How Many Red Sox Will Make the All-Star Game?

With the first voting for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game being released, their are many candidates on the Boston Red Sox for the Summer Classic.

The 2016 Boston Red Sox campaign has been nothing short of impressive thus far, as the Sox (37-27) stand tied atop the AL East aside the Baltimore Orioles in the first two-and-a-half months of the season. If you have tuned in for the first 64 games, you have seen an offense explode thanks to players such as Designated Hitter David “Large Father” Ortiz headlining; along with “one of the most complete players in baseball” in Red Sox Shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Other players who have made a name in the lineup include OF Jackie Bradley Jr.,  OF Mookie Betts, 3B Travis Shaw, 1B Hanley Ramirez, and 2B Dustin Pedroia.

The most effective starting pitchers this year have been, surprisingly, RHP Steven Wright, and RHP Rick Porcello. The starting rotation has struggled to say the least, with the $217 mil. man LHP David Price struggling in a number of starts this season, along with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (6.06 ERA since returning off DL May 31st), RHP Joe Kelly (demoted to AAA), and RHP Clay Buchholz (demoted to bullpen).

For the bullpen, closer RHP Craig Kimbrel has had a couple of “shaky” innings, but has been “on” for most of his appearances, continuously filling up the zone with his 99 MPH fastball. LHP Robbie Ross has been very effective to coming out of the bullpen as a set-up man (2.95 ERA). RHP’s Koji Uehara (4.01 ERA) and Junichi Tazawa (3.16 ERA) have struggled more this season then in years past. I don’t see this being a whole year type thing as the room for improvement is very do-able for these two, as they both have great stuff to get hitters out in this league.

Here is my take on simply who will be an all-star and who will get snubbed from this year’s mid-summer Classic.

Xander Bogaerts

Bogaerts has emerged as one of the best shortstops in this game, already at the age of 23. The Aruban-born big leaguer is batting an AL-best .357 and already has as many home runs (8) as he did all last season. Bogearts also continues to show his range deep in the left side of the infield, with superb speed, footwork, and arm strength.

Xander is leading the American League All-star vote (1,541,180 votes) , as the update was released June 14th. Others competing for the spot are Kansas City Shortstop Alcides Escobar, and Blue Jays SS Troy Tulowitzki. Overall, I don’t see any shortstop in the American League surpassing Bogaerts, as the Red Sox SS will likely earn not only his first bid to an MLB All-Star Game, but will start as well.

Prediction: AL’s Starting Shortstop

David Ortiz

“Big Papi” “The Large Father”, whatever you want to call him, the Red Sox great has had a first half of the season for the ages. The 40 year old who is supposively retiring after this season is batting .341 (3rd in AL), 16 home runs (tied 6th in AL), 56 RBIs (2nd in AL), and leads the American League in doubles (28).

Ortiz will definitely be the starting Designated Hitter in the mid-Summer Classic for the AL, as it would honestly be an insult to Big Papi to bring up anyone else up for the conversation in the DH race. The last-year veteran leads the AL in votes with over 2 million votes thus far. It will be the 10th All-star selection for Ortiz, and the question that has been lingering for the first couple months of the season is “Why is Ortiz retiring?”. The slugger has the potential to have his best season in his long 20 year career.

Prediction: AL Starting Designated Hitter

Mookie Betts

Betts has been everything the Red Sox expected from the lead off hitter so far this season. The right-fielder is batting .291 with a surprising 14 home runs and leads the AL in runs scored (60). When I say surprising I’m not putting down Betts at all, as his hack toward an inside pitch is so vicious I don’t know how the ball doesn’t combust every time Betts puts one over the Green Monster. Not just a hitter, the 23 year old has put on a great campaign defensively.

If he continues to hold down right field like he has been doing, expect some hardware (Gold Glove) come Betts’s way come seasons end. Betts is 5th in the MLB All-Star voting in the AL for outfielders behind LAA OF Mike Trout, Kansas City OF Lorenzo Cain, Red Sox OF Jackie Bradley Jr., and Baltimore OF Mark Trumbo. I do see Betts making the cut toward the all-star game, as it would be a tragedy if he didn’t. With a lot of great competition in the outfield, I could see him being a reserve come July’s Summer Classic.

Prediction: AL Outfield Reserve

Jackie Bradley Jr.

JBJ has had quite the season, typically in the month of May where he batted .385 and has made his presence known as one of the best “5-tool” players in the game. The center-fielder is batting .307 this season with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs. Although the 26 year old has been cold in the month of June thus far (.205 BA), he can make his presence known in just about any aspect this game has to offer. Bradley Jr. can field, has an absolute rocket of an arm, an aggressive hitter, and can run the bases when called upon.

