2016 Twins All-Star?

[bluechipper]

 

Brock Holt was indeed the Red Sox only all-star selection last year.  (Xander Bogaerts was in the "final vote" contest but did not win it.)

 

Also, on the day he was named to the team, Holt was hitting a little better than that (.807 OPS), and just two weeks prior he had been hitting much better (.318 AVG, .893 OPS), which is probably when his name was introduced to the manager for all-star consideration.

 

Still, there are definitely parallels between him and Nunez.  If Nunez can maintain something like his current .829 OPS into late June, and no other Twin emerges, he's got a shot.

That's right, thanks. I remember being annoyed that they didn't pick Bogaerts instead of Holt, which I thought would have maybe led to Brian Dozier being named to the team earlier. 

[kwazie71]

Even better yet, I would like to start the tread that talks about who got snubbed!

 

Anyone? LOL

 

They should petition the MLB so the game is not degraded by putting anyone from our team on there.

 

What a tasty treat it will be for whoever gets it even thought they won't deserve it. Goes on the resume FOREVER!

 

Kinda like Dozier last year. All-Star? Really?

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

On a related note, why does positional versatility matter at all in a one game all star game?

It shouldn't.  Not counting simply changing outfield spots, the last player to play two different positions in an all-star game was 10 years ago in 2006 (Troy Glaus played 3B then 1B, and Freddy Sanchez SS then 2B).  The last time before that was 2002, when Lance Berkman played LF then 1B, and of course each league's roster has expanded by 4 spots since then, and they use the DH regardless of home park (so no pinch-hitting for pitchers anymore).

 

Not sure the last time a player truly played "out of position" in an all-star game -- maybe Albert Pujols playing 2B for an inning as a rookie in 2001, as he wouldn't play the position in a regular season game until 2008 -- although Pujols too was the utility/versatility guy at the time (although a much better hitter than most of those types).  (A-Rod shifted to 3B so Ripken could start at SS that year, although obviously I am not counting that.)

 

Maybe keeping a versatile player in reserve allows managers to burn through the rest of their roster, but not wind up playing anybody outside their accustomed position?

[bluechipper]

 

It shouldn't.  Not counting simply changing outfield spots, the last player to play two different positions in an all-star game was 10 years ago in 2006 (Troy Glaus played 3B then 1B, and Freddy Sanchez SS then 2B).  The last time before that was 2002, when Lance Berkman played LF then 1B, and of course each league's roster has expanded by 4 spots since then, and they use the DH regardless of home park (so no pinch-hitting for pitchers anymore).

 

Maybe keeping a versatile player in reserve allows managers to burn through the rest of their roster, but not wind up playing anybody outside their accustomed position?

It never made sense to me either, but 2 years ago it was Josh Harrison's versatility and then Holt last year that were used as justifications for them being all stars. Almost any all star player could play a different position for a few innings if needed anyway.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

It never made sense to me either, but 2 years ago it was Josh Harrison's versatility and then Holt last year that were used as justifications for them being all stars. Almost any all star player could play a different position for a few innings if needed anyway.

Interestingly, Harrison and Holt both wound up exclusively playing LF in their respective all-star games, and went a combined 0-for-3 with 2 K's.  (Although at least Holt's team won, and he contributed a SB and run scored entering the game as a pinch runner, albeit for Mike Trout who is no slouch at base running either.)

[Winston Smith]

Abad at this point, imo. I'm sure St Peter will lobby for Park in the home run contest so he can expand the brand

[nicksaviking]

Pass.

[jud6312]

 

I know of a certain former Twin who is retiring who got that popular vote at DH in the bag.  And it is a big bag.

Very true. And deservedly so. I was just thinking about how the Asian market has flooded the voting system over the years