5 Kansas City Royals Who Deserve to Play in 2013 MLB All-Star Game
5 Kansas City Royals Who Deserve to Play in 2013 MLB All-Star Game
How the Kansas City Royals have looked the first half of the season depends on when you looked. If you looked somewhere around mid February they would have looked like one of the best teams in MLB. Just a few weeks ago you would have seen the same basic thing. Yet if you looked in on them during May or just recently you might wonder why they aren’t in dead last in their division.They are a very streaky team and have been all season.
There are constants in their team however that have continuously delivered in the clutch or just done exactly what the team needed them to do when it needed to be done. They might not be leading the league in some stat or on top of the world according to a sports magazine but when it comes to being a big time star for their teammates and for this team, this list of guys have gotten it done consistently.
I think a real all-star game should showcase the best talent from each team even if they are not necessarily the most popular or even the leaders in a stat category. I’m not sure how to get that to happen because of the voting process but regardless of that process, I have chosen five guys from the Royals that deserve a spot in this year’s MLB All-Star game for the American League. Take a look and let me know what you think, if you agree or disagree.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
5 – Ervin Santana – P
Santana has not always been given the most support this season like most of his pitching teammates but he has made the most of what he has been given. Every time he goes to the mound the Royals know they can and probably should win the game. That is all-star material to me.
4 – Salvador Perez – C
Perez is quickly becoming one of the more respectable catchers that I see in the American League. This season he has a .292 batting average and a nice bit of production from the catcher hole to prove his worth to his team and the AL.
3 – Billy Butler – DH
Butler doesn’t have the homers that he has had in the past but when it comes to production he is taking a backseat to nobody. He has driven in 40 runs which on the Royals is a lot. This team doesn’t score that many runs but you can bet if they do, this guy is probably involved.
2 – James Shields – P
The numbers for Shields win column are not what many thought they would be. Then again if you look at the run production he has been given, the wins are not what they should be. His 2.92 ERA speaks to his effort and performance this season. He should not be kept out of the all-star game because of lack of run production.
1 – Alex Gordon – LF
With 38 RBI and 41 runs scored, Gordon has been a leader on this team all year long. If they need a big run scored or driven in, they love to see Gordon on the bases or best of all at the plate. He is their MVP this season and should be on the AL all-star team.
