Atlanta Braves: Nick Markakis needs you to get to the All-Star game

Finding Braves that are deserving of an All-Star nod? That’s the easy part. Getting them to Washington for the game? That’s the tricky part.

I started out tonight to talk about how well several Atlanta Braves players have been performing and making their cases for the All-Star game coming up in mid-July.

Then I realized that ‘making their case’ really isn’t the problem. That’s easy. But getting them into the game? That’s another story.

Let’s take Nick Markakis as example #1. He is – and always has been – a stoic, intense, professional ball player. This season, he’s still enjoying a renewal of performance that he hasn’t seen in 10 years – quite literally.

He’s not flamboyant. He’s not outspoken. He’s not charismatic on the field, overtly demonstrative, or the first that the media members run to for “the quote” after games. He simply goes about his business every day.

This season, it’s working really well.

As a direct consequence, Nick Markakis is only a household name in Baltimore and in Braves Country. That’s not good for something that’s essentially just a popularity contest.

I’ve complained about the All-Star voting process before. Pretty much annually, in fact. But this year – more than ever – the Braves may be hurt by the fact that other fanbases simply out-stuff the ballot boxes.

The Numbers

When looking at the National League leaders among outfielders… assuming that voters actually look at the numbers… Markakis should be elected as a starter.

fWAR: Lorenzo Cain 2.2; Markakis 2.0; Tommy Pham 1.8
Lowest strikeout rate
2nd-highest batting average
#1 in singles
#1 in doubles
#1 in hits
#2 in scaled runs created (wRC+)
#1 in on-base percentage
#6 in slugging (that’s the shocking one, to be honest)
#6 in runs scored
#2 in runs batted in

But here’s the problems:

All outfielders are lumped together for voting purposes – they aren’t separated into LF/CF/RF positions
Bryce Harper will be voted in… easily
Matt Kemp (!) will probably be voted in
The 3rd slot might be a toss-up, but there may be stiff competition from Lorenzo Cain, Tommy Pham, Odubel Herrera, Rhys Hoskins (though being hurt will hurt his chances), Charlie Blackmon, and any warm body wearing a Cubs uniform.

The Loophole is not big

You might be thinking “eh – don’t worry about it… Dave Roberts (Dodgers manager) will do the right thing: he”’ name Nick as a reserve player, so he’ll get in.”

Well… maybe. I’d even say ‘probably’… but it’s hard to even say that with any certainty. This is still a contest in which Participation Trophies are awarded. Don’t forget: every team gets a representative.

There’s a round of reserve players that likely will be used to “right the wrongs” of the balloting, but we all know: somebody always dissed in the process.

Already, Freddie Freeman is the best player in the NL, by fWAR – if he isn’t voted in, then he could be that Braves reserve selected first.

Also, arguably the most productive players for all of these teams are outfielders: Brewers, Phillies (very close with 2B Cesar Hernandez), Mets (close w/Asdrubal Cabrera), Cubs (and it’s not Kyle Schwarber), Pirates, Dodgers. As a result, any of these could serve to squeeze out Markakis.

As for other Braves, Ozzie Albies could be tagged to participate; maybe Flowers/Suzuki, Sean Newcomb, Folty… Dan Winkler. Every additional Braves’ name mentioned would lower the odds for the next one to be named as a reserve.

But Markakis deserves not only to play, but to start.

How This Works

That can happen, but it’s going to require some serious dedication.

You get to vote 35 times… spread out at 5 times every 24 hours for a week. Bizarre.

Here’s the link to the ballot. You may proceed… I’ll keep chatting here.

Atlanta Braves: Nick Markakis needs you to get to the All-Star game

By Alan Carpenter | Jun 1, 2018

Finding Braves that are deserving of an All-Star nod? That’s the easy part. Getting them to Washington for the game? That’s the tricky part.

The Numbers

The Loophole is not big

How This Works

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