Examining the Giants’ six All-Star candidates with fan voting underway

Examining the Giants’ six All-Star candidates with fan voting underway originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – There were many overwhelming aspects in the hamstring injury that will cost LaMonte Wade Jr. at least a month.

Wade is the team’s best and most consistent hitter, and his absence has been felt in recent weeks. It was a tough mental blow for a player who has dealt with multiple leg issues since debuting in the 2021 season, and the latter will likely keep him out of the Rickwood Field game he was excited about. It will also prevent Wade from being an option in July when the All-Stars face off at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

It’s always difficult to hit first base, especially when your power numbers don’t stand out. But Wade had such an impressive advantage in on-base percentage that it looked like he had a strong shot, even at a position that in the NL includes Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Pete Alonso, Matt Olson and Christian Walker.

The Giants have lost six of eight since Wade went down, but they will try to turn things around this weekend at Globe Life Field in Arlington, host of this year’s All-Star Game. Voting began on Wednesday, so here’s a preview of which players may have to cancel their previous vacation plans for mid-July…

The team’s ace had a 2.90 ERA in 2022 and finished second in Cy Young voting last year, but somehow he never took part in the All-Star festivities, a shame given how much he seems to enjoy big events and how connected he now is with stars around the league. Webb performed well last year, but was scheduled to pitch the last game of the first half, making him ineligible.

Carlos Rodón represented the team in 2022 and Alex Cobb last year. It looks like it’s Webb’s time, and he has a 2.95 ERA and a 2.78 FIP in 13 starts. Last season’s MLB innings leader ranks fourth in the NL right now, and in seven of his 13 starts, Webb has thrown at least seven innings, the kind of durability most lacking in today’s game.

He currently ranks seventh among NL starting pitchers in fWAR.

The lowest ERA on the team belongs to Hicks, not Webb. He ranks seventh in the NL at 2.82 and has given up fewer than three runs in 10 of 13 starts. During the relief transition, Hicks was also more durable than expected. He pitched at least five innings in every game except two.

This seems like one of those cases that will last until the last minute. There are 10 NL pitchers with an ERA below 3.00, and Hicks is lower on the list than most in advanced metrics. He’s 24th in innings and 28th in strikeouts, but if he maintains that brilliant ERA through early July, he’ll have a chance.

Buster Posey made his first All-Star team in his first full season and Bailey has a chance to do the same. The National League had three catchers last season and Bailey currently ranks third among healthy NL catchers in fWAR. He has just four home runs, but is batting .287 and ranks fifth among NL catchers in OPS.

Milwaukee’s William Contreras and Los Angeles’ Will Smith are clear choices, but Bailey doesn’t have much competition for the third spot as St. Louis’ Willson Contreras is injured. If Philadelphia’s JT Realmuto — a three-time All-Star — is elected, Bailey’s path will be blocked. It’s also possible that someone like Colorado’s Elias Diaz could be chosen as his team’s sole representative, but based on the numbers alone, Bailey has a strong chance.

If the selection were made on late-game defensive plays that make your jaw drop, Chapman would be a lock. He leads MLB third basemen in defensive runs saved, and while the overall offensive numbers don’t jump off the page, that’s the case for many famous third basemen in the NL.

Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado are both closer to league average hitters by wRC+, although they are the last two to be voted as NL starters at third, and one of them could win the vote again this season. Chapman currently ranks third among NL third basemen in fWAR, and with a good June, he would certainly have a chance at his second All-Star appearance.

He looked more like an All-Star in the first half of last season, but he’s actually third among NL second basemen in fWAR, third in home runs and tied for first in RBI. However, this is still a long shot and Estrada – who is 10th in his position in wRC+ – would need to stay on fire to overtake the others.

Arizona’s Ketel Marte, Milwaukee’s Brice Turang and St. Louis’ Nolan Gorman have had better offensive seasons, and San Diego’s Luis Arraez is all but done, as he’s batting .337 and coming off back-to-back championships. at-bats and All-Star appearances. .

Ramos hasn’t even been back to the big leagues for a full month, but there’s something fascinating happening with a normally packed National League outfield.

Bryce Harper is now a full-time first baseman, Mookie Betts plays shortstop, Juan Soto is in the American League for the first time, Ronald Acuña Jr. Old friends Mike Tauchman and Connor Joe are among the NL’s most valuable outfielders. Jurickson Profar leads the pack in Wins Above Replacement.

So… why not Ramos?

Among NL outfielders with at least 100 plate appearances, he is first in wRC+ and OPS. After arriving at base six times on Wednesday, he comes in at 1.4 fWAR, which ranks fifth. A good weekend could take him to third place. Seriously, it’s a wasteland in this National League position.

Right now, Ramos simply hasn’t played enough. But in a month? If he keeps this up, he’ll be right in the mix.

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