4.0 fWAR and a 30 HR Pace Isn't Enough: This All-Star Vote Is a JOKE for Deserving Players
Alright, you guys see this mess? The first All-Star Game voting update dropped on Monday, and seriously, what in the world are fans even doing? We know we're supposed to have the power in this thing, but after looking at these results, it feels like a total screw-up. There's just over a week left in Phase 1, and if we don't fix this, some truly deserving guys are gonna get shafted. This early look at the top 10 at each position and top 20 outfielders? It’s a wake-up call, especially if you root for a team outside the biggest markets.
Numbers Don't Lie, Voters Do: The Crow-Armstrong Catastrophe
You want to talk about baffling? Let's talk about Pete Crow-Armstrong. This dude has been absolutely on fire in June, lighting up the league after adjusting his stance. His start to the season was a bit shaky, yeah, but he's turned it around in a HUGE way. He's now sitting at 3rd in all of MLB with a ridiculous 4.0 fWAR. Who's ahead of him? Only Shohei Ohtani at 5.1 and Bobby Witt Jr. at 4.2. That's elite company, folks! He's arguably the best defensive outfielder in the entire league, and his offensive game has exploded, pushing his OPS to .846 and putting him on pace for 30 home runs. Thirty! Home! Runs!
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So, where is he in the All-Star voting? Number 14 among NL outfielders! Are you kidding me? He’s behind guys like Brandon Marsh, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, Mauricio Dubón, Justin Crawford, and Adolis García. With all due respect, none of those guys are producing anywhere near Crow-Armstrong's level. This isn't just a mistake, it's an insult to a player putting up legit MVP-caliber numbers. It’s hard not to feel like the bigger fanbases are just blindly punching names, ignoring the guys actually earning it on the field.
Popularity Contest: Rice Gets Robbed at First Base
And it doesn't stop there. Over in the American League, we've got another head-scratcher at first base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is leading the pack, with nearly 100,000 more votes than the Yankees' breakout star, Ben Rice. Look, Vladdy is a popular guy, a household name, absolutely. But let's be real, his team isn't exactly tearing it up, and Rice has been having a flat-out better season. Rice has stacked up a solid 2.8 fWAR, blasted 20 home runs, driven in 49 RBIs, and boasts a phenomenal 174 wRC+ which is second in all of MLB, only trailing Yordan Alvarez. Those are superstar numbers!
Guerrero, meanwhile, just has a career-average season going. How is a player with Rice’s kind of early-season production being overlooked for someone getting by on name recognition? It feels like the same old story, doesn’t it? The big-market, popular names get the votes, while the guys actually performing at an elite level, sometimes from teams that don’t have massive national followings, get left out. It's frustrating to watch unfold.
We're fans, and we bleed this sport, so let's use our votes wisely. Let's get these deserving players the recognition they've earned. Speaking of earning it, our Mariners just handled their business on the diamond, shutting out the Orioles in a 3-0 victory at T-Mobile Park. That’s the kind of performance that matters, and we love to see it from the Emerald City! Keep that energy, M's, and let's go get another one!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.