Here's an excerpt of this week's "Out of Left Field" column. Fantasy Source subscribers can access the entire column, as well as Fantasy Source's other great tools.
Just over two weeks remain to get your votes in for the 2014 All-Star Game. If you haven’t already stuffed the ballot box, here are my humble suggestions. (If you already voted and disagreed with me, I’m sorry to tell you that you’re just plain wrong.)
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Catcher: Derek Norris, Athletics. The Royals homer in me wanted to give it to Salvador Perez, but “Clutch Norris” is batting .301/.403/.512 with eight homers and 34 RBIs. Sal’s defense is better, but we don’t care about defense in fantasy baseball, do we?
First Base: Edwin Encaracion, Blue Jays. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera has him beat by a mile in batting average, but Encarnacion has almost twice as many home runs, more runs scored, more RBIs, and more stolen bases. I didn’t buy him as a first-round pick this spring, but I was wrong.
Second Base: Jose Altuve, Astros. If Fantasy Source favorite Brian Dozier had better luck on balls in play, this job would be his. As it stands, Altuve’s steals and batting average earn him a starting spot on my All-Star team.
Third Base: Josh Donaldson, Athletics. For this exercise, Cabrera and Encarnacion don’t count as third basemen. Donaldson wins by default against pretty weak competition, although it’s hard to complain about a guy who’s on pace for 35 homers and more than 100 RBIs. Two words, Cubs fans: Rich Harden.
Shortstop: Alexei Ramirez, White Sox. American League shortstops sure aren’t what they used to be. I found myself choosing among the likes of Ramirez, Alcides Escobar, and Erick Aybar. Remember when the cream of the crop used to look like this and this and this?
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels; Michael Brantley, Indians; Jose Bautista, Blue Jays. I’m trying to get used to the idea of Brantley being a star. I still see him as a bench outfielder/waiver-wire go-to guy. He’s another data point for the “age 27 phenomenon” at this point. Full disclosure: On my real ballot, I’ll probably knock him out in favor of Alex Gordon.
Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz, Orioles. Detroit's Victor Martinez has a much better average and nearly as many home runs. Plus, he’s more of a true “DH” than Cruz, who splits his time pretty evenly between DH and the outfield. But that’s the point: Cruz actually plays the outfield, while Martinez stands next to first base when he’s not sitting on the bench. I want to reward that effort – and stick it to the anti-PED zealots out there.
Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, Mariners. Yeah, I know: You can’t vote for the starter. I just wanted to point out that a lot of Masahiro Tanaka’s advantage over King Felix in fantasy value is the result of luck – luck on balls in play, baserunners stranded, and even the quality of his teammates.
Next week: my choices for the National League All-Stars. Will Ruben Tejada shock the world???
No. No, he won’t.