Who will represent the Red Sox in the All-Star Game

Apr 7, 2015
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This year's embarrassing start has brought up an embrassing prospect: not having anyone deserving go to Cincinnati to represent the team in the ASG.
 
There seems to be 2 candidates, but neither of them, while playing well, should take a spot of another player, but will, due to MLB rules.  No one looks to have a prayer of getting a fan vote enbtry.
 
1) Pedroia. Currently fifth in voting. 1/4 the votes of Altuve. While hitting .296/.362/.444/.806 (a good power year for him, 7 HR's), I would say that Kipnis and Altuve are shoo-ins. Does a 3rd 2B make it? And if so, does Pedey beat out Travis, Dozier, and Forsythe for that spot.
 
2) Koji. tied for 10th in saves, with 10. Only Miller has both more saves and a lower WHIP. Miller and Davis (0 ERA, 21 innings) are shoo-ins, and 4 more RP's with 15+ saves and ERA under 3. Koji only P with 10+ saves with less than 19 innings (15.1).
 
Tazawa is (also) pitching well, with 6 more innings than Koji, and in most years Ortiz and Hanley would make it via the ballot. And Hanley had it on production after April. 1 month later, he doesn't deserve it, especially when you factor his defense, sort of like the French army in January.
 
No need to talk about the starters here.
 
Can the next 5 weeks possibly bring a new candidate or improve enough the resume of any of the highly paid hitters?
 
Is it obviously Pedroia? And if he and Koji both slump in June, what happens?
 

dbn

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GraysonGrandeGonads said:
This year's embarrassing start has brought up an embrassing prospect: not having anyone deserving go to Cincinnati to represent the team in the ASG.
 
There seems to be 2 candidates, but neither of them, while playing well, should take a spot of another player, but will, due to MLB rules.  No one looks to have a prayer of getting a fan vote enbtry.
 
1) Pedroia. Currently fifth in voting. 1/4 the votes of Altuve. While hitting .296/.362/.444/.806 (a good power year for him, 7 HR's), I would say that Kipnis and Altuve are shoo-ins. Does a 3rd 2B make it? And if so, does Pedey beat out Travis, Dozier, and Forsythe for that spot.
 
2) Koji. tied for 10th in saves, with 10. Only Miller has both more saves and a lower WHIP. Miller and Davis (0 ERA, 21 innings) are shoo-ins, and 4 more RP's with 15+ saves and ERA under 3. Koji only P with 10+ saves with less than 19 innings (15.1).
 
Tazawa is pitching well and in most years Ortiz and Hanley would make it via the ballot. And Hanley had it on production after April. 1 month later, he doesn't deserve it, especially when you factor his defense, sort of like the French army in January.
 
No need to talk about the starters here.
 
Can the next 5 weeks possibly bring a new candidate or improve enough the resume of any of the highly paid hitters?
 
Is it obviously Pedroia? And if he and Koji both slump in June, what happens?
 
 
 
Hey, one of our starters is tied for the best ERA in the AL amongst starters with at least one start. (And our guy has the better WHIP!)
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Assuming only one guy goes, if it isn't Pedroia , it's Hanley.  He's got a bit of star power, he's a candidate for the HR Derby, and LF isn't exactly a murderer's row in the AL.  There's Alex Gordon, then maybe Brantley and Cespedes, then Hanley and probably Gardner.  I know the vote is for three generic outfielders, but I expect reserves will be picked based on actual position.  Brantley and Cespedes both have teammates who are shoo-ins (Kipnis and Cabrera at minimum) so if it comes down to taking one of those three, that the Sox don't have a clear-cut representative might tip the scales for Hanley.  Of course, returning to form over the next four weeks would help too.
 
Frankly, I'd love to see Holt go.  Put him on the roster, move him around to 4-5 positions over the course of the game.  Have some fun with his flexibility.  I'd rather that than send a vet (be it Pedroia, Uehara, Hanley or whomever) that would be better served having those 3-4 days off.
 

grimshaw

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I think Koji is the only logical choice - but selections don't always work that way, bench wise..  
Pedey maybe gets the nod, but Kipnis, arguably Kinsler, Altuve, maybe Dozier if the Twins need a rep could be considered ahead of him
 
I mean, Hanley hits long home runs, but nothing else right now.  He's still half a win below replacement, and his offensive WAR isn't so hot either with that low.obp and poor base running. 
 

