D-backs’ Goldschmidt, Lamb deserve more All-Star votes
Jun 23, 2017, 1:48 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb (22) greets teammate Paul Goldschmidt after hitting a two run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX, Ariz. – For the most part, Torey Lovullo and his Arizona Diamondbacks seem to be OK with the baseball world taking them for granted this season despite having the third-best record in all of MLB.
When it comes to All-Star voting, Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb should both be sure fire ASG starter material based on their play in the first half, with Goldy being a no brainer.
Goldschmidt currently leads all of MLB in RBI at 64, runs at 66, and on-base percentage at .448. He ranks second in OPS, third in slugging percentage, fourth in walks, fifth in batting average, and is tied for tenth in hits. And this isn’t just amongst first basemen, this is all of MLB.
In short, he’s arguably the best offensive player in MLB and a strong contender for MVP if this team continues to do what they’re doing.
Jake Lamb has also quietly been having a career season, leading all MLB third basemen in RBI at 61. He’s also second amongst third basemen in walks, fourth in on-base percentage, sixth in slugging percentage and eighth in batting average.
Yet here’s the latest update from MLB.com on first base voting:
- Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals: 1,404,251
- Anthony Rizzo, Cubs: 1,247,219
- Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs: 828,361
- Freddie Freeman, Braves: 637,030
- Joey Votto, Reds: 517,833
And the voting at third base:
- Kris Bryant, Cubs: 1,603,326
- Nolan Arenado, Rockies: 1,300,612
- Justin Turner, Dodgers: 747,659
- Anthony Rendon, Nationals: 635,838
- Jake Lamb, D-backs: 564,447
Lamb has some stiff competition at third base voting, especially with MVP candidate Nolan Arenado in his way. Goldschmidt, however, being ranked third with 828,361 votes leaves many scratching their heads, being well behind Anthony Rizzo who is hitting .265/.396/.519 with 47 RBI for the Cubs and does not rank in the top 10 in any offensive category aside from walks.
But that’s how this fickle process of public opinion works these days. Gone is a time when people valued All-Stars from every team and wanted to see the National League’s best versus the American League’s best.
What we are left with in today’s MLB All-Star Game voting process is a sea of fans who vote for their team’s players for every position regardless of merit.
The voting process has also become flooded with fans of the previous year’s World Series winner stuffing the ballots for any name they recognize. Deserving players, meanwhile, are sadly overlooked year after year.
That’s where a strong push by the team’s fan base in voting and on social media can be the difference maker, and the D-backs need your help to get Goldschmidt and Lamb there.
You can vote up to five times per day and 35 times total via the ASG website. Voting ends June 29, 2017, at 11:59 pm ET.
