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Sunday, July 10, 2022

Full All-Star rosters stacked with game-changing talent

AMERICAN LEAGUE
STARTING PITCHERS

Shane McClanahan, LHP, Rays
Nestor Cortes, LHP, Yankees
Alek Manoah, RHP, Blue Jays
Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
Martín Pérez, LHP, Rangers
Paul Blackburn, RHP, A’s
Gerrit Cole, RHP, Yankees
Justin Verlander, RHP, Astros
Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Angels

RELIEF PITCHERS

Clay Holmes, RHP, Yankees
Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Guardians
Gregory Soto, LHP, Tigers
Jorge López, RHP, Orioles

FAN-ELECTED STARTERS

Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox
Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
Shohei Ohtani, DH, Angels
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
Mike Trout, OF, Angels
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees

RESERVES

Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros
Miguel Cabrera, DH, Tigers (Special Selection)
Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
Jose Trevino, C, Yankees
Luis Arraez, 1B, Twins
Andrés Giménez, 2B, Guardians
George Springer, OF, Blue Jays
Byron Buxton, OF, Twins
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Royals
Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros
Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners

NATIONAL LEAGUE
FAN-ELECTED STARTERS

Willson Contreras, C, Cubs
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, Marlins
Manny Machado, 3B, Padres
Trea Turner, SS, Dodgers
Bryce Harper, DH, Phillies
Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves
Joc Pederson, OF, Giants
Mookie Betts, OF, Dodgers

RESERVES

William Contreras, C, Braves
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
Albert Pujols, DH/1B, Cardinals (Special Selection)
Jeff McNeil, 2B, Mets
Travis d’Arnaud, C, Braves
C.J. Cron, 1B, Rockies
Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves
Kyle Schwarber, OF, Phillies
Juan Soto, OF, Nationals
Starling Marte, OF, Mets
Ian Happ, OF, Cubs

STARTING PITCHERS

Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins
Corbin Burnes, RHP, Brewers
Luis Castillo, RHP, Reds
Max Fried, LHP, Braves
Tony Gonsolin, RHP, Dodgers
Joe Musgrove, RHP, Padres

RELIEF PITCHERS

Edwin Díaz, RHP, Mets
Josh Hader, LHP, Brewers
Ryan Helsley, RHP, Cardinals
David Bednar, RHP, Pirates
Joe Mantiply, LHP, D-backs

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 10, 2022 at 06:10 PM | 37 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: all-star game

Reader Comments and Retorts

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 10, 2022 at 07:03 PM (#6086173)

Dylan Cease snubbed

2. Ziggy: social distancing since 1980 Posted: July 10, 2022 at 08:09 PM (#6086175)

One rep teams:

Rays (McClanahan)
Rangers (Martin Perez)
A's (Paul Blackburn)
Orioles (Jorge Lopez)
White Sox (Tim Anderson)
Royals (Benintendi)
Mariners (Julio Rodriguez)

Giants (Pederson)
Rockies (Cron)
Nationals (Soto)
Reds (Castillo)
Pirates (Bednar)
D-Backs (Joe Mantiply)

Pederson was elected, so he's not a mercy pick. Let's look at the others.

McClanahan is awesome and clearly deserving.
Perez is a mediocre vet having a good year. They could probably have found someone better, but at least he is having a good year.
Blackburn is another mediocre pitcher, but this time having only an okay year. I'll mark this one as a mercy pick.
Lopez is a lousy pitcher having a good (low BABIP-fueled) year. But the O's needed to send someone.
Tim Anderson has turned into a minor star. No problem with his selection.
Benintendi is a mediocre vet playing better than normal. But he's the best the Royals have got. Without the every-team-gets-a-player rule he misses out.
Rodriguez is an exciting young player, potentially a future superstar. A good pick.
Cron is mashing, but he's only a 1B. Maybe he's on the team because they needed a Rockie. Josh Bell would have been a better pick.
Soto is Ted Williams, even if he is having an off-year.
Castillo is genuinely a good pitcher.
Bednar seems to be a good relief pitcher. But when your team's only selection is a relief pitcher, unless you're Mariano Rivera, you're a token selection.
Ditto Joe Mantiply.

