from 27.1% to 18.9%, meaning he's hitting the ball in play more often, which has led to increases in his batting average and on base percentage. He has finally forced the Red Sox to keep him in lineup and show off all the talent that he possesses. Though some regression may be inevitable, Jackie Bradley Jr.'s breakout certainly seems legit.
Honorable Mentions: Mookie Betts (BOS)
He's scored 65 runs and driven in 54 out of the leadoff spot for the best offense in the AL and is on pace for a 30/30 season, while also playing above average defense. What's not to love? Betts is a superstar in the making.
DH: David Ortiz (BOS)
A 40 year old who announced he will retire at the end of the year is currently leading the league in OPS, and it's not particularly close. Big Papi is sitting at an absurd 1.109, which is more than a 100 points more than the 2nd place hitter, Jose Altuve. He already has 18 home runs and his driven in 60 RBI's. Ortiz is going out with a bang and he should easily earn the starting nod at designated hitter despite some strong competition from the likes of Nelson Cruz and Victor Martinez.
Honorable Mention: Nelson Cruz (SEA)
The the back end of the contract will probably look really ugly, but right now, Cruz is worth every penny, posting an .899 OPS and continuing his onslaught on American League pitching.
SP: Steven Wright (BOS)
Like the Red Sox team this season, the American League hitting has been tremendous, while the pitching has been rather lackluster besides a few standouts. The most surprising standout in the AL has been Steven Wright, and with all apologies to Chris Sale, I think Wright deserves the start. The peripherals are not going to give much love to a knuckleballer, but Wright has the best ERA in the AL. He will probably never get this chance again while Sale is a perennial all-star who is in the mix to start this game yearly. And if Wright continues to have a good feel for his knuckleball by the time the exhibition in San Diego comes around, the NL team might be looking awfully foolish the first couple of innings.
Honorable Mention: Chris Sale (CWS)
He's been the most consistent pitcher in the AL outside of Wright all year long. He has one of the nastiest sliders in the game, always racks ups the strikeouts, and has a great chance to win his first Cy Young award later this year.
Who would you select to start the All-Star Game for the American League? Let us know in the comments.
*All statistics used in this article are courtesy of FanGraphs, and were accessed on June 26, 2016.
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