MLB All-Star Game 2011: 5 Biggest NL All-Star Snubs

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Because snubbing deserving All-Stars knows no league bias, here are the players who should have made the NL All-Star Team but didn't.

And just because I'm a blatant self-promoter, here's the list of AL snubs linked for your ease and enjoyment. (Note: I left Sabathia off cause he won't be eligible to pitch in the game anyway, but he was a snub for sure.) 

Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

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The 2011 snub to end all snubs, McCutchen has been arguably the best player in the entire NL (well, second best behind Reyes). That being said, only a Jose Reyes omission would have been a bigger mistake. 

A .289/.390/.493 line for a center fielder is absolutely All-Star worthy, and the above average defense doesn't hurt either. The outfielders that did make the NL team have all been very good, but McCutchen has outdone them all.

Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies

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The McCutchen argument basically applies to Victorino; excellent numbers at the plate (.299/.371/.515) and great fielding in center should amount to All-Star selection. 

Statistically speaking, Victorino has been the third best outfielder in the NL and worth roughly two more wins to the Phillies than All-Star Hunter Pence has been worth to the Astros. All of that and Victorino hasn't even hit 300 plate appearances yet.

Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks

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This is more about who did make it—Yadier Molina, not a good selection this year—than who should have.

Montero has been the second best Catcher in the NL behind Brian McCann and his wOBA (weighted on-base average, don't be scared of change it won't bite) which measures total hitting performance is 34 points higher than Molina's. Although Montero's defense hasn't been at Molina's level, he's a superior base runner and has added more overall value to his team.

An argument could also be made for Chris Iannetta here, but my god that BA is hideous.   

Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks

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The city hosting the All-Star game got hosed twice by the selection process, first with Montero and then Daniel Hudson. 

Who knows if this can be kept up, but Hudson's first half performance has been top 10 for the NL. His strikeout rates aren't up there with the big guns, but his ERA (3.49) and his FIP (2.69) have been very good. 

Don't let that Jair Jurrjens ERA fool you; Hudson was a more deserving All-Star selection this year. 

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves

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Looking at the NL All-Star rosters on ESPN.com, I seem to see the name "Ryan Vogelsong" listed. Maybe that's where they meant to write "Craig Kimbrel"? 

Kimbrel has been the best reliever in baseball, and yet that wasn't good enough to make the All-Star team. He's striking out over 14 batters per nine innings, has a 2.57 ERA and a 1.42 FIP. 

Kimbrel's teammate, Jonny Venters, deservingly made the team, but even he hasn't been as good as Kimbrel.