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artoodeetoo · 12-04-2018, 09:38 PM

BIGGEST ALL-STAR SNUBS
MLB's homerun leader amongst those left off rosters
07/11/2019
By David LoPietro, MLB.com

Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles -- If it weren't for the rule stipulating each team has a representative, Bellinger would almost certainly be suiting up for the National League in Cleveland. Alas, Cincinnati's Joey Votto and Philadelphia's Carlos Santana took two spots on the roster, but a bunch of arguments could be made that he should have been on the team anyway. He leads the NL in homeruns (35), RBI (91), SLG (.690), OPS (1.070), and OPS+ (177), and also sports a solid .303 BA. He finished third in the NL's final vote behind Gregory Polanco and Freddie Freeman, as both fanbases put up an excellent campaign to get them voted in.

Freddie Freeman, Atlanta -- Freeman was narrowly leading the first base voting in the National League with just a few weeks prior to the announcement of the teams, but then lost out to Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt only to finish second in a close final vote to Gregory Polanco of Pittsburgh. His numbers aren't quite as good as Bellinger's, but he's on par or better than both Santana and certainly Votto, but who else on the Reds deserved to be in there?

Jon Lester, Chi. Cubs -- The 35-year-old southpaw is having one of his best seasons in recent memory, averaging over a strikeout per inning and posting a sub-1 WHIP (0.97), which he has never done before at this point in any season. His ERA (3.34) isn't as good as some of the others on the NL's staff, but it could be argued that he deserved a spot over Atlanta's Zach Britton, who is middle of the pack amongst closers in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP, but the Braves needed a representative, and with a stacked first base field (hello, Cody Bellinger!), Britton got the nod.

Patrick Corbin, St. Louis -- He doesn't have flashy swing-and-miss numbers, which is the biggest reason why he didn't make the NL squad, but Corbin is enjoying a season that is on par or close with just about any other pitcher not named Noah Syndergaard. His 9-1 record is noteworthy, but he's managed to post a 2.91 ERA with an impressive 61.8 GB%, and nine double plays turned. It should also be noted that Corbin made the All-Star squad last season with the Diamondbacks with worse statistics, so it goes to show the relative strength of NL pitching in 2019.

Trevor Oaks, Kansas City -- His more well-known teammate, Danny Duffy, is going to represent Kansas City along with fellow first-timer Cheslor Cuthbert in Cleveland, but it can be argued that Alex Cora picked the wrong Royals' pitcher. Like with Corbin, Oaks doesn't wow you with big strikeout numbers, but sports some of the best command ability in baseball with just thirty-three walks in 221 1/3 MLB innings while improving on his GB% from 50.0% to 53.7%, and increasing his K/9 rate from 5.8 to 6.4 over last season. Oaks' stuff and velocity has always been a bit questionable, but he's also managed to drop his H/9 rate from 10.5 to 9.1 over 2018, and his ERA ranks second in the American League at 3.30.

Willie Calhoun, Texas -- The stocky outfielder got off to a screaming start, hitting fourteen homeruns through the first month and change of the season, if you count March games. His outfield mate that did make the squad, Nomar Mazara, is probably the better overall player when you thrown in defensive prowess, but you can also make the case that he should have been in over Mike Trout, who has been putting up mere mortal numbers this season (but still a very good season by most standards). Calhoun has a higher OPS, BA, thirteen more homeruns, has driven in seventeen more runs, and has scored eight more runs than has Trout in 2019.

Dellin Betances, NY Yankees -- In 44 1/3 innings, Betances has given up a ridiculous eighteen hits, including just one homerun. He's walked twenty-three, one of the few qualifying relievers in baseball to have more walks than hits allowed. While his ERA doesn't match up to some, like Diego Castillo or Jandel Gustave, he also ranks third amongst qualifying relievers in K/9 (14.7), and his 0.97 WHIP is tied for third-lowest.