Savin Hillbilly

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Lose Remerswaal said:
Pedroia loses his hitting streak today and plays some of his worst defense in a long time and Uehara blows the save.
 
I like the Holt idea.  Or maybe they can just pass.
 
I wish they could, but a rule is a rule. Unless somebody gets blazing hot in June, this has the potential to be embarrassing.
 

soxhop411

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Savin Hillbilly said:
 
I wish they could, but a rule is a rule. Unless somebody gets blazing hot in June, this has the potential to be embarrassing.
Just back out. Say you have other plans. Nobody on this team deserves to be in the all star game
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Savin Hillbilly said:
 
I wish they could, but a rule is a rule. Unless somebody gets blazing hot in June, this has the potential to be embarrassing.
Are you kidding?  You must be forgetting some of the players who have been All Stars in the past(Bryan LaHair anyone?).  There wouldn't be anything embarrassing about Pedey making the team.
 

Savin Hillbilly

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The wrong side of the bridge....
soxhop411 said:
Just back out. Say you have other plans. Nobody on this team deserves to be in the all star game
 
That's true. MLB has to name a Sox player to the team; that doesn't mean they have to go.
 
And BMHH is right. I hadn't looked at Pedey's line lately; he's quietly having a pretty good year. Even if that would overweight the team with 2B's, he's the obvious choice. 
 

JimD

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The answer is 'Dustin Pedroia' and there is nothing embarrassing about this at all.  It sure beats rehashing the annual questions about his future over the past few years.
 

Savin Hillbilly

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dbn said:
 
Hey, one of our starters is tied for the best ERA in the AL amongst starters with at least one start. (And our guy has the better WHIP!)
 
I don't know if this is more a comment on the shortcomings of WAR or of the 2015 Sox, but that one start made EdRod #10 on the team in WAR according to BBref.
 

Byrdbrain

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I thought of this last night as well, he would need to keep up his current pace for a few starts but if he does he'll have a sub-3.5 era and would be a reasonable pick.
My money is still on Pedey but Buchholz is a dark horse.
 

Buzzkill Pauley

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Is Lastings Milledge still unsigned?
 
Seriously, though, my money's on Koji getting the call.  Someone's gotta.
 

NDame616

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Savin Hillbilly said:
 
I just made the same point in the Bogaerts Bat thread. If he stays hot for a while, it's a distinct possibility.
 
Doesn't really have to stay hot. Just keep performing as he is. He's a top 2 or 3 offensive SS in the AL already.
 

Al Zarilla

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Savin Hillbilly said:
 
I just made the same point in the Bogaerts Bat thread. If he stays hot for a while, it's a distinct possibility.
 
NDame616 said:
 
Doesn't really have to stay hot. Just keep performing as he is. He's a top 2 or 3 offensive SS in the AL already.
Don't too many people still look at just average, HR and RBI? X's Average is good, HR and RBI look weak. But, as has been pointed out, there aren't any AL shortstops killing it, or coming close. 
 
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/ss/league/al
 

LahoudOrBillyC

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Pedroia would be a fine choice.  Not a "we have to pick someone from that shitty team" choice.  But a good, deserving choice.
 
A lot of it depends on what you think the game is for.  Pedroia is a mid-career Hall of Famer having another good year.  For my money, the game was meant for guys like him.  Not "I am having a hot two months" guys.
 

Tyrone Biggums

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I think Boegarts and Pedroia stand the best chance. There is a distinct possibility of Hanley if he can reproduce his April.
 

Al Zarilla

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Betts they'll figure hasn't paid his dues yet, and he should have plenty of chances ahead. Buchholz, if it comes down to Yost, he's probably a meat and potatoes, wins and losses guy, so not him. Holt is just a substitute will be the view by some, and Pedey's been hurt. Bogaerts.
 

WenZink

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Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:
Bumping a month later.
 
Bogaerts, Betts, Buchholz, Holt, and Pedey are all deserving.  Given how shitty the AL shortstops are, I have to think it goes to X.
 
If I were the AL manager, and could make the pick myself, I'd choose Mookie by a mile.  Can field, run, bunt and makes contact.  He's ranked #3 in WAR for AL outfielders, has an OPS close to .800, and is in the top 10-12 (AL OFers) in most offensive categories.  It's interesting that he has just 3 fewer RBI than Mike Trout, even though he's been hitting at either the top of the lineup or at the bottom.
 
Bogaerts deserves to go as well, btw.  But Betts has far more utility for an ASG.