Post by Sha-Le Unique on Jun 22, 2015 18:02:41 GMT -5
Usually, I try to do this shortly after the All-Star Game, but because I put this off a lot longer this season, it wouldn't be particularly easy to tell whose stats were that great a few sim months ago, compared to now. Thus, I'm just gonna rank the best AL and NL players that didn't happen to make the All-Star team this season and go from there.
American League
5. SP Milt Pappas (MIN)
23-11, 2.88 ERA, 190 K, 275.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP
Milt Pappas' ERA wasn't particularly awesome in the 1st half of the season, but he had at least 11 wins by the All-Star break. Being that OOTP overvalues wins quite a bit generally speaking, it was rather surprising that Pappas was not an All-Star. Nonetheless, Pappas put together breakout season that featured a career best 2.88 ERA and an AL-leading 23 wins. It appears the Twins have finally found an ace to build their pitching staff around.
4. 3B Harmon Killebrew (MIN)
.283/.371/.487, 24 2B, 30 HR, 104 RBI, 81 BB, 94 R
Another Twins player that should have been an All-Star was Harmon Killebrew, especially when considering that Jim Marshall of the White Sox was the only third baseman that got selected. Killebrew did have a better 2nd half than 1st half, but still, there should have been another third baseman for the AL and that third baseman should have been Killebrew, who had arguably the second best season of his career this year.
3. SP Mudcat Grant (CHW)
18-11, 2.32 ERA, 238 K, 313.2 IP, 0.99 WHIP
Mike Fornieles may be the White Sox' ace, but Mudcat Grant was just as big of a reason for the White Sox' success this season. Grant's 1st half was certainly good enough to be worthy of an All-Star nomination with 12 wins and a sub-2.00 ERA by July. He ended up finishing 2nd in the AL in ERA, 2nd in strikeouts, 3rd in quality starts and tied for 3rd in shutouts. This has arguably been Grant's best season of his career thus far and at 29, he could still put together even better seasons in the future.
2. SP Vinegar Bend Mizell (DET)
22-11, 2.02 ERA, 213 K, 298.2 IP, 1.05 WHIP
Another season in which Mizell gets snubbed? That seems to be a recurring theme. Mizell had 9 wins and an ERA in the low 2's by July, yet still couldn't get any love from OOTP in becoming an All-Star, which he hasn't been since 1962. Mizell ended up leading the AL in ERA by a wide margin, tied for 2nd in wins, 6th in strikeouts, 1st in quality starts, and tied for 3rd in shutouts. The veteran lefty keeps getting it done and the fact that he only has 5 All-Star nominations is sad, when he should have at least 7 or 8 by now.
1. CF Pete Rose Sr. (DET)
.329/.385/.435, 23 2B, 11 HR, 69 RBI, 55 BB, 99 R, 16 SB
But the biggest AL snub this season was Pete Rose, who happened to have a slow April, but picked it up a lot in May and June. He then had a red hot 2nd half and ended up winning the AL batting title this season with a .329 average. Beating out fellow center fielders Mickey Mantle and Don Robertson would not have been easy, but was Rose was more deserving than a few of the corner outfielders that made it? Definitely. I have no clue if OOTP groups all outfielders together or picks All-Star outfielders from each particular outfield position, but regardless, Rose was a huge snub and hopefully will make his long awaited 1st trip to the Midsummer Classic next season.
National League
5. SP Ron Kline (PIT)
24-9, 3.03 ERA, 256 K, 308.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP
Between Ron Kline, John Buzhardt and Ken McBride, any of these Pirates pitchers could have joined teammate and ace Don Drysdale on the NL All-Star team, but I'll give the edge to Kline, who had the most consistent 1st half of the 3, with 10 wins and a respectable middle 2's ERA by July. He ended up finishing 3rd in the NL with 24 wins, was just shy of the top 10 in ERA, 4th in strikeouts and tied for 6th in quality starts. This is the 2nd consecutive season in which Kline has made this list. What is it with the same people getting snubbed over and over again?
