All Three Outfielders Should Be All-Stars
June 28, 2012 at 12:03 pm by Ben Duronio under Atlanta Braves
There are certainly better hitting National League outfielders than the trio the Braves run out every day, but there are not many better overall players among their peers. Currently, the Braves outfield is 2-3-4 in National League outfielder WAR, and each of them should represent the Braves in the All-Star game in a few weeks.
I am not huge on the All-Star game, but deserving players should get the recognition for their production. It is easy to denounce UZR and DRS and say that the outfielders have not been as good of fielders as their numbers suggest — each rank in at least the top three in all of baseball for their respective outfield position in UZR — but the fact that the Braves have allowed the least amount of non-home run extra base hits points to how good the outfield defense truly has been.
Not only have they all been great defensively, but they have produced on the base paths as well. Prado has never been the fleetest of foot on the bases, with 22 career steals against 16 caught stealings, but his 9-1 rate this year is included in that ratio. He has timed his opportunities well and taken advantage. Bourn is one of, if not the, most prolific base stealer in the league and he has continued to run at a rapid rate this year — though his he has been caught more often than in the past. Nonetheless, his 20 steals have certainly added value to the team. Heyward’s fast start on the bases was well documented. He has slowed down as the season has continued, but 10 steals in 13 chances and solid overall base running has been a solid portion of Heyward’s game thus far.
And even at the plate, while as mentioned there are certainly better hitters, each ranks in at least the top 14 in wRC+, with Bourn having the lowest mark of 121 — or 21 percent better than the average major league hitter this season. The Braves would absolutely not be in the position they are currently in without the high level of production of their outfielders — who are also now the top three hitters in the lineup.
None of them will start and it is doubtful that each of them make the All-Star game, but that does not mean that they are undeserving of the recognition. These three most certainly have been All-Stars through the season’s first half.
Loading ...
But what would happen if Heyward came up to bat against a left hander in the ASG. Diaz would have to make the team in order to pinch hit.
Anyone believe Prado would have better voting results if he was an option in balloting at third?
Heyward can hit lefties.
You’re ignorant.
I’m assuming it was sarcasm.
Current voting through Tuesday…
Matt Kemp, Dodgers: 4,118,524
Carlos Beltran, Cardinals: 3,717,483
Ryan Braun, Brewers: 3,168,617
Melky Cabrera, Giants: 3,045,884
Andre Ethier, Dodgers: 1,948,973
Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 1,880,342
Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: 1,685,543
Angel Pagan, Giants: 1,613,948
Hunter Pence, Phillies: 1,610,283
Michael Bourn, Braves: 1,553,285
Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 1,506,613
Shane Victorino, Phillies: 1,365,023
Jason Heyward, Braves: 1,322,217
Jay Bruce, Reds: 1,195,031
Martin Prado, Braves: 1,142,946
All Star voting is always going to go by traditional slash lines, HRs, and RBIs. Pagan, Pence, and Victorino are all a joke on this list but the other 12 have all had great years and I don’t have a problem with any of them. I think CarGo probably has more to complain about than anyone. I love the way our outfield has played but defense is never going to get you in and most of this list is performing at a very high offensive level. Just a good year for NL outfield. The AL outfield is considerably weaker after the first few names, we would have fared much better there…call it bad luck
I absolutely agree with you on Pagan. Its freakin criminal that he is 8th in the standings, ahead of both Bourn and CarGo. Their going crazy stuffing the ballot boxes out there in San Fran.
I think Heyward suffered because of the timing of his streaks, he started off hot, then started doing poorly when the bulk of all star voting was done. He had 3-4 weeks that were pretty bad, and while he’s had a fantastic June it takes 3 weeks for people to notice it and then all star voting was finishing up.
Mam, why couldn’t Melky be this productive for us?! It blows my mind how your batting average can just change .100 points in a matter of two seasons…He’s hitting .351 right now (and yeah, that will drop) and he hit .255 with us.
He’s also ALREADY has more runs this season (52) than he did in ATL (50)…puh….
Also, why on Earth is Stanton not on this list….just glad he’ll be in the HRD!
