San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval works against the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Saturday, June 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Still six weeks out from the MLB All-Star Game, it’s about time to begin considering potential candidates. Fan voting went online last week, and the Giants are hopeful they will have more representation in Seattle than they did in Los Angeles last year.
While there can only be so many All-Stars on a team that entered Monday a game below .500, in third place in its own division and entirely out of the playoff picture, it’s not hard to make a case for a number of players: Camilo Doval has been arguably the best closer in the game, a trio of position players are enjoying surprise seasons, and Logan Webb and Alex Cobb have made up one of the top one-two punches in the majors.
Remember the rules: Every team gets at least one representative, which can take up spots that could other go to a second or third player from the same team. Fans only have a say in the starters; the reserves and pitchers are determined by player vote and the managers.
The voting takes places in two phases, and fans can cast their ballots here. The first phase runs until 9 a.m. PT on Thursday, June 22, and the top two vote-getters at each position (six outfielders) will advance to a final stage. All-Star starters will be announced June 29 on ESPN, and the entire rosters will be unveiled a few days later, on July 2.
Which Giants have the best shot at making it to Seattle? Let’s take a look.
Camilo Doval
- Saves: 14, rank: 1st
- ERA: 2.10, rank: 16th
- K/9: 13.66, rank: 6th
The case for: Doval’s season began on a big stage in the World Baseball Classic and it should continue on to another at the midsummer classic, as the NL’s too-cool-for-school, horseback-riding saves leader. Doval is the Giants’ clearest candidate, so long as the NL’s bullpen isn’t too crowded.
The case against: It might look ludicrous not to have the NL saves leader on the All-Star team, but there are only so many spots, and the bullpen is typically an easy place to find the one deserving candidate from a losing team. In fact, look no further than…
The competition: David Bednar, PIT; Alexis Diaz, CIN; Josh Hader, SD; David Robertson, NYM
Thairo Estrada
- Batting average: .301, rank: 2nd
- On-base percentage: .413, rank: 1st
- Slugging percentage: .345, rank 5th
- wRC+: 123, rank: 3rd
- fWAR: 2.0, rank: 1st
- Outs Above Average: 5, rank: 1st
The case for: Estrada hasn’t only been the Giants’ most valuable position player, he’s asserted himself among the NL’s top second basemen. He’s brought value in three facets of the game: at the plate, on the bases and on defense, where he’s also displayed versatility as a backup shortstop with occasional cameos in the outfield.
The case against: An all-around talent, Estrada might be overshadowed by someone threatening to hit .400 (Luis Arraez) or another second baseman who has displayed more power (Nolan Gorman, Ozzie Albies) or been even more of a threat on the base paths (Nico Hoerner). His whole package might make him the Giants’ best position player candidate, though.
The competition: Luis Arraez, MIA; Nolan Gorman, STL, Nico Hoerner, CHC; Ozzie Albies, ATL
J.D. Davis
- Batting average: .286, rank: 2nd
- On-base percentage: .372, rank: 1st
- Slugging percentage: .481, rank: 4th
- wRC+: 135, rank: 1st
- fWAR: 1.7, rank: 2nd
- Outs Above Average: 3, rank: t-6th
The case for: In a rare year that might see neither Nolan Arenado nor Manny Machado represent the NL at the hot corner, Davis is mounting a surprise longshot candidacy with his breakout season. Davis isn’t only near the top of NL third basemen in the above categories, he’s also hitting the ball harder than almost anyone in the majors with an average exit velocity of 93.3 mph that ranks 10th overall and first among his fellow third basemen.
The case against: Are there bonus points for being the biggest steal of last year’s trade deadline? If not, Davis might be on the outside looking in, especially if household names hold more weight than first-half performance.
The competition: Jeimer Candelario, WSH; Max Muncy, LAD; Patrick Wisdom, CHC
LaMonte Wade Jr.
- Batting average: .273, rank: 8th
- On-base percentage: .413, rank: 1st
- Slugging percentage: .466, rank: 9th
- wRC+: 148, rank: 3rd
- fWAR: 1.6, rank: 4th
- Outs Above Average: 1, rank: t-4th
The case for: Wade is an on-base machine with such strong strike-zone judgement that manager Gabe Kapler has remarked on multiple occasions, most recently over the weekend, that even when calls don’t go his way, “our position in the dugout is always he probably knows the strike zone better than the umpires do.” His first-base defense has been an added bonus.
The case against: It takes more than a nice season to be recognized at arguably the National League’s deepest position.
The competition: Pete Alonso, NYM; Freddie Freeman, LAD; Paul Goldschmidt, STL; Matt Olson, ATL
Alex Cobb
- Innings pitched: 69.2, rank: t-11th
- ERA: 2.71, rank: 4th
- FIP: 3.43, rank: 8th
- fWAR: 1.3, rank: 16th
The case for: In just 12 starts, has already recorded more outings of at least seven innings while allowing no runs (four) than any Giants starter in a season since Madison Bumgarner (2018). At 35, would be Giants’ oldest All-Star since Tim Hudson in 2014 (38).
The case against: Once held the top ERA in the NL, numbers have regressed slightly.
The competition: Bryce Elder, ATL; Zac Gallen, ARI; Hunter Greene, CIN; Mitch Keller, PIT; Merrill Kelly, ARI; Clayton Kershaw, LAD; Justin Steele, CHC; Spencer Strider, ATL; Marcus Stroman, CHC; Zack Wheeler, PHI
Logan Webb
- Innings pitched: 79.0, rank: t-1st
- ERA: 2.85, rank: 7th
- FIP: 3.33, rank: 6th
- fWAR: 1.7, rank: 6th
The case for: An ascendant ace who has earned his next achievement, claiming his spot among the majors’ best pitchers with a combination of durability and effectiveness.
The case against: Why didn’t he make it last year? There’s just as little of an argument against Webb this year.
The competition: See Cobb
Originally published at Evan Webeck