MLB All-Star Game voting will be over on Friday at midnight. Many of game’s starters are already set with one player leading the vote at each position by a wide margin. After Friday, the “all-star snubs” debate will begin. Unfortunately for Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, the all-star game voting hasn’t ended and he’s already being overlooked.
As of July 1, according to MLB.com, the top two vote getters at AL second base are the New York Yankees’ Robinson Cano (3,974,322) and Dustin Pedroia of the Boston RedSox (2,838,129). They are followed by Ian Kinsler of the Rangers (1,767,806), Omar Infante of the Detroit Tigers (1,554,514) and Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros (1,227,462). Kipnis has not cleared the top five.
So far, Kipnis’ stats for the 2013 season include a .299 batting average, 12 homeruns and 51 runs batted in. This gives him similar numbers to the top two vote getters, Cano (.295 BA, 20 HR and 54 RBIs) and Pedroia (.321 BA, 5 HR and 47 RBIs.)
It seems each of the three lead the other two in a certain category. Cano leads in RBIs and Pedroia leads in BA. However, Kipnis leads in a more underreported stat category, OPS (on-base percentage + slugging.)
Kipnis has an OPS of .913 compared to Cano’s .908 and Pedroia’s .846.
Another factor to take into consideration is what each player has meant to their team. There’s no debating Cano’s importance to his team. He is by far the best, and most productive, hitter on a Yankee team that is dying for run producers. Pedroia is key to a Red Sox team that is first in the AL East. However, he has huge help with designated hitter David Ortiz.
Kipnis is the catalyst to the Indians (45-38 and first in the AL central) offense. He literally does everything. He leads the team in BA, RBIs, on-base percentage (.385), hits (83) and stolen bases (19).
The Arizona State product is aware of the difficulty associated with getting votes at second base.
“I got close last year,” said Kipnis according to Fox Sports. “But you want to talk about a hard position to crack — with AL second base, there are some guys who need to be in there every single year, and deservedly so. Cano, Pedroia, all of them. But every player would love to be in the All-Star Game. It’s a dream of everyone’s. Hopefully, it comes true this year. If not, we try again next year."
Kipnis has been the most important offensive piece to a first place team in the American League. He deserves an all-star selection. If he does not get it, it could be one of the biggest all-star snubs in a long time.
*All stats according to ESPN.com.
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