MLB last published voting results for the All-Star Game on Monday.
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez had surpassed the Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers at the hot corner.
There are still a few days left to vote, and the gap between the two stars is very small.
Determining who is the most deserving candidate to start at third base for the American League is no easy exercise.
“Who deserves to start at 3B for the AL in the All-Star Game: Rafael Devers or José Ramírez?,” MLB Network tweeted.
Who deserves to start at 3B for the AL in the All-Star Game: Rafael Devers or José Ramírez?#MLBNOffBase pic.twitter.com/MUbiCtgxNI
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 28, 2022
In reality, the two candidates are entirely deserving: they have played at a really high level all year long.
Devers has the edge in the ever-important WAR, or Wins Above Replacement, 4.2 to 3.9.
Two Incredibly Talented Offensive Performers
However, Ramirez leads in wRC+ (an important offensive stat that allows us to directly compare two or more players), 178 to 176 and has an important edge in RBI, 63 to 45.
Ramirez has 63 RBI in 67 games played, an incredible ratio.
Ramirez has also stolen more bases, 12 to 2, but Devers has one more homer, 17 to 16.
Devers is slashing .333/.390/.605 to Ramirez’s .300/.387/.613: these are definitely no slouches in any aspect.
Keep in mind Ramirez’s stats are through Monday (they don’t include Tuesday’s afternoon game).
We don’t know who will be the starter for the junior circuit in Los Angeles come July 19, but in any case, fans of both squads should be able to understand if the other star gets the nod.
These are incredible offensive performers who also happen to add defensive value to their respective profiles.
They both will make the All-Star Game: all we have to determine is which of the two will be there when the play ball voice is heard.
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