Post by Sha-Le Unique on Aug 21, 2014 0:32:37 GMT -5
While it's a commonly known fact that OOTP isn't perfect in end of season award evaluations in particular, it usually gets at least most of the deserving All-Star selections correct. However, it wasn't perfect. Some notable stars got left off their respective league squads this season.
This will be the start of a new annual feature I will put together at this time in all future seasons. Here are the top 10 biggest All-Star snubs this season.
Note: Al Rosen would have been included, but because he was traded from the AL to the NL right before the All-Star Game, it would explain why he wasn't an All-Star even though he clearly had the numbers to make it in.
Oh and no Dodgers were taken into consideration for this because everyone on that team was an All-Star this season.
10. RF Wally Post (NYY)
Season Stats: .285/.369/.459, 20 2B, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 46 R, 39 BB
The Yankees already had quite a few All-Stars of their own, but if one Yankee barely missed the cut to get in, it would have to be Post, who is currently tied for 6th in the AL in RBI. He is also tied for 5th in the AL in extra-base hits. Post's other numbers are very respectable generally speaking, but it was still rather surprising to see him being left off the AL All-Star team.
9. SP Phil Clark (BAL)
Season Stats: 7-6, 3.05 ERA, 112.0 IP, 71 K, 1.54 WHIP
Phil Clark's numbers looks nice, but when looked at more closely, it's easy to see that he's been a lot better recently than he was early in the season. 5 wins and 4 quality starts are 2 big reasons why Clark is currently 5th in the AL in ERA, despite just 8 quality starts in 15 total starts. All in all, Clark's season hasn't been too consistent, but that ERA right now is hard to ignore.
8. 1B Dick Stuart (PIT)
Season Stats: .244/.303/.472, 15 2B, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 46 R, 19 BB
I was honestly surprised Gene Freese was my only All-Star this season. Stuart has been the main source of power and run production for my Pirates and I was really hoping for this season to be his big breakout year. Unfortunately, a .124 average in June probably cost him that All-Star spot (and my team of more wins). But regardless, I thought that his power and RBI would be enough for him to get in. He is currently tied for 7th in the NL in home runs and tied for 5th in RBI. Oh well, there's always next year!
7. CF Frank Thomas (BOS)
Season Stats: .289/.345/.467, 6 2B, 15 HR, 43 RBI, 47 R, 23 BB
Thomas is another slugger that got snubbed from being an All-Star this season. And he's got the better average and OPS that puts him 1 spot above Stuart. The Red Sox surprisingly did not have a single All-Star and I thought that if any Sox player were to get in, it would be Thomas for sure. But it clearly was not meant to be and another season goes by for Thomas without an All-Star Game appearance. He is currently tied for 5th in the AL in home runs.
6. 3B/LF Danny Schell (PHI)
Season Stats: .353/.403/.528, 22 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 35 R, 16 BB
Out of nowhere, Danny Schell has surprisingly put himself among the best NL hitters this season with that .353 average, which is 5th in the NL. He is also 3rd in OBP, 10th in slugging, 8th in OPS and tied for 8th in doubles. Who knows if Schell (who right now is 31) will ever have a season like this again, so there's a very good chance he missed out his only real shot at ever becoming an All-Star. His average and OPS certainly looked good enough to be worthy of making the All-Star team for sure.
5. CF Gus Bell (CIN)
Season Stats: .322/.361/.502, 17 2B, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 56 R, 20 BB
For as good as this season's group of NL All-Star outfielders were, Gus Bell's absence was quite noticeable. A huge part of the Big Red offensive attack, Bell is putting together yet another solid season. I liked his overall numbers more than that of Schell, hence why their rankings are where they are. Sure, Bell's numbers weren't exactly up to par with that of the other NL outfielders that made it, but there should have still been a spot for him regardless.
4. SP Mike Garcia (CHC)
Season Stats: 10-4, 3.22 ERA, 167.2 IP, 69 K, 1.12 WHIP
The veteran Mike Garcia is another notable All-Star snub this season. I really don't understand why he missed the cut or why I overlooked him originally. His 10 wins are tied for 5th in the NL and he's also 5th in ERA. In addition, he leads the league in innings pitched, tied for the lead in games started, 7th in complete games and tied for 2nd in shutouts. Way to go, OOTP! A pitcher that's top 5 in wins and ERA missing out on being an All-Star is not good...
3. SP Curt Simmons (PHI)
Season Stats: 4-9, 3.35 ERA, 158.2 IP, 76 K, 1.17 WHIP
I don't care that Roy Face's numbers have been a bit better this season. Curt Simmons is still the ace of the Phillies, even if the mediocre Phillies lineup consistently fails to give him good run support. That of course is a huge reason why Simmons has only 4 wins, despite 14 quality starts in 20 total starts. Did I mention he's also 5th in the NL in ERA, 3rd in innings pitched, 2nd in quality starts, 9th in strikeouts and 7th in least runners/9 innings?
