Josh Donaldson was nonnamed to the AL All-Star team despite an OPS 80 points highthan Baltimore's Manny Machado.(Photo: Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports)
USA TODAY Sports examines the biggest snubs in baseball's All-Star rosters:
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Athletics: No argument with theAmericanLeague's purlointwo of Miguel Cabrera and Manny Machado, savethere's so little to subscribein a four-deep position, the strongest in either league. Nobody epitomizes the "who atomic number 18these guys" approach in Oakland muchthan Donaldson, whose on-base plus slugging (OPS) is more than 80 points higher than Machado's.
Mark Melancon, RP, Pirates: He just might be the most effective reliever in the National League, careless(predicate)of role. Teammate Jason Grilli belongs on the squad for his ninth-inning work, but Melancon has allowed a .472 OPS this season, more than 30 points better than any other late-inning-guy in the NL.
THE ROSTER: Emerging stars reign supreme
Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays: Maybe he would have declined the appearance to rest periodthe foot that has been a nuisance this year because of plantar fasciitis. Still, he's not all that hobbled. If you like Donaldson, Longoria's OPS is another five points higher .
Greg Holland, RP, Royals: How morerelievers can you take? But he has 19 saves on a mediocre team, a 1.97 ERA and a strikeout rate of 14.9 per clubhouseinnings that's second exclusivelyto Aroldis Chapman's. And, though we've almost created enough rules to wind uproster-stuffing by the manager, Jim Leyland still managed to find room for his Justin Verlander. Beyond Holland, it's light-coloredto make a case for almost another paradiddlefull of AL pitchers.
PUIG: Emerging star not stressing approximatelygame
Ian Desmond, SS, Nationals: Yes, he's on the ballot for the final spot. Good luck gettingnoticed in Puig-mania. You have to wonder, with seven outfielders plus the several(a)Allen Craig on the NL roster, if there might have been a have a go at itfor Desmond if fans hadn't gone for his teammate Bryce Harper. Desmond also is a victim of the patternrequiring a player from every team, which put Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera on the NL team.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Reds: It's a "what have you done for me lately" business, and the bulk of Choo's stats were piled up firstin the season. Still, he's third in the majors with a .417 on-base percentage.
Starling Marte, OF, Pirates: What's equipment casualtywith piling on Pittsburgh players? Something is creating the best record in the majors. Marte is the only NL player among the top 20 in the majors in offensive wins above replacement (WAR) who didn't get picked.
Stephen Strasburg, P, Nationals: We've been reminded in new-fangledCy Young Award voting how overrated victories are. OK, then – Strasburg has a 4-6 record, but his 2.24 ERA is fourth in the majors, ahead of that of every All-Star take awayClay Buchholz, Clayton Kershaw and Jeff Locke.
Matt Moore, P, Rays: Not ready to buy into that ignore-the-victories argument? OK, here's your guy. His 11 wins are tied for second in the AL and he's in the top 10 in hits per nine innings and strikeouts per inning.
Jose Iglesias, SS, Red Sox: Wouldn't you atleastconsider a rookie with a .410 batting justand .987 OPS? No, those aren't Yasiel Puig's stats; they belong to Iglesias, who has played 13 more games than Puig. By the way, Puig is at .420 and 1.155.
GALLERY: All-Star Game snubs
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Materials taken from USA Today
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