4. SP Curt Simmons (PHI)
21-12, 2.63 ERA, 123 K, 281.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP
Only so many pitchers can make the All-Star Game each season, but Curt Simmons was one notable pitcher that missed the cut this time. Simmons had a bad May in between very good months in April and June, which probably hurt him. Nonetheless, Simmons put together another great season in his eventual Hall of Fame career. Simmons finished 7th in the NL in ERA, tied for 7th in wins, 10th in quality starts and 3rd in shutouts. Hopefully, the Phillies will see Simmons make at least 1 or 2 more trips to the All-Star Game before his career is up.
3. 3B Eddie Mathews (PIT)
.253/.355/.527, 23 2B, 40 HR, 104 RBI, 88 BB, 91 R
Like the AL, the NL All-Star team only had one third baseman in Gail Harris. Had a second one been added, it almost certainly would have been Eddie Mathews, who put together another great season in his Hall of Fame career. Mathews' average wasn't great, but his power and walks certainly made up for it. Mathews finished 7th in slugging, 8th in OPS, 7th in both home runs and RBI, and 2nd in walks. Hopefully, Mathews will be back in the All-Star Game next season as he aims for 500 career home runs.
2. 1B Jim Gentile (LAD)
.279/.354/.543, 21 2B, 44 HR, 103 RBI, 63 BB, 100 R
Between Willie McCovey, Joe Cunningham and Jim Gentile, 1 of these NL West first basemen were probably going to miss the All-Star Game, and this time, it happened to be Gentile. Gentile had 18 of his 44 home runs before July, plus 49 RBI. But Gentile ended up having the best season of the 3 and finished 6th in slugging, 6th in OPS, tied for 4th in home runs and tied for 8th in RBI. This is the 1st time Gentile has missed the All-Star Game since his rookie year in 1958, but he should find his way back next season.
1. RF Lou Brock (STL)
.334/.423/.411, 11 2B, 4 HR, 61 RBI, 79 BB, 81 R, 82 SB
But an even bigger snub in the NL was Lou Brock, who should be the overwhelming favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year this season. The rookie right fielder led the NL in batting average and steals. He also finished 2nd in OBP and 7th in walks. It is clear that Brock is very likely to become the best leadoff hitter in the entire league, if he hasn't already. It's hard to fault most of the NL outfielders that made the All-Star team this season, but Brock was definitely more than my own outfielder Earl Robinson. That certainly looks obvious. It's too bad it worked out like this, but Brock should soon be a mainstay at All-Star Games, especially if he continues to put together seasons like this.
Hopefully OOTP will do a better job next season!
American League
5. SP Milt Pappas (MIN)
23-11, 2.88 ERA, 190 K, 275.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP
Milt Pappas' ERA wasn't particularly awesome in the 1st half of the season, but he had at least 11 wins by the All-Star break. Being that OOTP overvalues wins quite a bit generally speaking, it was rather surprising that Pappas was not an All-Star. Nonetheless, Pappas put together breakout season that featured a career best 2.88 ERA and an AL-leading 23 wins. It appears the Twins have finally found an ace to build their pitching staff around.
4. 3B Harmon Killebrew (MIN)
.283/.371/.487, 24 2B, 30 HR, 104 RBI, 81 BB, 94 R
Another Twins player that should have been an All-Star was Harmon Killebrew, especially when considering that Jim Marshall of the White Sox was the only third baseman that got selected. Killebrew did have a better 2nd half than 1st half, but still, there should have been another third baseman for the AL and that third baseman should have been Killebrew, who had arguably the second best season of his career this year.
3. SP Mudcat Grant (CHW)
18-11, 2.32 ERA, 238 K, 313.2 IP, 0.99 WHIP
Mike Fornieles may be the White Sox' ace, but Mudcat Grant was just as big of a reason for the White Sox' success this season. Grant's 1st half was certainly good enough to be worthy of an All-Star nomination with 12 wins and a sub-2.00 ERA by July. He ended up finishing 2nd in the AL in ERA, 2nd in strikeouts, 3rd in quality starts and tied for 3rd in shutouts. This has arguably been Grant's best season of his career thus far and at 29, he could still put together even better seasons in the future.
2. SP Vinegar Bend Mizell (DET)
22-11, 2.02 ERA, 213 K, 298.2 IP, 1.05 WHIP
Another season in which Mizell gets snubbed? That seems to be a recurring theme. Mizell had 9 wins and an ERA in the low 2's by July, yet still couldn't get any love from OOTP in becoming an All-Star, which he hasn't been since 1962. Mizell ended up leading the AL in ERA by a wide margin, tied for 2nd in wins, 6th in strikeouts, 1st in quality starts, and tied for 3rd in shutouts. The veteran lefty keeps getting it done and the fact that he only has 5 All-Star nominations is sad, when he should have at least 7 or 8 by now.
