MLB All-Star Game Snubs

Josh Donaldson

Josh Donaldson
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Donaldson has been one of the best players in the American League during the first half. Their are few players who have the numbers he has. He is in the top five in the AL in batting average with .319, slugging percentage with .536, and an on-base plus slugging percentage with .924. His WAR numbers are also excellent. His fWAR (Fangraphs WAR) and rWAR (Baseball-Reference WAR) is 4.2. The puts him seventh in the fWAR and eleven in rWAR. He is the only player in the top fifteen in fWAR and top eleven in rWAR that is not in the All-Star Game. Another reason Donaldson should make it is because of the success of the Athletics. The Athletics have the second-best record in the AL, but only have one player representing them at the All-Star Game. The Mariners, who are 12.5 games behind the A's in the AL West, have two representatives. It would make sense that the AL West leading Athletics have at least more then one player in the game.

Shin-Soo Choo

With the NL's outfield being stacked, it is understandable that Shin-Soo Choo was overlooked. However, he has a very strong case for being an All-Star. Choo's first year in Cincinnati has been excellent. He may have a batting average of .273, but has an on-base percentage of .418. That is extraordinary. Only his teammate Joey Votto earns more walks then him. He is the best leadoff hitter this season. If any player goes down with an injury, Choo should be asked to join the other All-Stars at Citi Field.

Anibal Sanchez

The Tigers have arguably the best starting rotation in the majors and should have three starters in the All-Star Game. Anibal Sanchez may even be pitching better then the other two Tiger starters on the roster for the Midsummer Classic, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. His ERA (2.70), ERA+ (158), Strikeouts per Nine Innings (10.9), and Runs Allowed per Nine Innings (3.01) are better then his two teammates. Sanchez does not get the attention of Verlander and Scherzer get, but he is just as good as them this year. If they are on the All-Star team, he should be too.

Shelby Miller
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Shelby Miller

Shelby Miller is one of the St. Louis Cardinals great young arms. Miller is currently 9-6 with an ERA of 2.80, an ERA+ of 133, a WHIP of 1.074, 107 strikeouts, and a Strikeouts per Nine Innings of 9.7. He also has a runs Allowed per Nine Innings of 2.98 and a Fielding Independent Pitching of 2.91. His .223 batting average against and a .289 batting average on balls in play is very good. Miller's WAR is also very good, He has a rWAR of 2.5 and a fWAR of 2.2.  Miller has gone under the radar during the first half due to the success of the other St. Louis pitchers, but he should be in New York during All-Star Week. He is one of the best pitchers in baseball.