But of course they won’t make it because the rubes will say, “Who has the most home runs, I’m voting for him!” instead of looking at actual stats that matter more.
Prado could have a better chance than Bourn and Heyward because he can also play 3 of the 4 infield positions. He could be added to the team following the same logic that Omar Infante was a few years back (in addition to his excellent overall stats).
Completely agree and unless we resign Bourn it will be the last time we even get that opportunity for a long time. Assuming we somehow grow a money tree big enough for Boras, do you see Prado sticking in left or will he move back to 3rd to take over for Chipper? An interesting idea I had was to keep Prado in left and go after Matt Dominguez from Miami. His status has fallen dramatically since the 07 draft so I feel he could be had for a mid level starter like Zeke Spruill or JR Graham and a filler piece. We get exceptional defense at 3rd and can stash his still developing bat in the 8 hole with our offense mashing the way it has.
Sorry for the rosterbation, ill take it elsewhere if y’all want.
2 more comments…
(Mike) Stanton isn’t even on this list which is probably even more egregious.
Prado is the 2nd best 3rd baseman in the NL and would have easily made it there.
What I can’t understand is why someone named Giancarlo would go by Mike. Giancarlo is so much cooler!
I did my All-Star positional power rankings based on the traditional stats that managers typically use to pick the reserves. We have two all-stars safely in Uggla and Kimbrel. Hanson has an outside shot. Now for the corners IF spots.. typically you have two reserves for each of those positions. Freeman is probably behind Laroche/LaHair/Goldshmidt, but ahead of Helton/Lee, so he would need to get hot pretty quick and have a couple of those guys ahead of him to falter. Chipper may get a sympathy vote from the retired LaRussa and his votes and numbers are right there with Sandoval who is second in voting. The voters are getting this terribly wrong, however, as Freese and both Ramirez’s are having better seasons. Ramirez will be probably be impossible to ignore and you have to think LaRussa will go with his World Series MVP in Freese so that gives Chipper an even lesser chance.
Now with the OF… For the reserves(5-7 spots) I’ve got a jumbled mix of Braun, CarGo, McCutchen, Bruce, Ethier, Stanton, Holliday, Cuddyer, Pence, Heyward, Bourn, Kubel, Soriano, Duda, Hairston, Harper, Fowler, and Prado. They are a jumbled enough bunch with similarish offensive stats that at least one Brave (probably Heyward) should make it. The injuries to Kemp and Ethier also help their cause, but LaHair moving to the OF could cloud this even more, while helping Freeman’s case. I’m basing these off of their triple slash lines like LaRussa will do, rather than their intrinsic value.
What do you think Ben? Do Freeman/Chipper have any chance in heck? I agree that all of our OFers have played more than well enough to be All-Stars(and more than double the WAR of the players “ahead” of them), but that is one crowded bunch based on traditional stats… going 0/3 with them would be a shame.
If Hanson has a couple more good starts, LaHair moves to the OF, Goldshmidt falls off while Freeman ascends, LaRussa has a soft spot for Chipper, and LaRussa somehow decides to use fangraphs to pick OFers, maybe we could have EIGHT ALL STARS! :P
Oh and Headley at 3B… he’s having an underrated season and he’s the only worthy player on the Padres other than Huston Street.
I’d bet heavily on Chipper making it, and I don’t think Freeman has a legitimate case.
Yeah.. Freeman doesn’t have much of a case but neither do many 1Bs in the league. Like I said, with LaHair moving to the OF, Goldshmidt and Laroche are the only one’s that are clearly ahead of him. Pretty crazy that with Freeman’s average season he is still in the top third of NL 1B in terms of production.
I would be sure of Chipper making it as well if it weren’t for the fact that there are more NL 3B doing well this year. He can’t pick Chipper over Freese can he? I could see him DHing however.
Also, just one quick question… Bmac’s All-Star reign is over but what about Yadier? Posey undeservingly will start, and Ruiz can’t do much more to be an All-Star but will LaRussa go with his homeboy as his 3rd catcher or pick up Ellis/Montero/LuCroy?
Great article!!!!