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MLB All-Star Game 2015: 5 bigggest snubs – AL

By Will Osgood

Jul 4, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits an RBI single in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 4, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits an RBI single in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 5, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) is congratulated by first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) is congratulated by first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Looking at the five biggest snubs for the American League after All-Star Game rosters were announced Monday. 

It’s easy to point fingers at the MLB All-Star Game process, with fans voting in the starters, the All-Star manager and players sharing the weight for choosing the reserves. The reality, though, is no matter what there will be snubs.

The greater issue is the insistence on having each and every team represented in the game, despite the fact some teams do not feature a true star, or at least not a worthy All-Star.

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Because some players have to be put in the game, it means some players who deserve to be in the game do not get in.

The Final vote gives an additional player a chance, and this year’s Final vote features these five players for the American League: Xander Bogaerts, Yoenis Cespedes, Brian Dozier, Brett Gardner and Mike Moustakas.

Each of those five could make legitimate arguments for their candidacy not only for winning the final vote, but for being in the game regardless. Any of them would have been OK players to place on the initial roster as reserves.

Before we get to which players should be in the game who currently are not, it seems appropriate to mention a few players who made it who were absolutely deserving but perhaps a bit surprising.

Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels hadn’t fared so well in his time in the American League. But since the middle of May almost no one in baseball has hit the ball as well as he has. Stephen Vogt of the Oakland Athletics isn’t your traditional catcher–he hardly played the position last year for the A’s, instead mostly DH’ing and playing first base.

Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez are two Detroit Tigers who, if you told me a year ago would be All-Stars I would have snickered, laughed or just shook my head. But both deserve to be in Cincinnati on July 14.

Here are five others who also deserve to be, but as of now are not slated to be in the All-Star Game, barring injury replacements.

All statistics taken from baseball-reference.com player pages. 

Next: Here are the five players most deserving of AL All-Star consideration who aren't

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