1. CF Pete Rose Sr. (DET)
.329/.385/.435, 23 2B, 11 HR, 69 RBI, 55 BB, 99 R, 16 SB
But the biggest AL snub this season was Pete Rose, who happened to have a slow April, but picked it up a lot in May and June. He then had a red hot 2nd half and ended up winning the AL batting title this season with a .329 average. Beating out fellow center fielders Mickey Mantle and Don Robertson would not have been easy, but was Rose was more deserving than a few of the corner outfielders that made it? Definitely. I have no clue if OOTP groups all outfielders together or picks All-Star outfielders from each particular outfield position, but regardless, Rose was a huge snub and hopefully will make his long awaited 1st trip to the Midsummer Classic next season.
National League
5. SP Ron Kline (PIT)
24-9, 3.03 ERA, 256 K, 308.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP
Between Ron Kline, John Buzhardt and Ken McBride, any of these Pirates pitchers could have joined teammate and ace Don Drysdale on the NL All-Star team, but I'll give the edge to Kline, who had the most consistent 1st half of the 3, with 10 wins and a respectable middle 2's ERA by July. He ended up finishing 3rd in the NL with 24 wins, was just shy of the top 10 in ERA, 4th in strikeouts and tied for 6th in quality starts. This is the 2nd consecutive season in which Kline has made this list. What is it with the same people getting snubbed over and over again?
4. SP Curt Simmons (PHI)
21-12, 2.63 ERA, 123 K, 281.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP
Only so many pitchers can make the All-Star Game each season, but Curt Simmons was one notable pitcher that missed the cut this time. Simmons had a bad May in between very good months in April and June, which probably hurt him. Nonetheless, Simmons put together another great season in his eventual Hall of Fame career. Simmons finished 7th in the NL in ERA, tied for 7th in wins, 10th in quality starts and 3rd in shutouts. Hopefully, the Phillies will see Simmons make at least 1 or 2 more trips to the All-Star Game before his career is up.
3. 3B Eddie Mathews (PIT)
.253/.355/.527, 23 2B, 40 HR, 104 RBI, 88 BB, 91 R
Like the AL, the NL All-Star team only had one third baseman in Gail Harris. Had a second one been added, it almost certainly would have been Eddie Mathews, who put together another great season in his Hall of Fame career. Mathews' average wasn't great, but his power and walks certainly made up for it. Mathews finished 7th in slugging, 8th in OPS, 7th in both home runs and RBI, and 2nd in walks. Hopefully, Mathews will be back in the All-Star Game next season as he aims for 500 career home runs.
2. 1B Jim Gentile (LAD)
.279/.354/.543, 21 2B, 44 HR, 103 RBI, 63 BB, 100 R
Between Willie McCovey, Joe Cunningham and Jim Gentile, 1 of these NL West first basemen were probably going to miss the All-Star Game, and this time, it happened to be Gentile. Gentile had 18 of his 44 home runs before July, plus 49 RBI. But Gentile ended up having the best season of the 3 and finished 6th in slugging, 6th in OPS, tied for 4th in home runs and tied for 8th in RBI. This is the 1st time Gentile has missed the All-Star Game since his rookie year in 1958, but he should find his way back next season.
1. RF Lou Brock (STL)
.334/.423/.411, 11 2B, 4 HR, 61 RBI, 79 BB, 81 R, 82 SB
But an even bigger snub in the NL was Lou Brock, who should be the overwhelming favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year this season. The rookie right fielder led the NL in batting average and steals. He also finished 2nd in OBP and 7th in walks. It is clear that Brock is very likely to become the best leadoff hitter in the entire league, if he hasn't already. It's hard to fault most of the NL outfielders that made the All-Star team this season, but Brock was definitely more than my own outfielder Earl Robinson. That certainly looks obvious. It's too bad it worked out like this, but Brock should soon be a mainstay at All-Star Games, especially if he continues to put together seasons like this.
Hopefully OOTP will do a better job next season!
