2037 Frick ASG Reserves

[usnspecialist]

Stealing this idea from Ted since he did it last year, figured I would walk everyone thru the process I took to pick the Frick League reserves for the All Star Game. I will also be adding my commentary on the voting results as I go along. First the starters, with the number of selections in their career listed after (including this year):

C: Sang-duk Sim (.336/.372/.532, 10 HR, 39 RBI) (TWC) 3x
1B: Tai hoi Wie (.323/.431/.600, 26 HR, 61 RBI) (SFV) 2x
2B: James Monger (.329/.379/.565, 20 HR, 52 RBI) (OMA) 2x
3B: Michael Best (.352/.392/.585, 21 HR, 59 RBI) (LBC) 1x
SS: Angel Zalapa (.282/.371/.524, 13 HR, 40 RBI) (VAL) 1x
LF: John Hickman (.342/.394/.583, 17 HR, 53 RBI) (SEA) 4x
CF: Grant Lee (.301/.380/.556, 21 HR, 62 RBI) (SFV) 1x
RF: Luis Maldonado (.306/.368/.614, 26 HR 76 RBI) (SFV) 3x
DH: Jon Mick (.298/.360/.605, 30 HR, 90 RBI) (MAD) 3x
SP: Miguel Ramos (14 -2, 1.84 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 138 K) (CAL) 2x
SP: Feliciano Rafael (12 - 4, 3.43 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 129 K) (SFV) 2x
SP: Luis Gracia (7 - 8, 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 103 K) (CAL) 2x
SP: Hiroyuki Rin (7 - 3, 2.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 75 K) (EDM) 2x
SP: Alfredo Contreras (9 - 8, 3.89 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 124 K) (SEA) 3x
RP: Momcilo Djuretic (3 - 0, 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 60 K) (YS9) 1x (Injured)
RP: Augusto Cardenas (5 - 4, 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 40 K) (CAL) 2x
RP: Taisuke Suzuki (5 - 3, 2.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 57 K) (EDM) 1x
RP: Shotaro Kawamura (3 - 2, 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 35 K) (SEA) 1x
RP: Carlos Delgado (2 - 1, 1.45 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 44 K) (SFV) 1x

19 players elected would normally leave 11 spots, but with Djuretic injured I have an extra spot to play with. 10 teams had elected representatives, so that means 5 I need to fill myself (BOI, CLG, DSM, HAW, VAN) so that is first priority. In general I do not believe in selecting relievers for the ASG, so you likely will not see any of those here unless absolutely necessary. Taking the teams in alphabetical order, lets start with Boise. This one is fairly simple as the only candidate who even really sniffs deserving of a spot is rookie CF Dennis French (.276/.305/.498, 12 HR, 35 RBI), who is well on his way to being a Zimmer winner. The bat has some work to do, but he has done enough to get a spot this time around. Moving on to Calgary, with all due respect to Susumu Nakanishi (.286/.358/.617, 23 HR, 56 RBI) who is having a fine sophomore season and rotation mainstay Cristobal Hernandez (6 - 8, 5.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 111 K) this comes down to 2 pitchers, Carlos Rodriguez (6 - 7, 4.02 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 157 K) and Jimmy Greenwood (7 - 4, 2.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 46 K). Their pitching profiles could not be more different, as Rodriguez either strikes everyone out or walks them, and Greenwood does neither of those things (on a side note, how a starter can be effective with a K/9 rate of 3.5 is staggering). The overall numbers are close, but im going with personal preference here and selecting Rodriguez for his breakout season. Next up is Des Moines, and this decision is fairly straight-forward (which is not great for the team). Don Draper (.325/.373/.438, 6 HR, 34 RBI) is the only player who has produced anything resembling competence, so he gets the spot. Taking a trip over to the islands we find ourselves with another straightforward decision, although in this case it is for someone who had a very legitimate case to make it on merit. Stephen Taub (5 - 10, 3.40 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 93 K) has put up some very nice numbers this season and has just been criminally under-supported by his offense so he makes it for the 2nd time in his 2 year career. For the last mandatory selection we have another simple choice taking Vancouver’s Hotha Popo (.290/.401/.390, 5 HR, 39 RBI). Not only does our squad need a backup catcher, but Popo is clearly the best performer on the team over the course of the first half. Shoutout to Rashardo Menne III (.380/.483/.550, 3 HR, 11 RBI) for putting up an incredible month of performances, but you need to play more than 27 games to make this squad.

