2015 MLB All-Star Roster: Undeserving Selections and Biggest Snubs

The 2015 MLB All-Star Game heads to Cincinnati this year. The event stirs up controversy like it's its job, causing a frenzy of discussion over who should and who shouldn't be representing their respective leagues in the game.

This year is no different, and some players will, deservedly so, earn the "snub" title, while others will be deemed "undeserving" of their selection. In this piece, I'm going to help sort all that out.

After a brief look at each league's roster, we'll look at one player from each league who is totally undeserving of his being voted into the game. Following the section on undeserving players selected to participate in the All-Star Game, be sure to read on to find out who the biggest snubs are from this year's teams.

So, without further ado, here are your undeserving selections and biggest snubs from the 2015 All-Star Game.

Starting Position Players

Position	National League	American League
Catcher	Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants	Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
First Base	Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks	Miguel Cabrera*, Detroit Tigers
Second Base	Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins	Jose Altuve, Baltimore Orioles
Third Base	Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds	Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
Shortstop	Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals	Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals
Outfield	Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals	Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Outfield	Matt Holliday*, St. Louis Cardinals	Lorenzeo Cain, Kansas City Royals
Outfield	Giancarlo Stanton*, Miami Marlins	Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
DH	--	Nelson Cruz

Reserves

National League	American League
Yasmani Grandal, C, Los Angeles Dodgers	Russell Martin, C, Toronto Blue Jays
Yadier Molina, C, St. Louis Cardinals	Stephen Vogt, C, Oakland A's
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers	Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels*
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs	Mark Teixeira, 1B, New York Yankees
DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Colorado Rockies	Jason Kipnis, 2B, Cleveland Indians
Joe Panik, 2B, San Francisco Giants	Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies	Jose Iglesias, SS, Detroit Tigers
Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs	Brock Holt, IF/OF, Boston Red Sox
Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants	Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates*	Adam Jones, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers	J.D. Martinez, OF, Detroit Tigers
A.J. Pollock, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks	Prince Fielder, DH, Texas Rangers
Justin Upton, OF, San Diego Padres	--

Pitchers

National League	American League
Madison Bumgarner, LHP, San Francisco Giants	Chris Archer, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
A.J. Burnett, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates	Dellin Betances, RHP, New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Cincinnati Reds	Brad Boxberger, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates	Zach Britton, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
Jacob deGrom, RHP, New York mets	Wade Davis, RHP, Kansas City Royals
Zack Greinke, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers	Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland A's
Mark Melancon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates	Kelvin Herrera, RHP, Kansas City Royals
Shelby Miller, RHP, Atlanta Braves	Felix Hernandez, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies	Dallas Keuchel, LHP, Houston Astros
Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers	Darren O'Day, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals	Glen Perkins, LHP, Minnesota Twins
Max Scherzer, RHP, Washington Nationals	David Price, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Michael Wacha, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals	Chris Sale, LHP, Chicago White Sox

Undeserving Selections

Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

One truly undeserving selection from each league. Unsurprisingly enough, the fans voted these two players in. 

First, our American League player: Alcides Escobar.

The 28-year-old shortstop has been solid but unspectacular. Through 71 games this season, Escobar boasts a .282/.323/.367 batting line with 19 extra-base hits (two home runs), 31 RBI, 41 runs scored, five steals and a 36-14 K/BB ratio.

Escobar's perceived ability to get on base—.321 OBP—is driven largely by his ability to put the bat on the ball. Unfortunately, Escobar is drawing walks at just a 4.4 percent rate and can't be trusted to get on base. Moreover, the Venezuela native has seen his stolen-base totals plummet this year, totaling just five steals on seven attempts.

The big thing keeping Escobar's 1.8 fWAR afloat is his above-average glove. To this point in the season, Escobar has logged two defensive runs saved, and his UZR/150—8.6—ranks third among American League shortstops, per FanGraphs.

That 1.5 fWAR I mentioned earlier ranks in a second-place tie with Brad Miller among AL shortstops behind a much more deserving player, and final vote candidate, Xander Bogaerts. Escobar probably deserves to be at the game, but definitely not as a starter.

Meanwhile, a player who hasn't suited up since June 8 is slated to start in the National League's outfield. 

Matt Holliday has no business starting—nor playing in—the All-Star Game.

The 12-year veteran and now seven-time All-Star was having a decent season prior to succumbing to the injury bug. Over 52 games—218 at-bats, Holliday totaled a .303/.417/.421 batting line with just three home runs, 14 extra-base hits, 26 RBI, 20 runs scored and a 39-33 K/BB ratio.

All that was good for a 1.1 fWAR. It's good, not great. Not All-Star great, anyway.

With numerous players behind him in the polls who have played better, more complete seasons, it's not hard to see why Holliday is "undeserving" of his All-Star Game selection.

Biggest Snubs

Brian Dozier should be the recipient of the final fan vote in the American League. However, it never should have come to this in the first place.

Dozier is having a standout season, one of the best in the American League. Through 83 games played, the 28-year-old carries a solid .258/.331/.512 batting line with 17 home runs, 26 doubles, 43 RBI, 63 runs scored, seven stolen bases and a 74-33 K/BB ratio.

Dozier's fWAR—3.1—outpaces all AL second basemen not named Jason Kipnis, and his other numbers are well represented amongst qualified second basemen. In that group, Dozier ranks first in home runs, first in RBI, first in ISO, first in slugging percentage and second in wRC+, via FanGraphs.

By the numbers, Kipnis and Dozier should have been the top-two vote-getters at the position, but Dozier will now need the help of the same fans who burned him the first time around.

Charlie Blackmon our focus here as the National League's biggest snub. The 29-year-old has compiled some solid numbers through 82 games this year, and figures to be the next-best option to having Matt Holliday on the roster.

Through said 82 games, Blackmon ranks as the sixth-best outfielder in terms of fWAR—2.6—and his .280/.351/.452 batting line pairs well with his counting stats, which include 11 home runs, 36 RBI, 49 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and a 63-27 K/BB ratio.

Given Holliday's injury status, Blackmon easily outpaces him in every way imaginable, and his omission from the All-Star Game roster is rather egregious.

Advanced stats via FanGraphs.com unless otherwise noted.

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