Brian Dozier All-Star?

[stringer bell]

I don't pay much attention to All-Star voting.  I know that no Twins will be voted in, and I agree with that decision. Further, I know that Brian Dozier isn't in the Top 5 in voting at his position. However, with each passing day I am more and more convinced that Dozier both could be and should be in Cincinnati for the All-Star game next month.

 

Last year I had hopes until the last day that Dozier would be named as a late sub for a middle infield injury because he was already participating in the Home Run Derby and the game was in Minneapolis. This year, I have hope he will be named to the squad and think that he deserves the honor. Dozier supplies power and extra-base sock from the second base position. He is a fine base runner and a good defender. Let's look at the numbers, shall we? Fueled by a high number of walks, Dozier's OBP is tied for third, trailing the guy who should start (Kipnis) and Dustin Pedroia. He is the leader in slugging and second in OPS (behind Kipnis). Dozier also leads all AL second basemen is home runs, runs, and RBI. Brian is also second in WAR, again behind Kipnis.

 

Now for the downside. There is big competition at second base. Defending batting champ Jose Altuve is a fine player, as are Pedroia and Ian Kinsler. Robbie Cano also has been a perennial All-Star, but this year has struggled mightily. Altuve leads in the voting and Kipnis is a near guarantee to be in Cincinnati. Dozier would have to prevail over All-Stars Pedroia and Kinsler to make it as the third second baseman. The best thing that could happen would be for Kipnis to overtake Altuve, but it doesn't look like that will happen.

 

The best way for Dozier to make the All-Star team is for him to keep producing. With less than a month to go before selections are made, he certainly has stepped up his game and I hope he gets the deserved honor.

[RedBull34]

Kipnis should be over Dozier.

 

Pedroia is a toss-up based on the line.  Higher BA, lower SLG, similar OBP.  I prefer Dozier but I could see Pedroia.

 

Altuve doesn't belong in the Game based on stats so far, he's 4th.

 

Kinsler also leaves much to be desired.  He is worse in everyway to Pedroia and a sub-400 SLG isn't going to cut it.  He's 5th.

 

Cano and Infante are evidence why fans shouldn't get to vote.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

 

Cano and Infante are evidence why fans shouldn't get to vote.

Or evidence why more fans should vote... I think Kansas City fans figured out an efficient ballot stuffing method.

have you ("you" as in every Twins fan) voted for Dozier lately? 

[SwainZag]

 

Or evidence why more fans should vote... I think Kansas City fans figured out an efficient ballot stuffing method.

have you ("you" as in every Twins fan) voted for Dozier lately? 

 

I disagree.  If Infante gets voted to start, he takes away a spot from Kipnis or Dozier more than likely.  A team's fandom shouldn't be gauged on how many internet votes they can achieve.  Let the best players play in the game and let the fans choose the last guy off the bench if you really want a fan vote.

[RedBull34]

 

Or evidence why more fans should vote... I think Kansas City fans figured out an efficient ballot stuffing method.

have you ("you" as in every Twins fan) voted for Dozier lately? 

I did, but I didn't feel like voting 40 times either.

 

I also challenged myself to vote for only one member of each team (seriously why doesn't the voting make you do this?

 

Or you could have a cap on how many players you could select from each team like 3 or so.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

I disagree.  If Infante gets voted to start, he takes away a spot from Kipnis or Dozier more than likely.  A team's fandom shouldn't be gauged on how many internet votes they can achieve.  Let the best players play in the game and let the fans choose the last guy off the bench if you really want a fan vote.

I don't think fans should be voting for starters either, but to take that away from the fans at this point seems punitive.  

 

The problem is that the game actually has an impact on the outcome of the World Series, so the players selected to each team are more significant than if it were a true exhibition.

 

If I were a KC fan working the ballots, I'd vote for the worst NL players on the ballot while selecting Royals... you want the NL team to be terrible so the AL gets home field, right?

 

Switching from paper ballots + online to online only must be saving MLB some money...

 

[John Kelsey]

He's been the second best 2B in the AL this year. He should be in, but i'm sure he won't be. 

[jimmer]

The fans vote for, what, 9 or 10 players on each roster?  Each roster has, what, 33 something players on it? The starters usually only play like 3 innings and the fans usually get a good chunk of the starters right or at least arguably right. Have to remember that the voting starts way early and if one starts voting early, a player who looks worthy in May might not end up worthy in July but the votes count.

 

It's really not as big of a deal as many make it out to be.

[DaveW]

I think you could fix the problem fairly easily and still allow the fans a chance to vote.

