{ With under three weeks until the All Star Teams are announced, we’re looking at what’s changed since our original previews. }
Preview I here.
#AL – Bill James & Cum Posey Divisions
Original selections: Hank Greenberg, Boog Powell, Frank Thomas.
The first spot is easy: Detroit’s Greenberg sits at 320/377/625 with 14 homeruns and 51 RBIs. So, he’s in.
Chicago’s Frank Thomas is clearly an all-star, but he has only played 20 games at 1B, so we’re going to slide him over to DH in all likelihood. Baltimore’s Frank Robinson has played even less 1B than Thomas, and will be considered with the outfielders.
Taking those two out of the running leads to it getting a little more interesting.
Memphis’ Bill White has improved to 312/395/537 and Baltimore’s Dan McGann has been steady all year at 306/411/481. Kansas City’s Powell has slumped all the way to 282/386/446, and while that’s perfectly respectable, his argument for inclusion here is certainly weaker now.
Add to the mix that McGann has been the best defensive 1B of the group by quite a bit, and the selection now should be Greenberg, White, and McGann. Of this group, the AI only includes Greenberg (Thomas is selected as the 2nd 1B, Robinson in the OF).
#NL – Effa Manley & Marvin Miller Divisions
Original selections: Lou Gehrig, Kent Hrbek, Mike Epstein.
There is similar upheaval here: it turns out New York’s Gehrig has only played 15 games at 1B (he plays as a DH, with Don Mattingly manning the bag). So he’s out of contention here.
Portland’s Hrbek and Homestead’s Epstein remain clear selections. Hrbek is slashing 327/398/599 with 15 homeruns; while Epstein is at 331/433/548. The third slot is really pretty clear as well, actually: Cleveland’s Jake Stahl‘s power output has moved him into contention with a slash line of 287/351/592.
That makes it Hrbek, Epstein, and Stahl. The AI actually goes with those three, plus Gehrig, so it’s not a terribly controversial choice.