Fan Voting: Your Picks Tweaked

Jason Michael Barker

Every year, statheads complain about the fans voting for the All-Star teams. I've been known to do it myself. I mean, come on - Cal Ripken Jr. every year? He's an average player, but he's also who the fans want to see play. This is year is different, however. We, the fans of MLB, did a pretty good job this season picking the All-Star squad. No, the selections aren't 100% perfect, but they aren't terrible, either. Starting with the National League, here are my All-Star selections. Names in italics are choices which deviate from those players chosen by the fans.

National League

C - Javy Lopez, Atlanta. Despite being traded twice, Mike Piazza ran away with the voting. Without looking at the numbers, it was easy to vote for Piazza and assume he was having a typical Piazza year. He's not. His numbers are down this season, both slugging and on-base percentage. Lopez, on the other hand, is getting on base at a .359 clip, while slugging close to .600. He's two years younger than Piazza, and just might be ready to take over the title of best catcher in the NL.

1B - Mark McGwire, St. Louis. No argument here. Big Mac leads the majors in OPS, and his mammoth homeruns have become the biggest story in baseball this season. Not only is he a great player putting up tremendous numbers, but he's certainly someone the fans want to see.

2B - Craig Biggio, Houston. He'd be a good offensive player at any position, but at second he's a star. He draws a ton of walks, steals bases, and even hits for power. He's one of the most valuable players in baseball, and a definite All-Star.

3B - Chipper Jones, Atlanta. He's cooled somewhat after his hot start, but he's still putting up big numbers. He's on pace to set personal bests in nearly every offensive category, and he's just 26. Hands down, the best 3B in baseball.

SS - Walt Weiss, Atlanta. He doesn't hit for power, but who cares? Weiss is getting on base at a .432 clip this season, the fifth best number in baseball. He's also playing solid defense, having made just six errors this season.

OF - Barry Bonds, San Francisco. Bonds continues to put up Hall of Fame numbers year after year, and this season is no different. His power numbers are down a bit this year, but he's still getting on base 43% of the time, and drawing nearly a walk a game. One of the top 3 players in baseball.

OF - Sammy Sosa, Chicago. It's hard to go against Tony Gwynn, but you just can't ignore Sosa. It's his 33 home runs that have made headlines, but it's his .383 OBP that makes him a valuable player this year. He's always hit for decent power, but this is the first time in his career that he's gotten on base at a decent clip as well.

OF - Greg Vaughn, San Diego. Finally living up to the big contract he signed after the 1996 season, Vaughn is hitting for power and getting on base, and his 49:41 strikeout-to-walk ratio is an impressive number for a free-swinging power hitter.  He replaces the injured Larry Walker, who was voted in by the fans on the strength of his 1997 NL MVP award.

American League

C - Ivan Rodriguez, Texas. The best backstop in the AL, I-Rod combines tremendous defense with power almost unheard of for a catcher. He's improved his OBP and slugging each of the last three seasons, and he's on pace to make it four in 1998. Like Biggio, he's one of the most valuable players in baseball.

1B - Jim Thome, Cleveland. It's taken an off-year by Frank Thomas to do it, but Thome has established himself as the premier 1B in the American Leauge, and second to only McGwire in MLB. Before the season I picked Thome to win the AL MVP, and he has yet to let me down. He's on pace for his third consecutive 120+ walk season, an incredible number when coupled with his .658 slugging this season.

2B - Damion Easley, Detroit. The fans went with name recognition and selected Roberto Alomar, but Easley's a much better candidate. His 19 home runs and .538 slugging lead all ML second sackers, and while his .350 OBP isn't stellar, it's a respectable number. He's having a career year, and deserves a trip to the All-Star game. He's certainly having a better year than Joey Cora's All-Star 1997.

3B - Dean Palmer, Kansas City. Ripken? I didn't know his ridiculous consecutive games streak included the All-Star game. I don't care if he's going to the HOF, his pathetic .686 OPS doesn't deserve to be within 1000 miles of Coors Field come Tuesday. Enter Palmer, a superior player with superior numbers. He would be better off if he walked a bit more, but he makes up for it with power. After a down year in 1997, he's returned to his impressive 1996 performance level.

SS - Alex Rodriguez, Seattle. Another no-brainer, A-Rod leads all ML shortstops in runs, hits, homers, RBI, and OPS. He's got the popularity and stats to start the All-Star game for the next 10 years, and unlike Ripken, he'll actually deserve it.

OF - Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle. See above. Junior is the most popular player in baseball, is often called the best player in baseball, and he's got the stats to back it up. He's slugging a career high .680 (second only to McGwire), getting on base right around his career OBP, and along with McGwire is a leading candidate to obliterate Maris' record.

OF - Bernie Williams, New York. Some people are calling 1998 an "off" year for Williams, because he only has 10 home runs. Ha. What they fail to realize is that despite the home runs, he's slugging over .600, and getting on base over 45% of the time. He's having by far the best year of his career, with injuries the only thing holding him back. Far more deserving of a selection than overrated Kenny Lofton.

OF - Bobby Higginson, Detroit. If you find yourself asking "who?", don't worry, you're not alone. Higginson plays in the relative obscurity of the Tigers lineup, overshadowed by Tony Clark and Easley's career year, but he's having quite a year himself, combining walks and above-average power. He's been one of the best outfielders in the AL the past two seasons, but has gone unnoticed because he won't hit 50 homers or drive in 100. And I'll bet you didn't know that his .961 OPS is third only to Griffey and Williams among AL outfielders.

Jason Michael Barker is working on a complex system by which the All-Star teams would be chosen by highly intelligent robots, not unlike strikethree.com's own VirtualGammons. Share any concerns you might have about "proven veterans" making the team to jmb@strikethree.com.