5 Guaranteed Snubs for the 2012 ASG
Each year, 68 Major League Baseball players (34 from each league) descend upon a pre-determined city to wear tacky uniforms and watch their friends and teammates hit ridiculous home runs. This year, it is Kansas City’s turn to host the All-Star Game.
And as with every year, there are more than 68 deserving players. Even more intriguing sometimes than the players who do make it to the All-Star Game are the ones who got snubbed.
With the game determining home-field advantage for the World Series (one of the worst rules ever created in any game anywhere…ever), stakes have been raised in recent years. Still, with fan vote factoring in and the inevitable, biased manager’s choices to fill out the rosters, players are going to get snubbed.
Here are five guaranteed snubs of this year’s All-Star Game from each league, ten in total:
National League
1. A.J. Ellis, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ellis has handled the Majors’ 2nd-best pitching staff flawlessly to this point in the season, and has kept his average fluttering around .330. The most impressive stat that the National League squad will miss out on is his ability to get to 1st base. As of play today, Ellis has racked up an astounding .444 on-base percentage.
2. Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers
The crop of deserving N.L. catchers is just too large this season. You have to think Yadier Molina (St. Louis) and Buster Posey (San Francisco) will make it on fan vote alone. And I can’t see Carlos Ruiz of Philadelphia being snubbed, which leaves no room for the quietest great catcher of the season. Lucroy’s line right now: .343/5/29/.386.
3. James McDonald, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Erik Bedard is getting a ton of credit for his comeback performance in the rotation this season, and deservedly so. But the guy nobody is talking about is the electric righty who has finally put all his talent together into one unhittable package. One that won’t be making the All-Star Game, despite a 2.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .198 batting average against.
4. Anthony Bass, SP, San Diego Padres
Three Up, Three Down’s first MLB player to join the podcast has been stellar since joining the rotation in San Diego. Aside from two hiccups, he’s allowed 3 ER or less in all of his starts in 2012. In 54.1 innings as a starter in 2012, Bass has given up just 22 earned runs. Unfortunately, his run support hasn’t been all that great, so his record doesn’t reflect his performance.
5. Bryan LaHair, 1B, Chicago Cubs
LaHair was a sight to behold for the first month of this season. He’s cooled off considerably, which won’t help him get to Kansas City. Not only is the poor guy going to miss the All-Star Game even with a .301/10/21/.397 line, but he’ll probably lose his starting spot to Anthony Rizzo as soon as the Cubs call him up. I hope LaHair can play outfield!
American League
1. Fernando Rodney, RP, Tampa Bay Rays
David Price is going to get the Rays’ guaranteed All-Star bid, and James Shields might sneak in as well. That leaves the most dominant closer in baseball to this point (you read that right), wondering what he could have done better to get to K.C. It’s a popularity contest, and there just won’t be room for poor Fernando and his 15 saves or 0.38 ERA.
2. Jason Hammel, SP, Baltimore Orioles
I can’t imagine anyone besides Jim Johnson and Adam Jones (who are absolute locks) going to the All-Star Game from the first-place O’s. Despite a ridiculously hot start to the season, Hammel is going to be squeezed out by pitchers like C.C. Sabathia, Yu Darvish and Felix Hernandez. Poor guy. His 6-1 record and 2.78 ERA is going to waste.
3. Derek Lowe, SP, Cleveland Indians
How about D-Lowe this year? The old man still has some nasty sinkerballs in him, and he’s showing it. Lowe has been the veteran anchor on a first-place Cleveland staff, but we all know this kind of success won’t last; ask a Braves fan. Just because we know it’s a fluke, doesn’t mean Lowe and his 6-2 record and 2.15 ERA are any less deserving of a spot.
4. Ryan Cook, RP, Oakland Athletics
This may be the biggest snub of them all, but nobody knows who Cook is outside of Oakland. His 0.00 ERA so far in 22.2 innings is incredible, as is his 21 K’s, 4 hits allowed and 0.78 WHIP. But how is Cook going to be selected over Jim Johnson, Jonathan Broxton and Chris Perez for the bullpen? This may be the first time ever a pitcher who hasn’t allowed a first-half run gets snubbed.
5. Billy Butler, 1B, Kansas City Royals
Sigh. What a shame. Playing in his team’s stadium, no less. But you’ve got to understand that the American League DH spot is going to David Ortiz, and the first baseman slots will be filled by Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez. Don’t forget, this is still a popularity contest. Butler has been the best of the bunch at .292/9/32, but he may need the Final Vote to get the spot he deserves.
Who else do you think will be snubbed? Let me know in the comments below! Also, is the home-field advantage rule stupid? Comment away!
– Jeremy Dorn (@Jamblinman)
Three Up, Three Down 
I like that I went back and read this and I have 3 of your guaranteed snubs in the All-Star Game haha… Man did Derek Lowe go to crap
Haha! Yeah, I still stand by all but Rodney, unfortunately.