How is Howie not an All Star?

[Troutipoo27]

Any explanations? Besides the fact Cano and Pedroia.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

And Kipnis. A lot of AL 2B are having a good year.

[tdawg87]

No one really knows who he is.

[mancini79]

Any explanations? Besides the fact Cano and Pedroia.

 

How many times did you vote for Howie?

[jshep]

That's pretty much it.

 

Pretty dumb that he didn't at least make the Final Vote though. Thankfully we have a choice of a wide range of middle relievers for that though.

[tdawg87]

Most Angels fans don't really care all that much. Trout should have easily won the lead in outfield votes, but instead he actually trailed behind Adam f'ing Jones for a few weeks. I'm sure we all did our part here but I'm guessing most Angels fans voted for Pujols or something.

[Mile High Dreams]

If the team won more he'd probably get more consideration. Most fans are casual fans and thus will only vote for those they are familiar with. (much like politics)

[seenoevil]

What's his average with men in scoring position? How many players has he left on base?

 

He seems to be a great hitter when there is no pressure put upon him.

[Mile High Dreams]

What's his average with men in scoring position? How many players has he left on base?

He seems to be a great hitter when there is no pressure put upon him.

LTH is that you?

[Troutipoo27]

Just so we are all clear Ben Zobrist made the team.

[Angelsjunky]

Even though I recognize that the All-Star Game is a joke and no more than a popularity contest, I still end up voting once every year and I vote for the best player, not necessarily for an Angel. The only Angel I voted for was Mike Trout.

[jshep]

What's his average with men in scoring position? How many players has he left on base?

 

He seems to be a great hitter when there is no pressure put upon him.

 

Batting .278/.365/.514 with RISP

[Mile High Dreams]

Batting .278/.365/.514 with RISP

It's not clutch unless its in the 7th inning or later.

[Troutipoo27]

It's not clutch unless its in the 7th inning or later.

runs are runs

[Mile High Dreams]

runs are runs

You aren't getting it.

[Bruce Nye]

East coast influence

 

Too many really good 2b players.

 

Does he deserve it?  Yes, but see No. 1 above.

[AZMike]

Batting .278/.365/.514 with RISP

It's not clutch unless its in the 7th inning or later.

runs are runs

You aren't getting it.

 

Fangraphs AL "Clutch" leaderboard, in reverse order

 

Trout is the least clutch player in the AL. Kendrick is third to last.

 

 

edit: as I was posting this, Mike Trout -- the potential tying run -- hit the first pitch into an inning-ending double play in the 7th.

[Tank]

Even though I recognize that the All-Star Game is a joke and no more than a popularity contest, I still end up voting once every year and I vote for the best player, not necessarily for an Angel. The only Angel I voted for was Mike Trout.

So basically it's your fault Howie didn't make the team.

[ScottT]

Kendrick has been very good, but I would've been surprised if he had made it.  Pedroia, Cano, and Kipnis have been great.  Two of them have done it for quite a while.  

 

Ben Zobrist is a questionable selection.  He hasn't played like an All Star this year.  He did in 2011 and 2012, but didn't make the All Star team in either year.  He is the only Rays player, but Evan Longoria is more deserving, and you can make somewhat of a case for James Loney.  I wouldn't go with Loney, though.  Classic example of a mediocre player having a couple good months.  Zobrist plays multiple positions... could be a big reason he is on there.  

[Vegas Halo Fan]

edit: as I was posting this, Mike Trout -- the potential tying run -- hit the first pitch into an inning-ending double play in the 7th.

 

Better trade him for prospects.

[Brent Maguire]

Yeah is there a reason why Zobrist made it over Longoria or Kendrick? I get that he can play a few positions but he hasn't been all star quality at all this year.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

He didn't get enough votes.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

He was an AS before and if he continues to improve, I'm sure he'll be an AS again. 

[Ohtaniland]

I voted for Iannetta because I thought that we had more fans than the Minnesota Twins. I was wrong.

[mancini79]

Yeah is there a reason why Zobrist made it over Longoria or Kendrick? I get that he can play a few positions but he hasn't been all star quality at all this year.

 

Every team needs to represent 1 player. Zobrist was selected as the only Rays player to make it. Matt Moore should have made it over anyone else on the Rays. Verlander over Moore??? But yeah, Longoria could have been selected over Zobrist if it had to be a Ray.