Scott Garceau: Top 4 Orioles All-Star Candidates
The 2015 All-Star voting is a hot mess! I have not cast a single ballot, nor will I, but it appears every Kansas City Royals fan has voted at least 10-thousand times. Late voting and managers selections may alter some of this, but KC fans have queered the deal with some legendary electronic ballot stuffing.
Unlike All-Star games in other sports, (see The Pro Bowl) I find baseball's All-Star game watchable and enjoyable. The competition is real with the game's best pitchers and hitters showcasing their stuff. So when the game's best, and half of the Royals roster, gather in Cincinnati on July 14 how many Orioles will we see? I would hope at least two to three and I can make a good case for the following four:
Manny Machado — Toronto's Josh Donaldson is having a big first half and will likely win the fan vote but the O's main Manny should be on the team. He's already established career high's with 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases. He's been named AL Player of the Week and is sixth among American League hitters with a .306 average. His errors are up this year but he's one of the most exciting playmakers in baseball. If only one Oriole could make the team Manny is the man.
Adam Jones — He was red hot in April, cooled off in May and has battled a bum shoulder in June. His numbers aren't off the chart .292, 10/37 but they are solid. Mike Trout is at the head of the class among AL outfielders, Adam Jones is part of the next best group and while some of the others are wanting in the field Jones brings a Gold Glove with him.
Zach Britton — The Twins Glenn Perkins, Dellin Betances of the Yankees, the Royals Wade Davis and Zach Britton should all be in the American league bullpen. Britton has been superb overmatching hitters with sinker that dart at hitters at 97 miles an hour. The Orioles lefty has converted 22 of 23 save opportunities, the 22 saves are tied for second in the league and 4 of those are multi-inning saves. That's All-Star work.
Darren O'Day — His 5 wins are tied for the league lead among relief pitchers. O'Day is seventh among AL relief pitchers with a stingy 1.21 ERA. The numbers are staggering in 29.2 innings he has 40 K's and only 8 walks. Opponents are hitting a weak .156 off the under-hander. The All-Star bullpen spots are often reserved for closers but O'Day like Wade Davis has earned a trip to Cincinnati.
