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Although they have one of the best teams in all of baseball, there will be zero Dodgers in the starting lineup for the All-Star Game.... for now. Of course, since the National League has the DH there’s a chance there, but based on the fan vote there are no starters.
MLB released the winners of the second phase of fan voting with the Dodgers being completely left out. Players on the ballot included Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts.
The biggest snub is clearly Muncy, who has been the best first baseman in the National League this season. Don’t worry, I can back up that statement.
Here's where Max Muncy ranks among NL 1B:
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) July 2, 2021
18 HR (1st)
.417 OBP (1st)
.566 SLG (1st)
.983 OPS (1st)
.416 wOBA (1st)
170 wRC+ (1st)
22.4 wRAA (1st)
BB/K% (1st)
3.2 fWAR (1st)
He won the first round of All-Star voting, but because of the new voting rules he isn't the starter pic.twitter.com/QpmhlxwCbo
Muncy lost to Freddie Freeman, and it wasn’t close. Freeman took in 48 percent of the vote, with Muncy finishing with 34 percent. Had this been like the old fashioned way of voting, Muncy would have won. After the first phase of voting he led all first basemen in votes. However, Major League Baseball now has two phases of voting with the top three vote-getters advancing.
“It is what it is,” Muncy said following the game. “Fans didn’t feel I deserved a spot, so that’s all it was. I know Dodgers fans were doing their best. Unfortunately it’s a lot of the country against us. Thank you to Dodgers fans who voted.”
There were some other close races, as Justin Turner finished six percent behind Nolan Arenado at third base. Mookie Betts finished three percent behind Jesse Winker for the third and final outfield spot. Chris Taylor finished in fifth place with seven percent of the vote and Gavin Lux finished in third place with 20 percent of the vote at second base.
When speaking with reporters following the game, Dave Roberts said that it disturbs him.
“It’s the fan voting,” he said. “The best team in baseball doesn’t have a starter representing the National League. I’m sure our guys won’t admit it, but [they are] disappointed. It is what it is.”
With Roberts being the manager, hopefully Muncy finds himself in the starting lineup as the DH. There’s also a solid chance Turner and perhaps Taylor make the team as reserves.
Dodgers links
- Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic explains why Trevor Bauer shouldn’t start for LA on Sunday
- The Dodgers will be visiting the White House on Friday, the first professional sports team to visit during the Joe Biden era — LA Times
- Kristen Wong of Dodgers Way selects three players in the NL West the Dodgers should consider trading for
- Eno Harris of The Athletic talks about spin being down. But what impact is that actually having on the game?