MLB All-Star Game 2014: National League final vote candidates announced
By Hayden Kane
In what is presumably an effort to keep the vote as close to an “apples to apples” comparison as possible, the options for the final vote for the National League for the MLB All-Star Game are quite similar.
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At least as far as their resumes are concerned, all five guys could be classified as sluggers or at the very least important hitters in the middle of the lineup. Their positions range from the corners of the infield to the outfield, but all these guys are listed because they would bring some pop to the National League.
Here are the final five candidates for the final vote, which runs through Tuesday on MLB.com:
1B – Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
1B – Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies
2B/3B – Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals
3B – Casey McGehee, Miami Marlins
OF – Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves
Rizzo and Morneau likely offer the most compelling cases, though all five guys are certainly deserving. Rizzo has raked all season for the Cubs, putting up a .274/.384/.489 slash line through 84 games. The 24-year-old slugger also has 17 home runs and a wRC+ of 140, meaning his runs created per plate appearance rate is 40 percent better than league average.
Morneau has enjoyed a renaissance in Colorado, though his numbers are not simply a creation of Coors Field. He owns a .314/.346/.518 slash line with 13 home runs and 59 RBI. His wRC+, which is a park-adjusted stat, is 125.
Here are the numbers for the other three guys, all of whom are enjoying solid seasons.
Rendon: .286/.343/.489, 131 wRC+
McGehee: .317/.385/.392, 120 wRC+
Upton: .275/.347/.507, 139 wRC+
It’s a tough choice among those guys. Morneau will be the sentimental choice because it would give him the chance to appear in front of his old hometown fans in Minnesota. Will that be enough? Is one of the other guys more deserving? Hit the comments section and let us know your thoughts.