Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |
Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo was snubbed when the All-Star Game reserves were decided, and was snubbed a second time when the five final vote candidates were decided.
Nimmo, who was not on the initial fan ballot because of MLB refusing to adjust once his role changed, is simply one of the best outfielders in the league. And no, despite what some are saying on Twitter, the Mets being awful is not a valid reason for MLB to have snubbed a deserving Nimmo.
As Tim Healey of Newsday pointed out, National League outfielders who are ranked first, third, seventh, eighth, ninth, and 10th in OPS are all on the All-Star team. Nimmo (.901 OPS) ranks second and is not. Meanwhile, Nimmo's 2.4 WAR is third among all NL outfielders.
Nimmo is hitting .262/.386/.515 with 12 HR, which makes him more deserving than the three NL outfield reserves. Those reserves are the Rockies' Charlie Blackmon (.276/.347/.475/17 while playing his home games in Coors Field), and Brewers teammates Lorenzo Cain (.290/.394/.435/8), and Christian Yelich (.285/.362/.459/11).
As far as those on the final vote ballot, they're all deserving except for Nationals SS Trea Turner, who is hitting .278/.355/.419 with 11 home runs.
It shouldn't be surprising that Nimmo got snubbed, though. Take a look over at the American League, and you'll see that the pitcher who is leading the league in ERA (Blake Snell) did not make the team and is not on the final vote ballot.
Nimmo could still make the team as an injury replacement, but the fact that it would have to come to that is a shame.