2011 MLB All-Star Game: The 10 Most Egregious Snubs in NL Voting
"Democracy is the worst form of Government," Winston Churchill wrote in 1947, "except for all those other forms that have been tried."
There is perhaps no greater proof of this than the annual MLB All-Star fan vote, and the time-honored tradition has continued in 2011.
Yesterday, I took a look at the worst snubs in the American League voting so far. Today, we turn to the most egregious omissions from the latest NL leaderboards.
In this slideshow are 10 players who deserve at least strong consideration for the NL All-Star team but either are far too low on the voting leaderboards or missed the lists completely.
At this rate, a whole lot of deserving players are going to be sitting home during the Midsummer Classic.
No. 10: Cameron Maybin, Outfield
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Current rank: n/a
The Marlins dumped Maybin before the season, and now they probably regret it.
The speedy center fielder has a .750 OPS and a 118 wRC+ despite playing his home games in cavernous Petco Park. Combine that with his great defense (13.3 UZR/150) and he's earned 2.1 WAR in just 52 games.
He's not a deserving starter, but a spot in the Top 15 voting leaderboards wouldn't be out of line.
No. 9: Chase Headley, Third Base
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Current rank: n/a
Headley hasn't looked nearly as good in the field in 2011 as he did last year, but he's making up for it with a career year offensively.
The 27-year-old plays half his games in one of the worst hitter's parks in baseball, but he's still managing to hit .281 with a .769 OPS and 125 wRC+.
Headley shouldn't be an All-Star, but in a thin NL third base class—Ryan Roberts is the only third baseman with least 2.0 WAR, and he's not even on the ballot—he deserves some recognition.
No. 8: Jose Reyes, Shortstop
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Current rank: Second (1,241,553 votes)
Hard to complain about a guy with over a million votes not getting enough recognition, but there's not even a shadow of a doubt that Reyes is the best shortstop (if not position player) in the NL right now.
Reyes is pacing his peers in average (.346), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.525), OPS (.914) and wRC+ (157). His 4.0 WAR are tops at any position in the Senior Circuit.
Troy Tulowitzki is playing very well, but he's winning because of what he did last September, not what he's done in 2011.
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No. 7: Hunter Pence, Outfield
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Current rank: n/a
Pence is sure to make the team as one of the post-vote selections (the Astros need a representative somehow), but he deserves to at least be in the running in the fan balloting.
Pence's .320 batting average is second-best among NL outfielders, and he's in the Top 10 in on-base percentage (.363), slugging percentage (.502), OPS (.865), wRC+ (142) and WAR (2.2).
And yet, he isn't in the Top 15 in the fan vote.
No. 6: Gaby Sanchez, First Base
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Current rank: n/a
A lot of fans had never heard of Sanchez before this season, when he's come out of nowhere to hit .311/.386/.504 with 11 homers, 42 RBI and 2.5 WAR.
It's too much to ask for a deserving no-name player to beat out guys like Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard, but why the heck is Freddie Freeman in the Top 5 when Sanchez isn't?
No. 5: Chris Iannetta, Catcher
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Current rank: n/a
Think fast—what NL catcher with at least 160 plate appearances has the best on-base percentage? If you didn't say Chris Iannetta, you're wrong.
Despite hitting just .234, Iannetta's great power (1.000 Power Factor) and mind-bogglingly good plate discipline (19.5 percent walk rate) have made given him a 129 wRC+—i.e., he's been 29 percent better than the average hitter, even after adjusting for Coors Field.
At 2.1 WAR, he's been more valuable than each of the Top 5 vote-getters at catcher.
No. 4: Danny Espinosa, Second Base
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Current rank: n/a
With Chase Utley injured and Dan Uggla struggling, second base is a thin position in the NL this year. Second-place vote-getter Rickie Weeks is the only clear-cut deserving All-Star.
Beyond Weeks, the best choice has to be Espinosa. No one's noticed him while he's toiled away in Washington, but he's shown good power (.203 ISO) and speed (six steals) while playing great defense (13.3 UZR/150).
Believe it or not, Espinosa's 2.2 WAR put him second among NL keystoners.
No. 3: Drew Stubbs, Outfield
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Current rank: n/a
The only thing Stubbs does really well is run (20 steals). But he's living proof that breadth can sometimes be just as good as depth.
Stubbs isn't near the league leaders in average (.269), on-base percentage (.345) or slugging (.417). But with a .762 OPS and a 119 wRC+, it looks like he's doing pretty well for himself—not to mention his 49 runs.
Put it all together and he's got 3.0 WAR—third best among NL outfielders. But you wouldn't know it from the All-Star voting.
No. 2: Miguel Montero, Catcher
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Current rank: n/a
Who's been the best catcher in the NL? Look at the numbers and you'll be surprised: it's hard to argue against Miguel Montero.
In 59 games this season, Montero has hit .282/.362/.490 with eight homers and 36 RBI. His .370 wOBA is better than NL voting leader Brian McCann's, and at 2.3 WAR he's been the most valuable catcher in baseball.
How sad is it that he'll probably be sitting out of the Midsummer Classic?
No. 1: Andrew McCutchen, Outfield
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Current rank: n/a
When McCutchen was called up in 2009, he was hailed as a future stud. Turns out the future is now.
McCutchen his hitting .292 with 10 homers, 12 steals, an .878 OPS and a 147 wRC+ this year while posting a 13.6 UZR/150. His 3.7 WAR is second-best among NL outfielders.
Anyone want to guess where he is on the NL vote-getters leaderboard? First? Second? Fifteenth? If you saw the top of the slide, you know he missed the list altogether.
Explain that, America.
For more of Lewie's work, visit WahooBlues.com.
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