The Red Sox All-Star: Who will it be?
Jun 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) does an interview during batting practice before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The Red Sox will have an All-Star since that is required by baseball for each team to be represented. I am sure Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has the office staff diligently hunched over computers and notching votes for as many non-Royals as possible. Hey – just give in to Omar Infante.
The real burden falls upon Ned Yost, who must make the personal appointed selections and that is where the Red Sox come in. Based on the last series in KC, Ned may be tempted to pick any Red Sox other than Rick Porcello.
So, just who do the Red Sox send? Who would go if Yost just selects one? Who is the most deserving as the sands of metrics shift week to week? Here are a few possible selections.
Jun 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Boston Red Sox base runner Mookie Betts (50) rounds third to score against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Sly Stallone played the Demolition Man in the movies and Betts played it in a weekend series at “The K” as he shredded KC pitching offensively and dazzled the arguably best defense in the league on the bases.
What’s not to like about Betts? Betts is – by baseball standards – diminutive, but with – drawing a name from the past – a potential “Toy Cannon” like the old Astro Jim Wynn, who was of similar stature to Betts. The ability Betts demonstrated to transfer seamlessly from second base to center field and that wonderful ability to become a crowd favorite even with the opposition are pluses for the 22-year-old Betts.
Looking at the defensive metrics shows Mookie near the top despite a transition that is just a year old. Yeah, he’ll outrun and out quick the occasional mistake, but the kid can play center and a few of his more spectacular moves have been highlighted on Sports Center.
Now if WAR is an end all stat then Betts is ranked number five among AL qualified center fielders. Looking at some of the more exotic metrics such as wOBA, ISO and BsR, Mookie is among the leaders and what stands out is a .453 slugging on the more traditional side.
So Mookie is a possibility.
Jun 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The won loss stat is misleading and has been somewhat relegated to a statistical dust bin thanks to Felix Hernandez a few seasons ago. Buchholz has made every start and is ranked eighth among AL starters in WAR at 2.1. What also stands out is a 3.87 ERA compensated by a 2.82 FIP.
Buchholz K/9 is a career best 8.79. The negative side it the K’s are a good thing since the BABIP is at .335. Where the real change is noted with Buchholz is use of the two seamed fast ball in his repertoire. That use has almost tripled since 2014.
Buchholz is certainly not an elite pitcher. No Chris Archer, Dallas Keuchel or Sonny Gray, but a competent starter that at his current pace could (gasp!) be classified as an Ace later in the season.
So a Buchholz selection could be deserved and would not raise any “Why him?”
Jun 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) takes a lead off second base during the first inning of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Pedey is back with a vengeance. A 2.2 WAR puts him fourth in the league at second, but the real numbers are those nine home runs and 30 RBI. That has been missing for a few seasons, so, just maybe, it was the various hand injuries?
Pedroia is fifth in ISO at 1.46, fourth in slugging at .453, second in average at .307 and second in BABIP at .325. Pedroia, no doubt, leads in any irritation metric since he has a notorious history of deflating ego’s on his team and others. That said, the former MVP, is one of the most respected players in the game.
Defensively the metrics show a Pedey that is not quite up to the standards of the past, but still Pedroia is in the upper ranks with metrics and certainly with the eyeball test.
Pedroia started the AS Game before, so that would come into play. Pedroia has been voted in and played so his absence is not some type of disservice, especially with the performance Jason Kipnis, Jose Altuve and the under the radar Logan Forsythe.
Jun 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) drives in three runs with a double against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The two areas that stand out with Bogaerts are his defensive improvement and his RISP.
Bogaerts did the investment in the off season and spring training to develop and refine his defensive skills. Bogaerts’ footwork, range, arm accuracy and ability to not get Pedroia murdered on the DP have placed him in the third slot defensively at short. Bogaerts WAR is in second place among AL shortstops at 1.8.
RISP in 2014 was .153. That is pathetic. For 2015 it is .370. Right across the board Bogaerts has been as consistent offensively and he has been defensively. In April it was a .274 average and in May a .275. June is .329 and what stood out was a bases loaded double against the Royals to put a game out of reach.
Bogaerts power numbers are not there. So what? Three home runs? His slugging is first among AL shortstops. ISO at .113 is fourth and RBI total (30) is first and BABIP is second at .330. At 22-years-old Bogaerts has arrived and he will only get better. An All-Star? Would not surprise me.
Jun 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Boston Red Sox third basemen Brock Holt (26) hits a RBI triple against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
No more phone calls, folks, we have a winner! Holt is the Red Sox All-Star since he is already a “Brock Star.”
Holt plays everywhere and does not embarrass himself. I was surprised observing his range and arm at short as Holt goes to his left and right fluidly and has an accurate, if not overpowering arm. In the outfield Holt gets excellent reads on the ball, charges the ball like an infielder and has an arm that is accurate. Holt is just one smart and gritty player. The transition from position to position is effortless.
The .316 stands out for Holt. That represents his batting average against left-handed pitching. For Holt’s career it is .288 versus .283 against right-handers. This is an unusual stat for a left-handed batter. Even Ted Williams hit thirty points lower against southpaws.
Holt is now hitting .318 in late June, and in 2014 the first half average was .327 and dropped to .219 in the second half. Wear and tear? That makes little difference since the AS Game is the break point and Yost should have Holt in Cincinnati.
Statistics through 6/22 courtesy of Fangraphs and baseball-reference.
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