12-04-2018, 09:38 PM	#207
artoodeetoo MVP OVR: 0 Join Date: Dec 2015	Re: Royal Rebuild [OOTP 19] BIGGEST ALL-STAR SNUBS MLB's homerun leader amongst those left off rosters 07/11/2019 By David LoPietro, MLB.com Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles -- If it weren't for the rule stipulating each team has a representative, Bellinger would almost certainly be suiting up for the National League in Cleveland. Alas, Cincinnati's Joey Votto and Philadelphia's Carlos Santana took two spots on the roster, but a bunch of arguments could be made that he should have been on the team anyway. He leads the NL in homeruns (35), RBI (91), SLG (.690), OPS (1.070), and OPS+ (177), and also sports a solid .303 BA. He finished third in the NL's final vote behind Gregory Polanco and Freddie Freeman, as both fanbases put up an excellent campaign to get them voted in. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta -- Freeman was narrowly leading the first base voting in the National League with just a few weeks prior to the announcement of the teams, but then lost out to Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt only to finish second in a close final vote to Gregory Polanco of Pittsburgh. His numbers aren't quite as good as Bellinger's, but he's on par or better than both Santana and certainly Votto, but who else on the Reds deserved to be in there? Jon Lester, Chi. Cubs -- The 35-year-old southpaw is having one of his best seasons in recent memory, averaging over a strikeout per inning and posting a sub-1 WHIP (0.97), which he has never done before at this point in any season. His ERA (3.34) isn't as good as some of the others on the NL's staff, but it could be argued that he deserved a spot over Atlanta's Zach Britton, who is middle of the pack amongst closers in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP, but the Braves needed a representative, and with a stacked first base field (hello, Cody Bellinger!), Britton got the nod. Patrick Corbin, St. Louis -- He doesn't have flashy swing-and-miss numbers, which is the biggest reason why he didn't make the NL squad, but Corbin is enjoying a season that is on par or close with just about any other pitcher not named Noah Syndergaard. His 9-1 record is noteworthy, but he's managed to post a 2.91 ERA with an impressive 61.8 GB%, and nine double plays turned. It should also be noted that Corbin made the All-Star squad last season with the Diamondbacks with worse statistics, so it goes to show the relative strength of NL pitching in 2019. Trevor Oaks, Kansas City -- His more well-known teammate, Danny Duffy, is going to represent Kansas City along with fellow first-timer Cheslor Cuthbert in Cleveland, but it can be argued that Alex Cora picked the wrong Royals' pitcher. Like with Corbin, Oaks doesn't wow you with big strikeout numbers, but sports some of the best command ability in baseball with just thirty-three walks in 221 1/3 MLB innings while improving on his GB% from 50.0% to 53.7%, and increasing his K/9 rate from 5.8 to 6.4 over last season. Oaks' stuff and velocity has always been a bit questionable, but he's also managed to drop his H/9 rate from 10.5 to 9.1 over 2018, and his ERA ranks second in the American League at 3.30. Willie Calhoun, Texas -- The stocky outfielder got off to a screaming start, hitting fourteen homeruns through the first month and change of the season, if you count March games. His outfield mate that did make the squad, Nomar Mazara, is probably the better overall player when you thrown in defensive prowess, but you can also make the case that he should have been in over Mike Trout, who has been putting up mere mortal numbers this season (but still a very good season by most standards). Calhoun has a higher OPS, BA, thirteen more homeruns, has driven in seventeen more runs, and has scored eight more runs than has Trout in 2019. Dellin Betances, NY Yankees -- In 44 1/3 innings, Betances has given up a ridiculous eighteen hits, including just one homerun. He's walked twenty-three, one of the few qualifying relievers in baseball to have more walks than hits allowed. While his ERA doesn't match up to some, like Diego Castillo or Jandel Gustave, he also ranks third amongst qualifying relievers in K/9 (14.7), and his 0.97 WHIP is tied for third-lowest.