Corbin Carroll's .902 OPS: Why Fan Voting Is a Flat-Out Joke
Alright, Seattle! Out in the desert, the Diamondbacks are facing a brutal reality with the MLB All-Star voting, and honestly, it’s a total farce. The fan ballot results just dropped, and it's crystal clear: popularity contests are selling incredible talent short. With the midsummer classic less than a month away, some guys are getting absolutely robbed. It’s time to call it what it is: small-market erasure.
The Numbers Don't Lie, But the Fans Do
Monday’s update shows some D-backs way down or not even on the list. Geraldo Perdomo didn't crack the top 10 at shortstop, and Pavin Smith is nowhere near the top 10 for DH. Ouch. Here's where D-backs candidates stand:
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- Gabriel Moreno, Catcher: 8th with 92,127 votes.
- Ildemaro Vargas, First Base: 7th with 87,590 votes.
- Ketel Marte, Second Base: 7th with 256,413 votes.
- Nolan Arenado, Third Base: 3rd with 363,091 votes.
- Corbin Carroll, Outfield: 8th with 425,814 votes.
For some, their pure production numbers are bafflingly low. Others? Classic small-market erasure. We gotta get justice!
Carroll's Being Blatantly Snubbed
Corbin Carroll, for real. This dude isn't just the best outfielder on his team, he’s putting up All-Star worthy production, period. To see him sitting at eighth among vote-getters? It’s completely unfair based on his play. Carroll is absolutely crushing it: .277/.367/.535 with 12 home runs and a ridiculous .902 OPS. He leads all of baseball with eight triples, has nine stolen bases, and drives that batting order. His FanGraphs WAR is 3.1, tenth overall in baseball and third among all outfielders!
Now, get this: out of seven outfielders ahead of him, only James Wood (.967 OPS) has more. Wood is just one spot ahead in votes! Andy Pages, first in voting, has an .802 OPS. Ronald Acuña Jr., in second, is on the IL with a hamstring strain, with a .794 OPS and seven homers. Carroll's a better hitter than practically everyone ahead, save Wood, and his defense is plus-level. If fan votes don’t swing his way, a reserve selection is practically guaranteed. Anything less? Flat-out wrong.
Marte Deserves Better, Too
Then there’s Ketel Marte. He’s been on an absolute tear lately, undeniably the best overall second baseman in the National League right now. A slow start capped his numbers, but his .743 OPS is eighth-best in the NL. It trails Ozzie Albies, first in voting, by about 30 points. But Bryson Stott of the Phillies, second in voting, is hitting .230/.288/.391. That's significantly worse than Marte! And his fielding hasn't been bet. Another example of the fan vote missing the mark.
It's frustrating, right? These guys bust their butts, put up insane numbers, and then the popularity contest rolls around. We’ve seen it, we’ll see it again. What's at stake is simple: recognizing true talent. Let's hope the midsummer classic selections get it right, because the fans aren't doing these guys any favors.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.