Ok, ok so who is the all-star from this group?

[sk7326]

Every team needs one ... some thoughts

 

Hanley Ramirez - probably the favorite. Players and managers vote, and there is not much evidence that the statistical revolution has hit that entire community. Ramirez has the most impressive counting stats on the team, regardless of whether he has provided an overall positive contribution or not.

 

Clay Buchholz - actually leads the team in fWAR (3.1), 3rd in bWAR (2.4). Outside of a shaky April has been very very good. Still not a great record, and Sale and Kluber have been better among starters without the record to show for it.

 

Mookie Betts - alas, life at the position Mike Trout plays. Had a terrific first half 2.7/3.9, tops among position players for the Sox. Now in an All-Star game with proper priorities (a game that doesn't count and is a showcase for the best of the sport), he gets in somehow.

 

Xander Bogaerts - the field at shortstop is thinner, and Bogaerts has had a terrific season too. The stunning change in defensive bWAR (-0.9 in 2014 to +0.6 to date) is particularly encouraging. Strong choice to showcase the game's future as well.

 

Dustin Pedroia - another good choice to showcase the game's best. One hell of a bounceback season before going to the DL, although defensively not to the usual standard.

 

Brock Holt - Easiest guy to root for putting on the list. Has had a season to justify it too, although position would be tricky. He'd be a fun guy for the 32nd (or whatever the number is) man balloting.

 

Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa - the managers put way way way way too many relievers on the roster relative to player value. But if you are going to do it, both have had excellent first halves. Yeah, Uehara is not the guy he was in 2013, but that guy was superhuman.

 

MY PICKS: Bogaerts, Betts and Holt (final man ballot)

MY GUESS: Uehara, Pedroia (since he's on the DL, easy selection to make and replace), maybe Bogaerts

Edited July 6, 2015 by sk7326

[Thunder]

Definitely Bogaerts. The improvements he's made since last year are astonishing

[Station 13]

Betts, Bogaerts, Buccholz, Tazawa. They just get it done.

[User Name]

Good thread SK. Relievers and Bogaerts.

[jacksonianmarch]

Bogaerts gets in. Maybe Uehara. Other than that, I don't think anyone one gets in

[Spitball]

I predict Xander Bogaerts will be the lone Red Sox going to Cincinnati.

[sk7326]

I predict Xander Bogaerts will be the lone Red Sox going to Cincinnati.

 

I think he might be the surest, although Ramirez' hitting numbers are there too. I also think Uehara makes sense. You get scads of relievers on the pitching staff and Koji had been his usual self. He is only a disappointment if you compare him to the 2013 version.

[mvp 78]

Xander, Koji, maybe Buch has outside shot

[wyo-sox]

To date, Hanley's defense should keep him out. Xman, and Clay B. would be the two I'd like to see there... Hold also; however, I don't know where they put him position wise.

[Spitball]

So, Brock Holt is an all-star, and Xander Bogaerts will be a fan vote candidate.

[Thunder]

I've already voted for Xander twice. I'm also ecstatic that Pollock is an NL reserve.

[mvp 78]

So, Brock Holt is an all-star, and Xander Bogaerts will be a fan vote candidate.

 

Is this real life?

[SoxnCycles]

Is this real life?

 

Nope, it's the All Star Game.

[sk7326]

Holt is a reasonable choice - he has been better than last season, and his Scrappy McScrapperson thing leaves the stench of the disappointing season off of him. While I could argue that the .376 BABIP might turn into a pumpkin, he has always had high BABIPs, and perhaps there is a little more control there than other guys might have. It also allows simplifies the manager's staffing of positions.

 

IMO he's probably the 3rd or 4th best option on the Red Sox, but he is a worthy choice without a doubt.

[jacksonianmarch]

Holt is not a good choice. Bogaerts should make it without the dumb fan vote. He's definitely better than Escobar at this point in time.

[Thunder]

What did Holt even get in as? A second baseman?

[sk7326]

Holt is not a good choice. Bogaerts should make it without the dumb fan vote. He's definitely better than Escobar at this point in time.

 

Holt is 18th in the AL in fWAR, 11th in bWAR. He's been one of the top 20 or so position players in the AL this year ... I'd have gone in a different direction, but it's not a bad choice

[redsoxrules]

Nothing against XB but Betts is the one that should be going. Best WAR on the Red Sox

Also, Holt is a good choice, he's doing better than XB.

XB is overated. He's been lucky with the BABIP ( lot of chincy hits )

He'll be under 700 OPS by year end

Edited July 7, 2015 by redsoxrules

[sk7326]

Nothing against XB but Betts is the one that should be going. Best WAR on the Red Sox

Also, Holt is a good choice, he's doing better than XB.

XB is overated. He's been lucky with the BABIP ( lot of chincy hits )

He'll be under 700 OPS by year end

 

XB is leading AL SSs in fWAR as a 22 year old ... makes sense to be on the team for both the "reward good seasons" and "sell the game" reasons.

[User Name]

Nothing against XB but Betts is the one that should be going. Best WAR on the Red Sox

Also, Holt is a good choice, he's doing better than XB.

XB is overated. He's been lucky with the BABIP ( lot of chincy hits )

He'll be under 700 OPS by year end

 

Oh, so the BABIP is sure to decrease, but there's no chance the below-average HR/FB corrects itself, boosting his slugging?

[MJantomaso]

Hitting .300 at this stage of the season is no fluke. I dont see how XB is over rated...

[Kimmi]

Hitting .300 at this stage of the season is no fluke. I dont see how XB is over rated...

 

Bogaerts is finally living up to the hype that we heard about him before last season. I have heard that the FO has always been really high on him, leading them to trade Iglesias a couple of years ago and also making him an untouchable this past offseason, despite having a less than stellar rookie season. We are now seeing what the FO saw in him. He is not overrated.

[Spudboy]

Bogaerts is finally living up to the hype that we heard about him before last season. I have heard that the FO has always been really high on him, leading them to trade Iglesias a couple of years ago and also making him an untouchable this past offseason, despite having a less than stellar rookie season. We are now seeing what the FO saw in him. He is not overrated.

 

No he is not over rated. And he is not a finished product either. I look forward to seeing him hit with increasing power eventually.

[vjcsmoke]

And the answer is... Brock Holt. Surprised that Xander Bogaerts didn't make it in though.

[Kimmi]

No he is not over rated. And he is not a finished product either. I look forward to seeing him hit with increasing power eventually.

 

It's hard to believe he is only 22. He is still learning, developing, and making adjustments. It will be fun to watch him, hopefully, get even better over the next several years.

 

I am impressed that he took it upon himself to train in Arizona during the offseason. That training has made a huge difference for him defensively. Kudos to him for that.

[Spudboy]

Another aspect of Bogey's development that has been very noticeable is his judgment. We don't see him trying to do too much either on the field or in the box.

 

This means less bad throws and fewer flailings at the plate.

[Northern Star]

Napoli.

[Palodios]

The fewer Boras players in the All-Star game the better. Awards and accolades only bring up the price.

[SCM33]

Xander is a snub, hes one of the best SS in the game halfway through.

[Spudboy]

Xander is a snub, hes one of the best SS in the game halfway through.

 

But with the fans voting logic and justice don't often prevail.