Obviously, we all know OOTP overrates wins for pitchers 10x more than it really should, but this is just ridiculous. A great pitcher getting snubbed just because his offense doesn't hit whenever he pitches? That is unbelievable.
2. 3B Eddie Mathews (MIL)
Season Stats: .278/.373/.498, 8 2B, 15 HR, 43 RBI, 45 R, 39 BB
This is the first season since this league began that Eddie Mathews is not an All-Star. Despite Mathews' numbers being down for what is expected of him each season, I thought he would've still easily been one of the All-Star third basemen in the NL. But why Mathews is at #2 actually has to do with a lot more than just his stats for the season...
The only NL third baseman listed on the All-Star roster was Ed Charles, who is Mathews' teammate on the Braves. However, despite being listed as a third baseman, Charles has been playing second base all season. It looks like Mathews has only Steve to blame for his snubbing. Had Steve paid more attention to changing positions in the file, Mathews' All-Star streak would've easily continued. In addition, Charles didn't even play third base in the All-Star Game itself. Second baseman Don Blasingame of the Cardinals was the starting third baseman. Outfielder Orlando Cepeda later filled in at the position.
So in reality, the NL was without a real third baseman in the All-Star Game all thanks to Steve and it could have been a reason why the NL lost the game. As for Mathews, he is currently tied for 7th in the NL in home runs and tied for 6th in walks.
1. SP Mike Fornieles (CHW)
Season Stats: 8-7, 2.74 ERA, 151.0 IP, 88 K, 1.12 WHIP
There are bad All-Star snubs, really bad All-Star snubs, and then there are horrible All-Stars that result in people saying to themselves "WTF OOTP?" Mike Fornieles fits right into that third category.
How in the world does the pitcher with the 2nd best ERA in the AL, 5th most innings pitched, tied for 8th in wins, 10th in complete games, tied for 8th in shutouts, 2nd in quality starts, and 2nd in least runners/9 innings miss the All-Star Game? That is just mind boggling to me. What, he didn't have enough wins? He's in the top 10 in wins! What was OOTP thinking?
And just like that, Fornieles' own All-Star streak comes to an end. He was in all of the last five All-Star Games prior to this season. This is by far one of, if not the worst All-Star snubs I've ever seen in any league. Sure, it would've just been 1 more point for Mark, but this is pretty bad...and easily deserving of the #1 spot.
1959 AL and NL draft grades coming soon!
This will be the start of a new annual feature I will put together at this time in all future seasons. Here are the top 10 biggest All-Star snubs this season.
Note: Al Rosen would have been included, but because he was traded from the AL to the NL right before the All-Star Game, it would explain why he wasn't an All-Star even though he clearly had the numbers to make it in.
Oh and no Dodgers were taken into consideration for this because everyone on that team was an All-Star this season.
10. RF Wally Post (NYY)
Season Stats: .285/.369/.459, 20 2B, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 46 R, 39 BB
The Yankees already had quite a few All-Stars of their own, but if one Yankee barely missed the cut to get in, it would have to be Post, who is currently tied for 6th in the AL in RBI. He is also tied for 5th in the AL in extra-base hits. Post's other numbers are very respectable generally speaking, but it was still rather surprising to see him being left off the AL All-Star team.
9. SP Phil Clark (BAL)
Season Stats: 7-6, 3.05 ERA, 112.0 IP, 71 K, 1.54 WHIP
Phil Clark's numbers looks nice, but when looked at more closely, it's easy to see that he's been a lot better recently than he was early in the season. 5 wins and 4 quality starts are 2 big reasons why Clark is currently 5th in the AL in ERA, despite just 8 quality starts in 15 total starts. All in all, Clark's season hasn't been too consistent, but that ERA right now is hard to ignore.
8. 1B Dick Stuart (PIT)
Season Stats: .244/.303/.472, 15 2B, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 46 R, 19 BB
I was honestly surprised Gene Freese was my only All-Star this season. Stuart has been the main source of power and run production for my Pirates and I was really hoping for this season to be his big breakout year. Unfortunately, a .124 average in June probably cost him that All-Star spot (and my team of more wins). But regardless, I thought that his power and RBI would be enough for him to get in. He is currently tied for 7th in the NL in home runs and tied for 5th in RBI. Oh well, there's always next year!
7. CF Frank Thomas (BOS)
Season Stats: .289/.345/.467, 6 2B, 15 HR, 43 RBI, 47 R, 23 BB
Thomas is another slugger that got snubbed from being an All-Star this season. And he's got the better average and OPS that puts him 1 spot above Stuart. The Red Sox surprisingly did not have a single All-Star and I thought that if any Sox player were to get in, it would be Thomas for sure. But it clearly was not meant to be and another season goes by for Thomas without an All-Star Game appearance. He is currently tied for 5th in the AL in home runs.
