09.19: Potential Barnstormer All-star Candidates

[agrudez]

Likely candidates:
IF Bernard Maselli – Called on to man the vacant SS position for the Barnstormers, newly acquired FA (fresh off the boat from the EBA) Maselli has managed to be adequate with the glove (-2.5 ZR on the season) at a tough position while also crushing the ball from Omaha’s 3-hole. On the season, Maselli has a .38 OBP, .912 OPS, 14 HRs, 60 RBIs and is on pace for a 5 WAR season despite playing out of position in the field (he’d likely be on pace for 7-8 WAR at his native 2B). If anyone deserved to represent the Barnstormers at the game it would be Mo.

SP Gary Lammond – After being forced to forfeit a majority of last season to injury, the 35 year old Lammond came into the season stating that he wanted to make up for lost time and has, thus far, followed up with every promise made – and then some. Thus far, Lammond has started 16 games, compiling a 9-3 record across 121.2 IP with a 3.85 ERA and 1.3 WHIP. As for his peripherals, he is sporting a 4 K:BB ratio (with a hilarious 3.85 K:9 and am absurd .96 BB:9) and for those whom may be tempted to call the wily veteran’s season ‘lucky’ he only has a .308 BABIP and has put up a 4.03 FIP.

Darkhorse candidates:
CF Eric Rouse – In his second season attempting to learn CF Rouse has done considerably better than his first (with a -4.3 ZR in 74 games vs. a -19.8 ZR in 61 games). Couple that with a respectable .787 OPS (from a defense-first position) and you get a player on pace for 2 WAR playing in a position he currently only half understands… not bad for a washed up 29 year old.

LF Allen Stephens - In his first full season as a Barnstormer, Stephens has not disappointed with the bat in Omaha's cleanup position. On the season to date, the 28 year old left-handed slugger is sporting 14 HRs, a .197 ISO and a .826 OPS. His glove in left has come as advertised; however (-8.2 ZR in 67 games), but despite that he is one pace for a 1.6 WAR season (which would be closer to 3 as a DH).

Unlikely (and unlucky) candidates:
SP Luis Luna – No single pitcher in the Barnstormer staff has suffered greater due to the porous defense behind him than staff ace sinker-baller Luna. His traditional metrics have been very worrisome this year (4-12 record, 5.43 ERA, 1.57 WHIP), but once the first layer of the onion is peeled back you can see that the 28 year old Southpaw is putting in a pretty quality season from the mound in his own right with a 3.83 FIP.

CL Javier Alomar – If I told you that a closer was striking out opposing batters at a 12.09 K:9 clip you’d probably want to mark his name down for the all-star game. If I then told you that he had a 4.78 ERA and 1.41 WHIP you’d probably reconsider. BUT, if I finally told you that he has been stricken with a .36 BABIP and has actually put up a 3.26 FIP… what would you say then?