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MLB All-Star Game 2015: 5 Biggest Snubs – NL

By Will Osgood

May 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly (8) relieves starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly (8) relieves starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 20, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) bats against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) bats against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

2B Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals

Again, despite their incredible run differential and record, it seems fair to say the St. Louis Cardinals are outperforming their talent level.

One guy who is putting truly solid, if not All-Star-worthy numbers, is second baseman Kolten Wong. On the season Wong has nine home runs with 36 runs batted in, 18 doubles and a .337/.443/.780 slash line (OBP/Slugging/OPS). He’s also scored 42 runs and stolen seven bases.

In a somewhat weak NL second base crop, those numbers seem All-Star-worthy. Going further inside the numbers, Wong has produced 1.7 wins above replacement offensively and 0.5 defensively for 2.2 WAR overall.

Joe Panik of the San Francisco Giants and D.J. LeMahieu of the Colorado Rockies were deserving as well. But playing in Coors Field–a home run haven if there ever was one–LeMahieu has only four home runs on the year and has driven in just 34 runs. His OPS doesn’t compare favorably to Wong’s, .738–.042 points behind Wong.

And his WAR is 0.9 less than Wong. So it seems, especially since the Rockies already had one All-Star guaranteed in Nolan Arenado (and he is truly deserving), LeMahieu should have been snubbed in favor of Wong.

Next: And a three-bagger

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