The MLB All-Star Game is on next Tuesday. As usual, there are many players that may surprise people that they are heading to the All-Star Game. Maybe it is because of the small market or they have been putting up great numbers under the radar. Here are some of the players.
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| Andrew McCutchen http://crabcakesports.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/freed_ pirates080109_7_500.jpg |
McCutchen has been on the rise for many years. This year, he has begun to become the best of the best. He is 1st in Majors with a .356 average, 16 homers, 54 ribbies, 53 runs, 2nd in the NL with a .603 slugging percentage, and a 1.014 OPS, which puts him 3rd in that department in the NL. He has a 9.33 runs created per 27 outs and a .247 isolated power average. His fielding has been outstanding. 1 error in 78 games, a .995 fielding percentage and a 2.51 range factor. He is also the leader for the surprising NL Central leading Pittsburgh Pirates, who have a 46-36 record.
Melky Cabrera
Melky had a very good season last year for the Kansas City Royals and is proving it was no fluke by having an even better year this year. He is about tenth of a point behind McCutchen for the batting crown. The "Melk Man" has 18 two-baggers, 7 three-baggers, 7 home runs, and 42 RBIs, and 54 runs. He also has a .395 OBP, a .518 slugging percentage, and a .913 OPS. He has always been a good fielder and this year is no different. In LF, where he has mostly started, he has a .978 fielding percentage.
Joel Hanrahan
We have another Pirate on the list. This is Hanrahan's 2nd consecutive All-Star Game. He has 22 saves and has 4 wins. In the 34 games he has appeared in, the Bucs have only lost 2 of the games. In both of the losses, Pittsburgh was down when he came into pitch. He has a 1.12 WHIP, a 2.45 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 9.55 Strikeouts per 9 Innings. Whenever Hanrahan pitches, it will most likely be a win.
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| Billy Butler http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/210/144/ 142904175_crop_650x440.jpg?1336505764 |
Billy Butler
The lone representative (so far) from the Kansas City Royals, who are hosting the 2012 All-Star Game and the 3rd ASG in Kansas City, is their Designative Hitter Billy Butler. Butler has been a good player for the last few years and this year he has finally gotten the recognition he deserves. He has 16 home runs, 49 runs batted in, a .296 average, 360 OBP, .492 slugging percentage, and a .852 OPS. He also has 85 hits, 31 runs, a .306 secondary average, and a .205 isolated power.
Jim Johnson
In Jim Johnson's 1st year as a closer, he has performed very well. He has 25 saves, which is 1st in the Majors. The Orioles 9th inning man has a 0.77 WHIP, 1.24 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and 3
In the 36 games he has pitched, they have lost only 6 of them. In the 6 loses, 1 of the games was tied when he pitched and in the 5 games, they were losing when he came into pitch.
