NL All-Star Selection Process

from NL Manager Earl Sweeney

As with any all-star selection process, there are players that just miss the cut. Some have arguments that you could make to include over someone who was included.

I decided to go with two players at each of the eight fielding positions, the three next best hitters, four starting pitchers, three closers and four set-up men for a thirty man roster.

For position players I gave higher weight to leaders at each position in the main catagories (runs, RBIs, homers) and same with slugging percentage and runs created.

For pitchers who excelled in ERA & runners per nine innings got extra weight also. In addition, I attempted to get two players from each team on the roster without leaving a truly deserving player off (only two teams got just one player)

I am going to list some players who just missed and give arguments for the last five to make the roster

Players that just missed the cut:

Ivan Rodriguez - Probably has the biggest argument of any player- .329 average, among catchers was 2nd in RBIs, runs, 1st in runs created & extra base hits. The biggest reason I-Rod missed the cut probably was the fact that seven Dixiechicks already made the roster. I-Rod's numbers are probably inflated hitting 7th in the top offense in the N.L. Also, his numbers were not overwhelmingly better than the other catchers in the N.L.

A.J. Pierzynski - .325 average, .500 slugging - Another victim of the very strong catcher position in the N.L. All five catchers had very good numbers but none were good enough to warrant carrying a 4th catcher on this roster.

Joe Mauer -.308 average, .532 slug. - 201 at-bats hurt his chances.

Corey Patterson - 7th in league in runs, 27 steals - .338 OBP and middle of the road runs created did Patterson in.

Matt Murton - 94 runs created. 10th in league with 96 hits - good production, a little light to be an all-star

Ichiro Suzuki - .335 average, leads league in hits with 124. Average and hits are nice - rest of numbers are pretty average. With Howard & McCann behind him, he should have scored more runs.

Ronnie Belliard - .346 average, .556 slugging -great numbers but just missed the cut due to 234 at-bats / 252 plate appearances

Aaron Heilman -second in league with 20 saves - 0-5 with a 4.66 ERA hurt his resume

Clay Meredith - 5 wins, 9 saves, 2.13 ERA - too many worthy closers, Meredith just missed the cut

Javier Vasquez - 9-1 record - has a very good case - 4.56 ERA and lower innings per start than the four starters who made it pushed Vasquez off the team.

Jon Garland & Eric Bedard - both went 8-5, both had ERAs in low 3's.. These two actually hurt each other as I couldn't select one without the other. Just not enough room for both.

Dan Haren - 9-5 record, 3.43 ERA, low runners per nine - just missed the cut

Juan Rincon - lowest ERA in N.L. (1.07), .96 runners per inning - can't make him the 8th Dixiechick on the roster.

J.J. Putz & Takashi Saito - Originally had them both on the roster. Both have respectable ERAs & good save amounts but blown saves and losses are high.

Cases for final five selections:

Carlos Guillen - He gets the nod due to the numbers he put up in the A.L before being traded to the N.L. I can't leave off a shortstop with a .345 average, .431OBP, .531 slug who had 106 hits, and 106 runs created (would be 5th in NL)

Carlos Delgado - only had a .238 average, but 2nd in league in homers with 25, 2nd in RBIs with 76 and 6th in runs created -what a clean-up hitter is supposed to do..

Johnny Damon -7th in league in runs created with 99, top 15 in runs and RBIs. The unthrilling .283 average is really the only argument against Damon

Jesse Crain - 4 wins in relief and lowest runners per nine in the N.L.

Brian Medders - 1.28 ERA - 2nd in the N.L, under a runner allowed per inning