The Red Sox undeserving All-Stars
May 28, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara (19) throws a pitch in the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Boston won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Red Sox should be shut out on the All-Star ballot. The team will have their own Minister of Propaganda putting out info into cyberspace on getting out the vote – I’m not sure if they are actually serious? No hanging chads in this election as the number of Red Sox players that deserve to be selected amounts to zero. Nada. Zilch. Ballot stuffing? Even the most ardent, passionate, and jingoistic Red Sox loyalist knows that this season they deserve a ballot shutout.
So let us take a peek at how the latest members of the Underperforming 200,000,000M Club are doing and why they should be omitted and just about anyone else named.
Currently the Red Sox have a grand total of four players that are mentioned in the early balloting. This is just a baseball caucus at this time and the votes will continue to accumulate as the season moves into June. If the current trend continues the Red Sox players on the ballot will certainly be an endangered species.
If I was Ned Yost and had to pick the obligated player I would select Koji Uehara despite his melt down on Sunday.
May 30, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) forces out Texas Rangers right fielder Josh Hamilton (32) at third base in the fourth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Pablo Sandoval has not been an All-Star the previous two seasons and will not be in 2015. Sandoval just does not deserve it.
A 95M contract and a slightly disappointing season does not earn you that shot. With his glove work Sandoval is pedestrian at best. The metrics keep him borderline top ten and that is nothing special unless you can really do some damage with the bat. That has simply not happened.
Sandoval’s “issues” batting right-handed are well documented and Panda has adopted a very smart “give it up” attitude and will (hopefully) concentrate from the left side. Sandoval’s “Numbers” simply do not impress when compared to Mike Moustakas, Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado and several others. Even his WAR barely nudges above zero.
In 2014 there was some serious talk of trading Will Middlebrooks for Moustakas. Both were in the throes of horrid slumps and both ended up in Triple-A. How a year has changed. Moustakas deserves the slot at third.
May 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits a double in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nelson Cruz and/or Kendrys Morales will be the designated hitter. Or maybe Jimmy Paredes or Edwin Encarnacion? David Ortiz will not.
Ortiz is in a slump of epic proportions for him. Even a 68 at bat home run drought. An average that continues to spiral downward from a .263 of 2014. A power and extra base outage from Papi. Papi’s Isolated Power (ISO) has slipped dramatically – .163 from .255 of 2014. Papi’s WAR sits at -0.3.
So is Ortiz done? Red Sox nation has been down the route more than once, only to see Ortiz resurrect himself and rack up 30/100 or close to it. But at 39-years-old (or older?) the end just may be in sight. Ortiz has already mentioned his legacy, drug issue and the HOF, so he is prepping.
So Ortiz can make plans for a hiatus around All-Star time. Ortiz’ only shot is as a DH Emeritus.
May 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Hanley Ramirez (13) rounds third base after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Hanley Ramirez is now ranked tenth among AL outfielders in the balloting. If his numbers from April carried into May then a case could be made for the erratic fielding Ramirez to be on the team. The numbers, however, like the team, have dissipated.
Where to begin with such a less than awe inspiring month?
In April Ramirez slashed .293/.341/.659 with 10 home runs and 22 RBI. Outstanding! Articles were composed about his bat speed and how the ball jumps off his bat. The occasional fielding lapses were just accepted as transition to a new position.
May is another story. The complete opposite. Was it injuries? Ramirez has been nicked and dented more than a Ford Pinto cruising the streets of Boston. That has to have some legitimacy in his numbers. Hanley does deserve some props by dismissing his injuries and playing through as best he can. Of late it appears Hanley just may have snapped out of his prolonged slump. So Hanley deserves a break and June may see a continuation or a return to April.
Ramirez picks it up in June you may see him selected, but not by the voters.
May 30, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) jumps in the air during a pitch in the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dustin Pedroia is somewhat back. A few balls have left the park and Pedroia’s average is reasonable as are the rest of his stats with a slash of .296/.362/.444 and seven home runs and 21 RBI. That slash is almost a mirror of his career number.
The reality is Pedroia has now advanced passed age thirty, has had numerous hand issues and you simply will not see a return of those MVP numbers of a few years back. If the selection was based solely on defense, he’d have my vote, but is even that legit?
For the worshipers of fielding metrics Pedey has slipped into the negative UZR/150. In 2014 Pedroia blew everyone away in that category. On DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) Pedroia is in the negative – rare indeed. The blanket DEF (Defense) has Pedroia barely into the positive. But I happen to be an eyeball person and see Pedroia making a stellar play a game or more.
The combination of offense and defense point to only two players and they are Jose Altuve or Jason Kipnis. Maybe a case can be made to add Devon Travis, but not as a starter. I’ll pass on Robinson Cano and Ian Kinsler. Pedroia is back, but not quite ready to assume top ranking.
All statistics courtesy of fangraphs.
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