With the deadline for the final vote coming up soon, I rank the possible players.
American League
1. Koji Uehara, Boston
Stats: 38.1 IP, 53 SO, 1.88 ERA, 0.81 WHIP
Reason: Uehara ranks 1st in WHIP and 2nd in SO out of the final vote, but the real reason I picked him is because he has a rare and very well-developed special talent: as a RHP he has held lefties to just 9 H in 74 AB. That earns him a .122 BAA. He also is better than most RHP against righties too, he has a .219 BAA. In total his BAA is at just .167. I think anyone who can handle any matchup out of the bullpen has a chance, but anyone who can do it like that shouldn't have been in the final vote because he should have already made it. Uehara got my vote, even as a Yankees fan I have to pick him over Robertson.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit
Stats: 36.1 IP, 46 SO, 1.73 ERA, 1.05 WHIP
Reason: My 2nd choice goes to Benoit, he has the lowest ERA out of the final five. Benoit has begun to settle in to the closer position on the team that most needed it, and he has thrived. Over his last 10 games he has allowed just 1 ER, and picked up 5 saves, so he's been red hot, but he has still had a great season., it hasn't been confined to 10 games. Overall he has allowed just 7 ER in 36.1 IP, an ERA of 1.73. I ranked him second mainly because his WHIP is higher than Uehara's.
3. Steve Delabar, Toronto
Stats: 41.0 IP, 57 SO, 1.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
Reason: My 3rd choice goes to Delabar, who much unlike Puig has silently put up very respectable numbers. His WHIP may be the highest of the final five, but he is a very close 2nd in ERA. Delabar has actually had a bit of a weird season statistically, his WHIP is up from his career average of 1.16, but his ERA is well down from his career average of 3.00. That doesn't really matter though, what matters are the great stats this year that have earned him a chance to get into the all-star game. Delabar has been a big steal for Toronto this season, they're paying the 29-year-old just $498,900. Delabar has been a great, but quiet story for the Jays, but I rank him 3rd because his stats just aren't comparable to Uehara's and Benoit's.
4. Tanner Scheppers, Texas
Stats: 44 IP, 29 SO, 1.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP
Reason: Scheppers has proven to be a great set-up man this year for Texas, as him and Joe Nathan have made a fine back-end to the Rangers' bullpen. This year Scheppers has 18 holds, good for 4th in the AL. Scheppers is an absolute righty killer, they hit only .167. He has allowed just 9 ER and has a BAA of .201, and at the age of 26 he will certainly be an all-star in the future, but I don't think it will be this year because just like most all-stars you need a second good season to prove yourself. He wouldn't be a bad choice though.
5. David Robertson, New York Yankees
Stats: 36.1 IP, 46 SO, 2.23 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Reason: David Robertson has had a career year for the Yankees, low ERA and WHIP, high SO total, and he ranks 2nd in the AL with 21 holds. He may be having a career year but I not going to go very in depth into his chances because compared to the other 4 choices his ERA is in the stratosphere.
National League
I'm not including Puig because I already posted another blog on why he shouldn't make the NL all-star team.
1. Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angelas Dodgers
Stats: .298 AVG, 13 HR, 57 RBI
Reason: Gonzalez is on pace for a solid 104 RBI season, and provides great power vs. RHP. 12 of his 13 HR have come against righties, or 92.3%, and 31 of his 57 RBI have come against righties, or 54.4%. He still is solid against LHP, with a respectable .286 AVG, but it's .304 vs. RHP. He could provide a great situational bat on the bench for the NL, and with home-field advantage at the world series on the line that's why he gets my vote.
2. Ian Desmond, Washington
Stats: .278 AVG, 15 HR, 49 RBI
Reason: Desmond is a very solid, all-round player. He has quite a bit of power, he's on pace for a solid 27 HR this year and 41 doubles. He has good speed, he's projected to have 18 SB. He hits lefties and righties well at .272 and .280 respective. Finally, he has hit well lately with a .308 AVG during the last 7 days. Overall I think he deserves to get ranked 2nd.
3. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta
Stats: .305 AVG, 9 HR, 56 RBI
Reason: Freeman is a great clutch hitter, hitting .389 with RISP, and is 5-for-6 with the bases loaded with 12 RBI. Freeman though just doesn't have the power to compete with Desmond and Gonzalez, so I ranked him 3rd.
4. Yasiel Puig, Los Angelas Dodgers
5. Hunter Pence, San Francisco
Stats: .267 AVG, 13 HR, 43 RBI
Reason: He may have a bit of power, but I don't think a .267 AVG should even be considered.
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