3. Walt Davis Posted: July 10, 2022 at 09:01 PM (#6086178)

As CFB noted in the chatter, no Edman. Hard to say who to bump (probably McNeil). NL has a slot with Harper out but I assume will want an OF for that spot (one of Schwarber/Soto will start in his place, the other will be the replacement DH unless that's Albert).

Is there still a utility man slot? And a fan-selected last man?

4. Greg Franklin Posted: July 10, 2022 at 09:39 PM (#6086182)

"Bednar seems to be a good relief pitcher. But when your team's only selection is a relief pitcher, unless you're Mariano Rivera, you're a token selection.
Ditto Joe Mantiply."

Bednar has been very good since last year, and given that no other Pirates are All-Star worthy in 2022, it's a good pick, not a mercy pick.

Joe Mantiply was tipped on MLB.com's Ballpark Dimensions podcast as the likely D-Backs selection, and they were proven right. No one on AZ's roster is obviously qualified by standard stats. By WAR Christian Walker is far and away qualified as the team's best player in 2022, but the BA is too ugly to select him for the game, and you can see the 1B competition. Mantiply is a mercy pick because of his flukey ERA and BB/SO ratio, reminiscent of the era in the 2000s when managers augmented the team (already loaded with ordinary closers who happened to have tons of saves) with middle relievers who happened to have ERAs in the ones like Shigetoshi Hasegawa.

5. Cooper Teenoh Posted: July 10, 2022 at 10:54 PM (#6086187)

I find it a hilarious quirk that the last three Opening Day Left Fielders for the Chicago Cubs are all on the NL roster. One of them is even still a Chicago Cub!

6. Cooper Nielson Posted: July 10, 2022 at 11:45 PM (#6086189)

The Tigers are also really a one-rep team with closer Gregory Soto. (Cabrera's on the team, but that's a special case.)

This is Soto's second consecutive All-Star Game. He's OK, not an embarrassment, but he's arguably the 5th or 6th best guy in the Tigers' (surprisingly competent) bullpen this year.

7. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 10, 2022 at 11:56 PM (#6086190)

Benintendi is a mediocre vet playing better than normal. But he's the best the Royals have got. Without the every-team-gets-a-player rule he misses out.

The only AL outfielder ahead of Benintendi in wRC+ that didn't make it was Michael Brantley, who is out with injury. If you go by WAR its Adolis Garcia and Cedric Mullins, but it's splitting hairs at that point. Injuries have really cost him the last two seasons. I think Benintendi is pretty worthy.

8. SoSH U at work Posted: July 11, 2022 at 12:03 AM (#6086191)

I find it a hilarious quirk that the last three Opening Day Left Fielders for the Chicago Cubs are all on the NL roster.

And none is Kris Bryant.

9. bookbook Posted: July 11, 2022 at 12:49 AM (#6086194)

Ty France is having the best offensive year at first base in the American League, building on a 4-war year from 2021. He’s also good defensively.

I don’t know if he’s the biggest snub this year, but he is one of the snubs.

10. Ron J Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:14 AM (#6086198)

#9 France is just back (and not playing well since coming off the DL) and might benefit from some time off. I wonder if that's a factor.

11. salvomania Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:08 AM (#6086210)

#9 France is just back (and not playing well since coming off the DL)

Not playing well? At the time of the selection announcement he'd only played in three games since coming off the DL! And he reached base in all three (single, double, walk, in 13 PA).

12. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 11, 2022 at 11:39 AM (#6086220)

Mantiply's not much of an All-Star, but he walked a guy on Opening Day, and hasn't walked anyone since. That deserves a little respect.

13. Ron J Posted: July 11, 2022 at 11:42 AM (#6086221)

#11 Or to put it another way, .167/.231/.250 (followed by another 0-4)

Now if my track record shows anything it's that I don't care about short term results -- beyond offering it up as a possible indication that he's still not 100% and could benefit from a little extra time off.