6. 3B/LF Danny Schell (PHI)
Season Stats: .353/.403/.528, 22 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 35 R, 16 BB
Out of nowhere, Danny Schell has surprisingly put himself among the best NL hitters this season with that .353 average, which is 5th in the NL. He is also 3rd in OBP, 10th in slugging, 8th in OPS and tied for 8th in doubles. Who knows if Schell (who right now is 31) will ever have a season like this again, so there's a very good chance he missed out his only real shot at ever becoming an All-Star. His average and OPS certainly looked good enough to be worthy of making the All-Star team for sure.
5. CF Gus Bell (CIN)
Season Stats: .322/.361/.502, 17 2B, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 56 R, 20 BB
For as good as this season's group of NL All-Star outfielders were, Gus Bell's absence was quite noticeable. A huge part of the Big Red offensive attack, Bell is putting together yet another solid season. I liked his overall numbers more than that of Schell, hence why their rankings are where they are. Sure, Bell's numbers weren't exactly up to par with that of the other NL outfielders that made it, but there should have still been a spot for him regardless.
4. SP Mike Garcia (CHC)
Season Stats: 10-4, 3.22 ERA, 167.2 IP, 69 K, 1.12 WHIP
The veteran Mike Garcia is another notable All-Star snub this season. I really don't understand why he missed the cut or why I overlooked him originally. His 10 wins are tied for 5th in the NL and he's also 5th in ERA. In addition, he leads the league in innings pitched, tied for the lead in games started, 7th in complete games and tied for 2nd in shutouts. Way to go, OOTP! A pitcher that's top 5 in wins and ERA missing out on being an All-Star is not good...
3. SP Curt Simmons (PHI)
Season Stats: 4-9, 3.35 ERA, 158.2 IP, 76 K, 1.17 WHIP
I don't care that Roy Face's numbers have been a bit better this season. Curt Simmons is still the ace of the Phillies, even if the mediocre Phillies lineup consistently fails to give him good run support. That of course is a huge reason why Simmons has only 4 wins, despite 14 quality starts in 20 total starts. Did I mention he's also 5th in the NL in ERA, 3rd in innings pitched, 2nd in quality starts, 9th in strikeouts and 7th in least runners/9 innings?
Obviously, we all know OOTP overrates wins for pitchers 10x more than it really should, but this is just ridiculous. A great pitcher getting snubbed just because his offense doesn't hit whenever he pitches? That is unbelievable.
2. 3B Eddie Mathews (MIL)
Season Stats: .278/.373/.498, 8 2B, 15 HR, 43 RBI, 45 R, 39 BB
This is the first season since this league began that Eddie Mathews is not an All-Star. Despite Mathews' numbers being down for what is expected of him each season, I thought he would've still easily been one of the All-Star third basemen in the NL. But why Mathews is at #2 actually has to do with a lot more than just his stats for the season...
The only NL third baseman listed on the All-Star roster was Ed Charles, who is Mathews' teammate on the Braves. However, despite being listed as a third baseman, Charles has been playing second base all season. It looks like Mathews has only Steve to blame for his snubbing. Had Steve paid more attention to changing positions in the file, Mathews' All-Star streak would've easily continued. In addition, Charles didn't even play third base in the All-Star Game itself. Second baseman Don Blasingame of the Cardinals was the starting third baseman. Outfielder Orlando Cepeda later filled in at the position.
So in reality, the NL was without a real third baseman in the All-Star Game all thanks to Steve and it could have been a reason why the NL lost the game. As for Mathews, he is currently tied for 7th in the NL in home runs and tied for 6th in walks.
1. SP Mike Fornieles (CHW)
Season Stats: 8-7, 2.74 ERA, 151.0 IP, 88 K, 1.12 WHIP
There are bad All-Star snubs, really bad All-Star snubs, and then there are horrible All-Stars that result in people saying to themselves "WTF OOTP?" Mike Fornieles fits right into that third category.
How in the world does the pitcher with the 2nd best ERA in the AL, 5th most innings pitched, tied for 8th in wins, 10th in complete games, tied for 8th in shutouts, 2nd in quality starts, and 2nd in least runners/9 innings miss the All-Star Game? That is just mind boggling to me. What, he didn't have enough wins? He's in the top 10 in wins! What was OOTP thinking?
And just like that, Fornieles' own All-Star streak comes to an end. He was in all of the last five All-Star Games prior to this season. This is by far one of, if not the worst All-Star snubs I've ever seen in any league. Sure, it would've just been 1 more point for Mark, but this is pretty bad...and easily deserving of the #1 spot.
1959 AL and NL draft grades coming soon!
