Post by Captain America on Aug 26, 2014 16:03:57 GMT -5
Unlike the end of season awards, OOTP usually gets at least most of the deserving All-Stars correct for the All-Star Game each season. However, it seems like this season, there may have been a few more noticeable snubs than usual. I mean, no one is perfect and certainly OOTP isn't either, but it was unfortunate to see some of the better players this season miss out on the All-Star Game and their respective GM's miss out on a little extra board cash.
Before we get to the top 10 though, here are a few honorable mentions (in no particular order of course):
- Bruce Benningfield (LA)
- Ruben Gotay (ANA)
- Matt Morris (CHW)
- Ricky Nolasco (TB)
- Sergio Romo (SF)
- Seth Smith (NYY; untimely injury did him in)
And now the top 10!
10. 1B/DH Garrett Jones (SD)
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The Padres had quite a few All-Stars this season, but another one should have been Garrett Jones, who has been one of the main run producers for the Padres' lineup. Jones' average hasn't been particularly great, but the fact that he is tied for second in home runs should be enough to be an All-Star, right? The first base depth in the NL is deep, but Jones still should have been able to make the cut.
9. LF/RF Josh Hamilton (ANA)
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Josh Hamilton hasn't lived up to the hype that was there when he was originally drafted in 1999. But he has been a decent role player in his career at the very least. After making his first All-Star team in 2009, he should've made it again but missed the cut this time. Hamilton's .332 average is currently 7th in the AL and his .379 OBP is 9th. He also has 26 stolen bases so far. The OF depth is pretty good, but Hamilton is definitely one of the most productive outfielders to get snubbed this season.
8. 1B Prince Fielder (CHW)
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I was really surprised the White Sox didn't have a single representative after the big start they have had to their season. The one guy thought that I thought was definitely going to make it, but didn't was Prince Fielder. Usually, being in the top 10 in your respective league's OPS ranks should mean an All-Star shoe-in, but that is not always the case. Prince isn't in the top 10 in home runs or RBI, but he still had numbers good enough for an All-Star appearance. The depth among AL first basemen though didn't help. Jack Cust and Joey Votto both deserved their spots, while Prince and others were left on the outside looking in. Maybe next year!
7. 1B Casey McGehee (MIL)
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Speaking of good AL first basemen, Casey McGehee is yet another AL first baseman that was worthy of an All-Star appearance, but barely missed the cut. McGehee's snubbing is slightly more surprising because of the fact that he is tied for second in the AL in home runs, despite a lower average and OPS than Prince. McGehee seems to be making a very good transition to first base this season and should have plenty more opportunities in the future to make more All-Star teams.
6. SS Hanley Ramirez (PIT)
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Hanley Ramirez has had a down year in comparison to previous seasons in his career, but a down year for him is still a good season generally speaking. While Hanley's power is nowhere to be seen right now, he is still 8th in the NL in OPS, is hitting close to .300 and has 39 steals as well. Luis Rivas and David Wright may have clearly been the top 2 NL shortstops this season, but regardless, Hanley still should have made the All-Star team as a backup infielder.
5. 2B Chase Utley (ARZ)
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How in the world was Josh McKinley the only second baseman in the NL to make the All-Star team? OK Jose Bautista actually plays second base too even though he is listed as a third baseman, but regardless, there was no reason for Utley to get snubbed. He is currently 5th in the NL in OPS and is close to the top 10 in both home runs and RBI as well. The main reason though why he was ranked above Prince and McGehee though is again because of the lack of NL second base depth on the All-Star team. Utley was just as, if not more deserving than McKinley and it's crazy that he didn't even make the All-Star team as a reserve.
4. C Rob Bowen (CIN)
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One other All-Star Stutter should have had was his catcher, Rob Bowen. A PD to brilliant hits has certainly helped Bowen, who is on pace to have a career season. His numbers look as deserving, if not more deserving than that of John Buck, who was the NL's reserve catcher. Bowen's average is slightly lower, but he has more home runs and RBI than Buck, plus a higher OPS. Bowen has had the more complete season so far and this is not to say Buck wasn't a deserving All-Star, but rather that Bowen really got snubbed.
3. SP Jeff D'Amico (MIL)
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Jeff D'Amico has spent his entire career with the Brewers and in all 15 of those seasons, he has not made an All-Star team. But this season may have been his best shot. D'Amico is currently 3rd in the AL with a 2.59 ERA and is 8-6 with four complete games and two shutouts in 132.0 innings pitched. He and Kyle Kendrick have been the backbones to the Brewers' pitching staff as they try to go for consecutive winning seasons for this first time since 1997-1998. Had D'Amico had a few more wins, he would've very likely been an All-Star, but OOTP likes those wins more than great ERA's apparently, and that's how D'Amico got snubbed.
2. SP Kerry Wood (SF)
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Yeah this one doesn't make any sense. Kerry Wood's All-Star streak unfortunately came to an end this season. He had made the last 8 consecutive NL All-Star teams. It's the first time since 2001 that Wood did not make the cut, but why he didn't get in is puzzling. Wood has 10 wins, which is close to the top 10 in the NL. His 2.10 ERA is 6th and he has had 15 quality starts in 21 total starts. I get it that only a certain number of starting pitchers can be All-Stars each season, but Wood certainly has to be the NL's biggest snub.
1. SP Jeremy Affeldt (BOS)
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The Wood snub is pretty bad, but how in the world does the AL ERA leader get snubbed from being an All-Star? Unbelievable! Affeldt has been a difference maker for the Red Sox. He has 10 wins, which is just shy of top 10 in the AL. Again, he is the AL ERA leader at 2.41. He has 14 quality starts in 20 total starts and is also leading the AL in strikeouts. Yet he was somehow left off the roster because a few other pitchers had a lot more wins even though the ERA and overall effectiveness may not have been as good. And it's not like the Red Sox have sucked either. They currently are among the top AL teams and Affeldt is a huge reason why. Just completely pathetic that Affeldt isn't an All-Star this season. If being the ERA leader in your league isn't good enough, I don't know what is...
Hopefully OOTP will do a better job next season!