With every team now having a representative, we have 7 spots with which to select deserving representatives. Our team could use a few more arms, so im going to add two in Edmonton’s Bobby Lynch (9 - 2, 2.41 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 95 K) and San Fernando’s Ernie Kinney (10 - 4, 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 95 K). Lynch has been a great story in his first full season back following Tommy John surgery and Kinney has been Mr. Consistency while managing not to be completely overshadowed by superstar Feliciano Rafael (12 - 4, 3.43 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 129 K) on the best team in the Brewster.

Moving over to the offensive side of the field with 5 spots to use, we start by going for another big bat to fill the backup 1B/DH role. The choice comes down to Long Beach’s Mark Simpson (.279/.404/.520, 20 HR, 55 RBI) vs San Fernando’s William Moreland (.309/.384/.637, 23 HR, 56 RBI), and while Simpson has put up a good season (and could potentially be in consideration for one of the last spots), Moreland is the choice here as he has bounced back with a vengeance after his struggles in Des Moines last season. Moving around the diamond, we get to maybe the deepest position in the Frick at 2B. With all due respect to Claudio Defazio (.255/.383/.422, 10 HR, 30 RBI), who is having his usual fine season flying under the radar it comes down to 2 of the biggest names in the Brewster in Jared Gillstrom (.319/.358/.580, 26 HR, 63 RBI) and Mons Raider (.339/.430/.429, 3 HR, 41 RBI). Both excel in their own way, and the reason Gillstrom gets the nod for me is that while he isnt great with a glove, Raider is an absolute anchor in the field and has no business playing the position.

With only 4 OF on the roster we could use at least 1 more there, and the choice comes down to 3 gentlemen. Twin Cities LF Ray Cooper (.299/.374/.567, 22 HR, 73 RBI) has had a great season but falls just a bit short in all categories compared to Edmonton LF Luis Costello (.344/.397/.561, 16 HR, 69 RBI) and Valencia RF Wilton Rivera (.288/.385/.573, 22 HR, 53 RBI). These guys are so close that you could basically flip a coin to choose. By the slimmest of margins Costello gets the spot, because I like the balance of speed and power, but I have a feeling Rivera will be in this discussion for years to come.

For the last 2 spots on the roster, the candidates include Long Beach 1B Mark Simpson (.279/.404/.520, 20 HR, 55 RBI), Madison “2B” Mons Raider (.339/.430/.429, 3 HR, 41 RBI), Madison SS Jharod Thealer (.304/.404/.452, 6 HR, 45 RBI), Omaha 3B Emilio Morales and Valencia RF Wilton Rivera (.288/.385/.573, 22 HR, 53 RBI). The first spot goes to Rivera and Simpson gets the last spot for his all around game, edging out the one trick pony in Emilio Morales (although it is a helluva trick).