14. chisoxcollector Posted: July 11, 2022 at 12:12 PM (#6086222)

I'm pretty bummed Dylan Cease didn't make it. I thought he was a shoo-in.

Hendriks may have made it if he hadn't gotten hurt. But he wouldn't necessarily have deserved it, so I'm okay with his omission.

15. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 12:18 PM (#6086223)

There will be like 5-6 replacements for pitchers, so I would bet Cease and Carlos Rodon and Hendriks get in.

16. Doug Jones threw harder than me Posted: July 11, 2022 at 01:24 PM (#6086230)

Blackburn is another mediocre pitcher, but this time having only an okay year. I'll mark this one as a mercy pick.

Most people would have put money on Frankie Montas either being the A's sole All-Star, or having already been traded, or both. However, he's slipped a bit over the last few weeks and Blackburn has actually pitched pretty well. The only A's with a WAR above 1 are all pitchers, Blackburn, Cole Irvin, and Montas in that order. Blackburn is at least the A's best player right now. Strangely enough their best hitter has been Elvis Andrus?!?, and watching him, he at least knows what he's doing out there. Laureano too, but he spent much of the 1st half on the suspended list, so he couldn't be the choice, I think. The veterans or semi-veterans they were counting on - Tony Kemp, Jed Lowrie, Chad Pinder, Stephen Vogt, Steve Piscotty, and to a large extent Seth Brown, have all fallen off the table. The cupboard is pretty bare.

17. RickG Posted: July 11, 2022 at 01:30 PM (#6086232)

re post 2: Anderson was also not a mercy pick...he won the SS fan vote. Just FYI.

18. JJ1986 Posted: July 11, 2022 at 01:33 PM (#6086233)

I looked at Blackburn v. Montas and the rWAR difference seems to be unearned runs. Montas is better otherwise.

19. Doug Jones threw harder than me Posted: July 11, 2022 at 01:48 PM (#6086239)

#18 - Blackburn had one nice 8-inning start in the past month, but otherwise has been nothing to write home about (and actually stunk it up in his very last start), so you are correct. The big thing is that Montas has been on the shelf since July 3rd with shoulder inflammation, which means he wouldn't play in the All-Star game even if named to it.

20. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 02:11 PM (#6086241)

Tim Anderson has turned into a minor star. No problem with his selection.

Anderson was also elected by the fans.

21. chisoxcollector Posted: July 11, 2022 at 03:13 PM (#6086249)

There will be like 5-6 replacements for pitchers, so I would bet Cease and Carlos Rodon and Hendriks get in.

Cease starts the Sunday before the AS break. Those guys are never chosen as injury replacements. Hendriks might still make it, but Cease really deserves it.

22. sanny manguillen Posted: July 11, 2022 at 03:48 PM (#6086251)

67 innings ago, Clay Holmes was 5-7, 5.57 in his career, with no saves.

23. Walt Davis Posted: July 11, 2022 at 06:24 PM (#6086264)

Still surprised Daniel Bard didn't make it (214 ERA+, 2.20 ERA, 18 saves ... and a feelgood story unless I've forgotten some assholery), surely he'll be first up for an NL pitcher injury. But I look like a genius for my Cron speculation so I'm content.

24. Buck Coats Posted: July 11, 2022 at 06:39 PM (#6086265)

Bednar has been very good since last year, and given that no other Pirates are All-Star worthy in 2022, it's a good pick, not a mercy pick.

I know Centerfield doesn't get it's own roster spot, but Bryan Reynolds has the highest OPS of any NL centerfielder this year. And also had the highest OPS of any NL centerfielder last year. He'd get my vote. (To be fair he is only second this year in bbrefWAR behind Nimmo, but he was first last year.)

