NL Outfielders by All-Star Votes

by Richard Wade on Jul 4, 2005 4:55 AM EDT

We thought it would be interesting to look at the difference in fan perception and objective reality. To do this, we'll be using two rather inexact measures: fan votes and mid-season WARP1. The group chosen for this quick exercise is, as suggested by the above title, NL Outfielders.

We'll begin with the Top 15 vote-getters and then compare that to the Top 15 by WARP1.

Player	WARP
Jim Edmonds, SLN	4.9
Bobby Abreu, PHI	5.2
Carlos Beltran, NYN	2.1
Miguel Cabrera, FLO	4.9
Larry Walker, SLN	1.7
Andruw Jones, ATL	5.1
Ken Griffey Jr., CIN	2.6
Reggie Sanders, SLN	2.7
Jeromy Burnitz, CHN	3.4
Carlos Lee, MIL	3.3
Corey Patterson, CHN	1.3
Pat Burrell, PHI	2.8
Cliff Floyd, NYN	4.4
Milton Bradley, LAN	3.2
J.D. Drew, LAN	4.4

Player	WARP
Bobby Abreu, PHI	5.2
Brian Giles, SDN	5.2
Andruw Jones, ATL	5.1
Jason Bay, PIT	5
Jim Edmonds, SLN	4.9
Miguel Cabrera, FLO	4.9
J.D. Drew, LAN	4.4
Cliff Floyd, NYN	4.4
Brady Clark, MIL	4
Matt Lawton, PIT	4
Adam Dunn, CIN	3.8
Luis Gonzalez, ARI	3.5
Jeromy Burnitz, CHN	3.4
Carlos Lee, MIL	3.3
Brad Wilkerson, WAS	3.3

Based on the above totals, it would seem that fans voting for the All-Star Game tend to value a few things over performance. In particular, playing your home games in St. Louis or Chicago seems to outweigh all other variables.

Other non-performance related factors that propel players toward garnering massive numbers of votes are being good last year (Beltran), lending your name to sub-par video games (Griffey), being the second best outfielder on your own team (Lee, Beltran & Griffey) and being named after a maker of fine board games (Bradley).

There also appear to be a number of factors that can cost you votes. Among them are having an award for unheralded greatness named after you (Giles), playing for Pittsburgh (Bay & Lawton), being the best outfielder on your own team (Drew, Clark, Floyd & Dunn) and being one of the best players on a first-place ball club in the West or East (Giles & Wilkerson).

Why do they let us vote anyway? Please share any other amusing trends you notice in the comments. Thanks and have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

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Bay

Is Jason Bay Canadian?

"I don't set the rosters, I just make fun of the guy who does" - Rob Neyer

by Marc Normandin on Jul 4, 2005 7:10 AM EDT reply actions

I believe so

But so is Larry Walker and he's pretty high up there. So I don't think the fans are snubbing the Canucks

Over the Monster and Friendly Fenway

by brian38 @ Beyond the Box Score on Jul 4, 2005 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh I know

I just wanted to know if Bay would represent Canada in the homerun derby.

"I don't set the rosters, I just make fun of the guy who does" - Rob Neyer

by Marc Normandin on Jul 4, 2005 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't notice ...

... any amusing trends in the comments ... should there be some?

Your article implies a disdain for an All-Star selection criteria = "being good last year" ... that happens to be my primary criteria for being an All-Star ... have a good YEAR ... otherwise, early voters end up getting sucked in to voting for the likes of Clint Barmes ... if he's an All-Star, he'll have a good year, then I'll vote for him next year ...

by LynchMob on Jul 7, 2005 1:03 AM EDT reply actions