C: Sang-duk Sim (.336/.372/.532, 10 HR, 39 RBI) (TWC) 3x
1B: Tai hoi Wie (.323/.431/.600, 26 HR, 61 RBI) (SFV) 2x
2B: James Monger (.329/.379/.565, 20 HR, 52 RBI) (OMA) 2x
3B: Michael Best (.352/.392/.585, 21 HR, 59 RBI) (LBC) 1x
SS: Angel Zalapa (.282/.371/.524, 13 HR, 40 RBI) (VAL) 1x
LF: John Hickman (.342/.394/.583, 17 HR, 53 RBI) (SEA) 4x
CF: Grant Lee (.301/.380/.556, 21 HR, 62 RBI) (SFV) 1x
RF: Luis Maldonado (.306/.368/.614, 26 HR 76 RBI) (SFV) 3x
DH: Jon Mick (.298/.360/.605, 30 HR, 90 RBI) (MAD) 3x
SP: Miguel Ramos (14 -2, 1.84 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 138 K) (CAL) 2x
SP: Feliciano Rafael (12 - 4, 3.43 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 129 K) (SFV) 2x
SP: Luis Gracia (7 - 8, 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 103 K) (CAL) 2x
SP: Hiroyuki Rin (7 - 3, 2.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 75 K) (EDM) 2x
SP: Alfredo Contreras (9 - 8, 3.89 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 124 K) (SEA) 3x
RP: Momcilo Djuretic (3 - 0, 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 60 K) (YS9) 1x (Injured)
RP: Augusto Cardenas (5 - 4, 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 40 K) (CAL) 2x
RP: Taisuke Suzuki (5 - 3, 2.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 57 K) (EDM) 1x
RP: Shotaro Kawamura (3 - 2, 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 35 K) (SEA) 1x
RP: Carlos Delgado (2 - 1, 1.45 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 44 K) (SFV) 1x
RES C: Hotha Popo (.290/.401/.390, 5 HR, 39 RBI) (VAN) 1x
RES: 1B: Mark Simpson (.279/.404/.520, 20 HR, 55 RBI) 5x
RES 1B/DH: William Moreland (.309/.384/.637, 23 HR, 56 RBI) (SFV) 5x
RES 2B: Jared Gillstrom (.319/.358/.580, 26 HR, 63 RBI) (SFV) 9x
RES 3B: Don Draper (.325/.373/.438, 6 HR, 34 RBI) (DSM) 2x
RES LF: Luis Costello (.344/.397/.561, 16 HR, 69 RBI) (EDM) 2x
RES CF: Dennis French (.276/.305/.498, 12 HR, 35 RBI) (BOI) 1x
RES RF: Wilton Rivera (.288/.385/.573, 22 HR, 53 RBI) (VAL) 1x
RES SP: Carlos Rodriguez (6 - 7, 4.02 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 157 K) (CLG) 1x
RES SP: Stephen Taub (5 - 10, 3.40 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 93 K) (HAW) 2x
RES SP: Bobby Lynch (9 - 2, 2.41 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 95 K) (EDM) 2x
RES SP: Ernie Kinney (10 - 4, 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 95 K) (SFV) 2x

Team Breakdown:
San Fernando: 8
Edmonton: 4
California: 3
Seattle: 3
Long Beach: 2
Valencia: 2
Boise: 1
Calgary: 1
Des Moines: 1
Hawaii: 1
Madison: 1
Omaha: 1
Twin Cities: 1
Vancouver: 1
Yellow Springs: 1

[RonCo]

Looks like a team that will win the All-Star game.

[7teen]

[usnspecialist]

somehow I thought this would be your reaction. Raider is just so bad on defense I couldnt justify it. It was a tough call though.

[niles08]

I figured Emilio Morales would atleast be a reserve...

[ae37jr]

I figured Emilio Morales would atleast be a reserve...

If you would have traded him to San Fernando he probably would have been.

[usnspecialist]

I figured Emilio Morales would atleast be a reserve...

Having to take draper screwed Morales. I tried to create a balanced roster (ended up with exactly 2 of every position except for SS). San Fernando bias had nothing to do with that one. Wilson has a better case when it comes to crying bias on raider but gillstrom isn't exactly a scrub and in fact got more votes than raider did.

[Ted]

I probably would have left off Wilton Rivera and been an OF short and taken Morales or Thealer. The getting every team represented really screws some of the best players each year. We could consider doing away with it. Who cares? There aren't real fans to be disappointed. Those are the two that I think got left out the most. But I don't know how you get both and not have a really lopsided roster or violate the one player from each team rule. Maybe you leave Kinney off, but he was the seventh most voted for starter. As far as there being 8 player from San Fernando, it seems a bit much. But five were voted in as starters, and the next three would all have been voted in if we took the reserves from the voting process as well. San Fernando is all time good this year, guys.

[StormZ_23]

I'm very happy that Popo made it. If Menne did not get injured for a month, I think he would have had a good shot of making it. Great article!