JBJ is in second in the MLB All-Star voting for AL outfielders, I just hope he continues to hit well as the month of May really set Bradley Jr. in position to start for the American League come the Summer Classic next month. If selected, Bradley Jr. will be making his first All-Star Game appearance of his young career.

Prediction: AL Starting Outfielder

Hanley Ramirez

Ramirez has proved a lot of doubters wrong this season with not just his bat, but the ability to play first base. Going into the ’16 campaign Ramirez would be the pun to many jokes of critics who thought he had no business moving to first base, as last year in the outfield was a nightmare. His bat has been consistent (.275 BA) although the power numbers have been down (5 HR’s in 2016) will more than likely bring Ramirez’s All-Star Game resume down.

Ramirez remains in 4th place in MLB All-Star Voting for AL First Basemen behind sluggers such as Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer, Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera, and Baltimore’s Chris Davis. I am very pleased thus far with the effort and production of Ramirez this year, but the First Base position is very competitive like usual, as I see Hanley most likely getting snubbed from the MLB All-Star Game.

Prediction: All-Star game Snub

Dustin Pedroia

The “Lazer Show” might be one of the most “under-the-radar” players this league has to offer. The 32 year old second basemen is batting .317 with 7 home runs and 45 runs scored. Pedroia has been flawless in the infield per usual, and recently has been under-looked when talking about the best second basemen in baseball. It’s not just his play that defines him, but is one of the biggest leaders on the Red Sox along with Ortiz. The 5- foot- 8 specimen is always the first one in the clubhouse, brings his hardhat with his work boots and goes to battle every single night.

Unfortunately, Pedroia stands in 4th place in MLB All-Star Game voting for AL 2nd basemen behind Houston’s Jose Altuve, Seattle’s Robinson Cano, and Royals Omar Infante (.230 BA….). If it were up to me, Pedroia would be in the All-Star Game every year because of his true passion for the game and the good example he represents for Major League Baseball. It will tough for the Red Sox second basemen to squeeze into the Summer Classic, but has the numbers, along with his blood, sweat, and tears to show that he deserves the nod for next months All-Star Game.

Prediction: AL Infield Reserve (MLB AL Last Vote)

David Price

The 217 million dollar man had a tough couple of starts to the season. But has bounced back his past couple of starts to throw some valuable innings for the Red Sox. Price’s stats are pretty shaky when you take a quick glimpse at them (7-4 4.52 ERA), but don’t be worried Sox fans the best is yet to come from the left-hander acquired from free agency last offseason.

Although Price is one of the best pitchers in baseball, his numbers are simply not good enough to give him a nod to next month’s mid-Summer Classic. At the same time don’t be surprised if he is given a spot on the team because of his veteran status.

Prediction: Snub, Watching the Summer Classic from the back 9

Steven Wright

The knuckleballer has been outstanding this season as no one expected this much success from Steven Wright. Wright is second in the whole MLB in ERA (2.22) and has had a quality start in 11 of his 13 starts this season. His knuckleball has been something out of a fairy tale, dancing past some of the most feared hitters in the league. Wright also leads the team in wins (8-4 .204 Opposing BA), and has put this pitching staff on his back for the first couple months of the season. It’s crazy to think that Wright was fighting for a back-spot of the rotation going into Spring Training, and to see what he has done has been nothing short of remarkable.

Steven Wright is an All-Star: book it. The guy has told reporters that he can walk aimlessly with his family in downtown Boston and no fans even notice him. Get him on that American League All-Star team and Wright will start having to order take out pretty soon.

I watched this about 20 times the first time I saw this clip, Hanigan doesn’t even know where it is going.

Prediction: AL All-Star

Craig Kimbrel

Kimbrel has been a great addition to this bullpen since being acquired from the San Diego Padres in the offseason. You have seen so many uncomfortable at-bats from hitters around the league seeing two 98-99 MPH fastballs in a row, then mixed with a “buckling” 85-88 MPH slider to complete the strikeout (38 K’s in 2016). When throwing strikes, Kimbrel is one of the more dominating relievers in baseball, but we have seen Kimbrel inaccurate at times where he has only blown 2 saves this season (0-2 2.13 ERA, 15 saves). I see the Red Sox closer making the cut for the All-Star game, getting one inning toward the 7-9 innings as his electrifying stuff has impressed many great players around the league.

Prediction: AL All-Star

Next: Not Just Boy-Wonder: Red Sox Shadow Government

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