MLB All Star Game 2015 Rosters, Snubs, Surprises, Leaders & Schedule For Mid-Summer Classic
The annual Home Run Derby is complete, and that can only mean one thing: It's time for the Mid-Summer Classic.
The 2015 Major League All-Star Game will be played at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The game will begin at 7 p.m. EST on Fox.
Everyone has their opinion on who should be playing, and everyone has their opinion on the final votes and rosters. Let's take a look at the biggest snubs and surprises this year.
Biggest Snubs
The New York Yankees are in first place in the American League East, much thanks to Alex Rodriguez. He's batting an average .278 at the plate, but he also has 18 home runs this year. Rodriguez hasn't made an All-Star game since 2011, and he won't be making it this year either.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto was arguably the biggest snub of all this year. The 29-year-old Dominican pitcher has been in trade rumors all season, but it hasn't affected his play. Cueto is one of the best pitchers in the National League. If voted in, Cueto would have had the chance to pitch at home in the All-Star game.
Another snub was Detroit Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes leads the Tigers in hits and he is an outstanding outfielder. The Cuban outfielder has stepped up his game with Miguel Cabrera out with a leg injury. Interestingly, it was fellow teammate J.D. Martinez who was named to the AL All-Star team instead of Cespedes.
While there are always some players who fans feel should be on the roster, there are always others who fans believe should not. This year had some notable snubs, but it also provided fans with some big surprises.
Biggest Surprises
As crazy as it may sound, Clayton Kershaw's All-Star selection has created some buzz. This is Kershaw's fifth consecutive All-Star game appearance, but he hasn't been his dominant self this season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has a 6-6 record on the mound. For some perspective, he was 21-3 last season. His 2.85 ERA is the highest since 2010 when he missed the All-Star game. Kershaw does, however, lead the league in strikeouts.
The Boston Red Sox are in last place in the American League East, but Brock Holt is having an underrated season. Regardless, this comes as a surprise to many baseball fans. Holt has just two homes runs, a sub .300 batting average, and 22 runs batting in. He's a very adaptable player who can play different positions, but this seems like a reach to many.
There weren't too many surprises this year, but Adam Jones on the American League roster was one of them. Jones has 14 home runs providing a deep ball for the Baltimore Orioles, but his batting average has dipped to .281. Jones was voted to the AL roster over Yoenis Cespedes who is batting .297 this year. It should be mentioned, however, Jones is a fine defender.