 

Simply stop opening up all star voting like 20-30 games into a season, yes Cano is having a down year but he is coming off a really nice year and several more prior to that, I don't fault folks early in the season for voting in a guy like Cano because its either you go off a 162+ game sample size the year prior or a 20-30 game sample size in the current year.

 

Instead I would like to see MLB open up the voting 3 weeks prior to the all star game and only having the "window" open for a total of 10-14 days, this way you stop people from making regrettable early season/early impression votes, stop people from stuffing the ballot as much and sort of "drive" everyone to vote at once.

 

Of course because the all star game has sponsors for the ballot itself, ad dollars on the sites etc  this likely will never happen. So of course the easier solution is to just stop with this "this time it counts!" garbage and go back to a fun exhibition style game. I would even be up for instead of having one 9 inning game, have a double header featuring two 7 inning games, that way every player gets more playing time and two to three at bats. If it is tied after 7 innings, go into a sudden death home run derby. (Each side gets 3 players and 5 pitches per player)

[DaveW]

 

It's really not as big of a deal as many make it out to be.

It wouldn't be a big deal if the game didn't determine home field advantage.

[jimmer]

 

It wouldn't be a big deal if the game didn't determine home field advantage.

I think I laid out why it's really not a big deal regardless of that. 

[jimmer]

But yes, the voting should only be opened, at most, a month before the All Star game.

[DaveW]

 

I think I laid out why it's really not a big deal regardless of that. 

Most starters get at least 2 at bats. Having a guy like Omar Infante getting two at bats instead of a guy like Dozier or Kipinis etc can have a pretty really effect on a single ball game.

[DaveW]

Also every third year or so they should do a team USA vs the World roster.

[dougkoebernick]

Since each team needs a representative then it would appear as though that would increase Dozier's chances. Who else should even be considered for the All Star Game from the Twins other than Perkins?

[dougkoebernick]

Since each team needs a representative then it would appear as though that would increase Dozier's chances. Who else should even be considered for the All Star Game from the Twins other than Perkins or Dozier?

[nicksaviking]

 

Since each team needs a representative then it would appear as though that would increase Dozier's chances. Who else should even be considered for the All Star Game from the Twins other than Perkins?

 

Yup, that's the key.  Managers on teams that don't get guys voted in almost always get to 'nominate' their token guy to add.  I can't imagine a scenario where Dozier isn't that guy.

 

That said, both Perkins and Dozier will be going barring injury or gigantic slump.  The fans may be clueless, but the rest of the system has gotten better about getting the best players on the team.

[stringer bell]

If a less-worthy guy wins the voting for second base, I think Dozier's chances are less than 50-50.  Kipness is having an even better year and if a third 2b is taken (not a guarantee) Pedroia is a better known guy having a really good year and Altuve is the defending batting champion.  Kinsler is yet another candidate, although I think his numbers aren't in the same category as Dozier, Pedroia and Kipness.

[Twodogs]

The KC thing is BS.  People used to bitch about the Yankees because they have the biggest fan base, but I don't remember this ever happening.  I think they should get rid of the internet voting, go back to the old way, at least then the people who are actually buying tickets and sitting at the games are the ones actually voting.

[nicksaviking]

 

If a less-worthy guy wins the voting for second base, I think Dozier's chances are less than 50-50.  Kipness is having an even better year and if a third 2b is taken (not a guarantee) Pedroia is a better known guy having a really good year and Altuve is the defending batting champion.  Kinsler is yet another candidate, although I think his numbers aren't in the same category as Dozier, Pedroia and Kipness.

 

I think Dozier's snub last year will carry some weight.  Besides, if the decision comes down to Ned Yost, I can't imagine his long relationship with Paul Molitor could hurt. 

[stringer bell]

Good news for Dozier's All-Star prospects--Pedroia will be on the Disabled List almost until the All-Star Game. Dozier holds an overall statistical edge over him anyway, but with the injury Dozier will have the edge in all the counting numbers. If three second basemen make the club, it will be the winner of the votes (perhaps Altuve) plus Kipnis and Dozier should be a third pick. I think he's one of the top 30 players in the AL.

[stringer bell]

All-Star selection will be after this weekend's games. ESPN just had six writers name their All-Star team and Dozier was on all six (as was Perkins). However, we still have those pesky ballots to worry about. Infante still leads the voting, and if he wins it, Dozier would have to picked over Altuve of the 'stros to be the third second baseman. If Altuve wins, Dozier would figure to be the third second baseman and I think the league and Yost would take three second basemen. Oddly, a vote for Altuve looks to be a vote to get Dozier on the All-Star team.