9-News: 38.066 – Guess the All-Star

[RonCo]

As that All-Star time of the year rolls around, some are pointing to the Yellow Springs roster and struggling to find a guy who they’d pick as a true All-Star kind of guy. Which says something about this team, after all. It’s sitting at 51-31, the second-best record in the Frick, third in the BBA, and yet you look at the guys on the team and you don’t know what to make of it. With names abounding in other teams, one makes an assumption we won’t see a YS9 candidate voted into the starting line-up, so the team will make do with a manager selection.

I suppose it’s reasonable to ask who that might be.

On the face of it, Lucas McNeill is perhaps the easiest pick of the litter. McNeill has name and face recognition, and is posting a .298/.383/.560 line with 19 homers that, while not exactly what he’s been capable of, is probably the closest thing to All-Star numbers that you can come up with. His 2.4 WAR project well enough, after all. Still, his aura says he’s a 6 WAR guy, so you look at him and he’s showing that tarnish you don’t like to see.

Then there’s Gillstrom candidate Jose Machado, who’s pushing some serious numbers (.322/.418/.609), but in a platoon role. His 15 homers and 15 additional extra base hits are like mana from heaven, and yet, he’s a kid. How real is that? Regardless, it’s 2.0 WAR right now. Is that enough?

Because if there is, the aging wonder that is Alfredo Salazar may need in. Or not. It’s confusing that way. Salazar has a dozen homers to go with a All-Sartish .319/.427/.667 slash, but again that’s in only 164 plate appearances. Like McNeill, Savage is overfilling with name recognition, but is 164 plate appearances enough to take the team’s slot?

We suppose one could add Aaron Stone to the conversation, especially if catchers are a down season…which they are a bit, though one guesses Des Moines John Hale might take the start and Long Beach’s Hotha Popo will ride the pine. Stone’s numbers put him on the edge of that conversation, but are seriously a bit tepid in the end.

The pitching staff isn’t exactly sparkling, though Carlos Valle is at least making a game of it again, and Curt Phillips seems to have finally determined how to close games out. Then there’s interesting candidate Tristan Alfama, who is 8-1, 3.76 (85 FIP-) and on line to throw 160 innings out of the bullpen this season. Perhaps he’s a dark horse there?

The fact, though, is that other than perhaps Machado, this team is a bit of an outlier in that it’s winning games while not exactly having a star or two take the team on their back. It’s an interesting problem to have.

“Can we just play Madison bingo and just circle all the cows?” said one fan at the ballpark as she was making out her ballot. “That’s a lot easier.”

[bcslouck]

No poll?

[Ted]

No poll?

Well done, sir.

Shame on you, Ron. Take your own damn advice!

[bcslouck]

No poll?

Well done, sir.

Shame on you, Ron. Take your own damn advice!

[RonCo]

:hi-5: