Brian Dozier was left off the American League All-Star roster, but was his omission a clear snubbing of one of the game’s best up-and-coming second basemen?
Robinson Cano of the Mariners and Jose Altuve of the Astros were named All-Star second basemen for the AL. Cano is arguably the best two-bagger in the game, and Altuve leads the league with a .337 batting average.
According to CBS Sports, Dozier wasn’t even the best second baseman left off the AL roster. That snubbing belongs to Ian Kinsler of the Rangers. Kinsler’s numbers say “All-Star,” but apparently his .306 average with 11 home runs, 26 doubles and 60 runs scored wasn’t enough to get him ahead of Cano or Altuve.
USA Today is on the same page, saying Dozier’s stats don’t stack up to Kinsler’s.
“Kinsler is second in the league in runs – behind Twins 2B Brian Dozier, whose other stats don’t come close to Kinsler’s..”
#MNTwins 2B Brian Dozier misses out on this year's All-Star Game. "It’s just one of those things. It didn’t work out this year. Oh well."
— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) July 6, 2014
Brian Dozier is an All-Star snub. Guessing his .234 average didn't help. But still third among all MLB second basemen in WAR.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 6, 2014
Clearly, the competition at second base in the American League is stacked, with Cano, Altuve and Kinsler being more highly regarded, by most, than Dozier.
So was Dozier snubbed. It certainly doesn’t seem to be the case. Meanwhile, Dozier is all about getting his ex-teammate Justin Morneau into the All-Star Game as part of the final fan vote.
https://twitter.com/BrianDozier/status/485996494294507520
Closer Glen Perkins and catcher Kurt Suzuki will represent the Twins at the MLB All-Star Game at Target Field on July 15.