25. Howie Menckel Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:14 PM (#6086278)

Still surprised Daniel Bard didn't make it (214 ERA+, 2.20 ERA, 18 saves ... and a feelgood story unless I've forgotten some assholery), surely he'll be first up for an NL pitcher injury.

agreed on the narrative, but ....
top ERA+ SPs not chosen:

6. Wheeler 165
7. Rodon 152
(TWalker 152 but one out short of the ERA+ leaderboard)
8. KWright 145
9. PLopez 143
10. Mikolas 142

also Robertson has a 204 ERA+ with a better FIP than Bard, fwiw

26. The Yankee Clapper Posted: July 12, 2022 at 12:22 AM (#6086334)

Home Run Derby Participants, so far: Alonso, Acuna, Soto & Pujols. Presumably a formal announcement, with more participants, will be coming soon, but I was surprised by the Pujols inclusion.

27. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: July 12, 2022 at 10:42 AM (#6086350)

Really weird that the Braves have 2 catchers on the All-Star team. That has to be a first.

Also, two brothers that play the same position. I just checked the Alous and DiMaggios, and Felipe and Matty were both NL All-Stars in 1968, and Joe and Dom DiMaggio were both AL All-Stars seven times.

That 1968 All-Star game was a trip. One run (unearned, scored on a DP), eight hits, played in 2:10. Year of the Pitcher indeed.

28. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 12, 2022 at 11:05 AM (#6086353)

Really weird that the Braves have 2 catchers on the All-Star team. That has to be a first.

1957-1959 Yankees - Yogi Berra and Elston Howard

29. TomH Posted: July 12, 2022 at 12:22 PM (#6086355)

"Soto is Ted Williams, even if he is having an off-year."

Um... Juan Soto is hitting .243. Yes, that is still the league avg, and he does lead the NL in walks, but... Ted Williams' worst year from age 20 to age 38 was when he OPSed 1.045 his rookie year and led the AL with 145 RBI. It was a mere 6.6 WAR. Ted Williams simply did not ever have an "off year".. which is kind of why he was TED WILLIAMS, and Juan Soto's constant comparisons to him are overdrawn, even if he does look like a great talent.

30. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 12, 2022 at 12:36 PM (#6086356)

I hadn't noticed that about the Braves catchers... William Contreras has started all of 26 games at catcher this year, and somehow he's the better choice of the two. Comparing d'Arnaud to Will Smith, Smith is a better hitter, better defensive catcher, has been better this year, and has been better over the course of his career. Oh, and the game is at his home park.

31. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: July 12, 2022 at 01:51 PM (#6086364)

1957-1959 Yankees - Yogi Berra and Elston Howard

Consider me flabbergasted!

Yeah, Soto's power and BA are both off this year, his numbers are regular star level (153 OPS+) rather than godlike. His BABIP is only .244, and he's seeing fewer strikes.

32. Howie Menckel Posted: July 12, 2022 at 01:59 PM (#6086367)

Ted's rookie season OPS+ was 160 - very similar to Soto this year.

but Soto had a "pedestrian" 142 and 142 OPS+ his first two years, compared to Ted's 160 and 162.

33. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: July 12, 2022 at 02:27 PM (#6086369)

WS Titles:
Teddy Ballgame - 0
Soto - 1

COUNT THA RINGZZ

34. TomH Posted: July 12, 2022 at 03:38 PM (#6086378)

Frankie Crosetti - 17 ringz

35. The Yankee Clapper Posted: July 12, 2022 at 04:25 PM (#6086388)

Kyle Schwarber a Home Run Derby participant.

36. chisoxcollector Posted: July 17, 2022 at 05:35 PM (#6087090)

As expected, many AL All-Star replacements were named today, and Dylan Cease was not one of them. This on the same day where Cease threw 7 innings of 1 hit ball against the White Sox main rival, the Twins.

His much less valuable teammate Liam Hendriks was named as one of the replacements.

37. The Yankee Clapper Posted: July 17, 2022 at 07:23 PM (#6087103)

This on the same day where Cease threw 7 innings of 1 hit ball against the White Sox main rival, the Twins.

I don’t think pitchers who can’t actually pitch in the game are selected as substitutes.

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