The time has finally come, as MLB fans all around the world excitedly looked through the MLB All Star rosters last night to see who would represent their favorite team in this year’s All Star Game. Of course, many of the picks make sense in the starting lineups. However, there are also quite a few that are leaving me completely dumbfounded. Quite a few players around the league were unfairly snubbed by the fans and are not going to be start-or even participating- in the 2014 All Star Game.
MLB All Star Snubs
The biggest mishap is the American League’s starting shortstop. Yes, I understand that it is the great Derek Jeter, and he is retiring, and he deserves one last ASG. However, what he does not deserve is a roster spot that he has not earned this season. The All Star Game is supposed to have the best players in each respective league playing against each other, and Jeter is not by any means the best shortstop in the AL this season. He definitely should not be in the starting lineup, and it’s questionable whether or not he should even be on the team.
Now, as for who should be starting; that would be Alexei Ramirez. Alexei is listed as a reserve for the AL, but should certainly be starting over Jeter. He ranks higher than Jeter in various statistical categories, including batting average (.286/.273), home runs (8,2), RBI (41,23) hits (98,81), and runs (42,28). Ramirez has simply been better than Jeter this season in more ways than you can count, and Ramirez should definitely be the AL’s 2014 starting shortstop (Sorry, “Captain”).
The second biggest blunder in the rosters is the National League’s starting catcher, Yadier Molina. Again, this selection seems to be popularity over performance. In no way has Molina played poorly this season, but he also has not played nearly as well as the NL’s reserve catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Lucroy has been better than Molina in a multitude of ways, just like Ramirez with Jeter. The fact that Molina has been voted as the starter is unbelievable when you compare the two. When you look at Lucroy’s statline you see that he is putting up incredible numbers. His batting average is .329, his OBP is .397, he has nine home runs and 44 RBI. Let’s compare that to Molina’s statline: .292 batting average, .347 OBP, seven home runs and 30 RBI. Molina is not playing poorly by any means, and deserves to be on the roster. However, his play is inferior to Lucroy’s and he should not be starting over Lucroy by any means.
Taking a close look at the two All Star rosters shows these two glaring mistakes by the fans who voted. Yes, Jeter is in his final season, but that does not mean he should start over someone better than him. Also, Molina is known as a top catcher, but that does not make him automatically better than all others. Jonathan Lucroy has been the better catcher this year, and should be in the starting nine over Molina.
Hopefully Alexei and Lucroy will both get solid playing time in the All Star Game. It’s obvious they have earned it.
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