The player vote is final and the fan vote for the starters is in the books. The Final Vote is all that remains.
Here are the 2017 All-Star Rosters.
I don't believe in snubs and I don't believe in complaining about the results of the fan voting. The purpose of the MLB All-Star Game is to celebrate the game and promote the sports. Fan voting is critical.
I also believe stars that didn't necessarily have the best first half still should be All-Stars and that players on the cusp of stardom or bring special characteristics to the game should be included, too.
For example, Javier Baez, a great defensive second baseman with big power who has yet to put things together at the plate. He plays with a rare flare and savvy and is one of the more exciting players in baseball, promoting the game with style and big plays.
I don't see undeserving All-Stars on this year's rosters. I simply see missing names that would be valuable in promoting the game of baseball.
Here is who's missing and who I'd ultimately replace on the roster:
American League
IN: Jackie Bradley, Jr., CF — Boston Red Sox OR Lorenzo Cain, CF — Kansas City Royals
OUT: Michael Brantley, LF — Cleveland Indians
Both Bradley (2.1fWAR) and Cain (2.4) have had significantly better seasons than Brantley (1.0 fWAR), who's been fine but unspectacular.
You can make a case for Brett Gardner (2.3 fWAR) over Brantley, too, but in an attempt to combine best players with the promotion of baseball, I'm going with the younger players.
Cain, Gardner and Bradley are candidates to replace the injured Mike Trout.
IN: Chris Archer, RHP — Tampa Bay Rays
OUT: Jason Vargas, LHP — Kansas City Royals
Vargas (2.3 fWAR, 3.48 FIP) has has a worthy first half but Archer has been better (3.0 fWAR, 3.07 FIP) and represents the future at the same time, being nearly six years younger.
Vargas is not undeserving, Archer simply is more worthy.
An argument can be made for Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco over Vargas.
IN: Chris Devenski, RHP — Houston Astros
OUT: Dallas Keuchel, LHP — Houston Astros
Such a swap may happen anyway with Keuchel (3.10 FIP, 1.9 fWAR) on the disabled list — he could return in the next week or two but has missed a month now with a pinched nerve in his neck.
His teammate, Devenski, has been a monster in a multi-inning relief role, pitching in every inning after the fourth this season — including six shutout frames after the ninth — posting a 1.9 fWAR and 2.17 FIP in 50 innings.[divider]
MLB TRADE DEADLINE CENTRAL
Who are the Sellers? | Who are the Buyers?
Trade Haul: Jose Quintana | Trade Haul: Ryan Braun
Churchill: Scouting Astros Top Trade Chip, Francis Martes [divider]
National League
IN: *Kris Bryant, 3B — Chicago Cubs
OUT: Brad Hand, LHR — San Diego Padres
Not only are there more worthy pitchers (Jimmy Nelson, Jeff Samardzija, Jacob deGrom, Mike Leake, Trevor Rosenthal, Felipe Rivero, to name six) but this is clearly a one-per-team result and Bryant with his .263/.391/.511, 135 wRC+ line is far more worthy.
*Bryant is part of the Final Vote.
IN: *Anthony Rendon, 3B — Washington Nationals
OUT: DJ LeMahieu, 2B — Colorado Rockies
This one's a no-brainer. LeMahieu is not repeating his .348/.416/.495 season from a year ago, sitting at a good but not star-worthy .303/.361/.381, 83 wRC+ line. The game does not need the extra second baseman with Daniel Murphy, the starter, and utility man Josh Harrison already in the game.
Nolan Arenado is the starter at third, so LeMahieu is not needed to fill the one-per-team criteria. Rendon (3.4 fWAR, 146 wRC+) is having a great season and was better than Lemahieu a year ago, too.
Justin Turner, who is batting .382/.472/.557 in 59 games, has a strong case, too. He leads all NL third baseman in fWAR at 3.7. I went with Bryant and Rendon, but…
*Rendon is part of the Final Vote.
IN: Jimmy Nelson, RHP — Milwaukee Brewers
OUT: Robbie Ray, LHP — Arizona Diamondbacks
Neither pitcher is a star in the game so neither carry the cache to make the difference with their name, but you tell me which is a more worthy line:
1: 3.27 FIP, 2,4 fWAR, 1.10 WPA, 7.38 WPA+
2: 3.80 FIP, 1.9 fWAR, 1.06 WPA, 7.11 WPA+
Thought so.
Youth Movement
These players were not selected but should be as part of baseball's movement toward the future and drawing interest from younger fans. Having them in the All-Star game is the only way MLB can control their appearance on a national stage.
Typically this list would be longer, but Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and company made the team by fan or player vote.
Javier Baez, 2B — Chicago Cubs
Marcus Stroman, RHP — Toronto Blue Jays
