Here are 5 MLB All-Star snubs that didn't make initial rosters
The fans have voted and initial MLB All-Star rosters have been announced. The Red Sox dominated the American League starters while the Cubs took over National League honors. While it looks like a lot of the biggest names will be making the trip to San Diego, there were some names absent that don't deserve to be.
There is still a chance for some players to make the teams. You can cast a final vote on MLB.com.
You may not see a few names you were expecting, but that's okay. There's still a chance, but it's ultimately up to you. Until then, here are the top five guys that deserved to be on the initial rosters.
STARLING MARTE, PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Pirates outfielder Starling Marte has yet to fill an All-Star roster spot, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that 2016 could be the first season he does so. The 2015 Gold Glove Award winner is hitting .320/.365/.471 with his batting average being the sixth highest in the National League. His 25 stolen bases are the sixth-best in the NL, as well. His situation could simply be because of the popularity vote since there's no question the numbers are there.
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JAY BRUCE, CINCINNATI REDS
Jay Bruce has made the All-Star roster two previous times and a third isn't out of the question. But the dumpster fire of a season the Reds have endured could have a lot to do with the fact that he's not on the roster. His .268 batting average is higher than his career average for the first half of play, so his production isn't down. One of his stats that does stand out is his slugging percentage. He's currently slugging a .546, which is the highest of his career. He's hitting the ball hard and is also the 14th player in Major League history to produce at least 18 homers in each of his first nine seasons. Bruce is the third Red to do so.
A lot of Twitter dot com enthusiasts are having issues with the fact that he's getting snubbed while an injured Dexter Fowler took an All-Star spot.
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BRANDON CRAWFORD, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Brandon Crawford has been one of my low-key favorite shortstops year-after-year. He has one of the best defensive gloves and is coming off a season where he received All-Star honors, a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. He has the highest defensive WAR (2.2) in the National League and his .988 fielding percentage at his position is the fifth best in baseball right now.
Crawford currently sits at 78 hits and 53 RBI, which means he's on pace to double those numbers in both categories from last season.
FREDDIE FREEMAN, ATLANTA BRAVES
With a 28-56 record, the Atlanta Braves sit in last place in the National League East. This could be a major factor as to why we don't see Freddie Freeman on an All-Star roster.
The two-time All-Star has a .289/.370/.511 line with 14 home runs. Since it is the All-Star break, he's obviously on pace to double those home runs. I'm here to tell you he will do it. Don't let a sour season for a team affect someone's chances to make an All-Star roster. It's Freddie Freeman.
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RYAN DULL, OAKLAND A'S
Despite his last name (and this has probably been said in every baseball article that has talked about him) Oakland A's reliever is anything but Dull. The rookie is 36-for-36 when stranding inherited runners, which is the longest at any point in a season since at least 1961, topping Frank Francisco's feat of 35 in 2007 according to the SF Gate.
The 26-year-old was recently dubbed third-baseman Danny Valencia's favorite player on the team and the 2.11 ERA with 9.49 strikeouts per nine innings is main reason why.
RANKING EVERY MLB TEAM'S HAT:
