Who are the Dodgers All-Stars?
The Dodgers are the class of the National League once again at the midway mark for the season and with the All-Star game upon us. Voting is complete and the starters have been selected by the fans. The reserves are selected by a combination of a Player Ballot where coaches…
The Dodgers are the class of the National League once again at the midway mark for the season and with the All-Star game upon us. Voting is complete and the starters have been selected by the fans. The reserves are selected by a combination of a Player Ballot where coaches, managers, and players from all teams vote in the process and the Commissioner’s Office which selects 6 players in each league. There are 32 players in each league that will be selected for each roster, kind of. Because in the latest CBA the Commissioner’s Office was given the right to make Special Selections to honor active players with distinguished careers. This year, those players are The Tiger’s Miguel Cabrera and The Cardinal’s Albert Pujols. Each team must have one representative.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that the Dodgers are hosting the All-Star game this year at Chavez Ravine after missing out on hosting during the COVID Championship year in 2020. Upgrades were made to Stadium in preparation to show off the beauty of our home on the hill overlooking our great City of Angels prior to the 2020 season, alas after a two-year delay, we’re ready to show our home and players to the nation in the Mid-Summer Classic.
The Dodgers are starting off on the right foot with Mookie Betts and Trea Turner having already been selected by the fans as starters for the game. Already good representation, but there will no doubt be more Dodgers on the National League squad. Let’s see who else is All-Star worthy for a spot on the National League roster. There must be more deserving players on the team that paces the rest of the National League by 2.5 games heading into the final day of selection.
Will Smith
Will is a complete package when it comes to the position. He is everything you can hope for in a catcher, offensively and defensively. It’s a wonder that he hasn’t been selected before, so this will be his first All-Star selection unless something goes horribly wrong in the process. He’s tied for the top mark in all of MLB for Home Runs at the position and his OPS ranks 3rd for qualified players. You can often find him at DH when he’s not catching which speaks to his ability with the bat. With the glove, he’s tied for 3rd in the National league in Defensive WAR and 2nd in Fielding Percentage for qualified players. He also has a great reputation as a pitch framer and he’ll surprise you on the bases. Will will make his first All-Star team this year.
Freddie Freeman
It’s going to be a tough road for Freddie to make the All-Star team this year. The 5-time All-Star is having a very good season, but Goldschmidt, Cron and Alonso all have better cases. There’s 8 other NL first basemen with more homers, 4 with more RBI and 3 with a higher batting average. He’s 5th among NL first basemen in OPS. I wonder if Brian Snitker has any pull with the commissioner’s office to get Freddie one of those last picks. I’ll go ahead and make up some odds and give him a 50% chance of making the team.
Gavin Lux
Who would have thought that Gavin Lux would have the 3rd best OPS among NL second basement at the start of the year? After all, he was fighting for a spot on the roster this Spring and many fans wanted an upgrade over the off-season. None of his stats really stand out except for being one off the lead for triples in all of baseball. But, he’s solid in just about every offensive category. He’s a complete player and his power is just starting to show up. Without his throwing problem’s he’s developed into a plus defender at second base with a .4 dWAR and 3.1 Defensive Runs Above Average. Altogether, he’s just off the mark for his first All-Star selection and with so many other Dodgers on the team, he’ll have to wait a little longer.
Tony Gonsolin
Like Gavin, The Cat Man was fighting for a job in Spring Training and he answered the bell by becoming the top dog in all of baseball, leading MLB in Wins, ERA and WHIP with a puuurrrrfect 11-0 record. No need to elaborate further. It’s not a matter if he makes the team, the only decision is if he gets to start. The only knock on Tony is that he hasn’t pitched as deep into games as his competition which isn’t a requirement in the All-Star game.
Julio Urias
Julio won’t get another chance to make his case for this All-Star game before selections are announced. His ERA is 7th in the NL and is tied with fellow teammate and lefty legend Clayton Kershaw. His record sits just one game over 500 at 7 and 6 and hasn’t pitched particularly deep into games. Every pitcher on the ERA leader board in the NL has pitched more innings. He’s got a solid 8.5/9 K rate, but that just doesn’t shine like 9+ K’s per 9. Last year, he was the only 20-game winner and that could be the edge he needs to get in. Unfortunately for Julio, other teams need to be represented. I think he has an outside shot, but there are plenty of other pitchers with close enough numbers to make it a crap shoot.
Clayton “The GOAT” Kershaw
As mentioned, he’s tied for 7th with Julio on the ERA list. The trouble is, his IL stint has him nowhere close to qualifying for an ERA title. Like Julio and Tony, he’s not pitching deep into games, averaging just 5.7 innings per start. His 6-2 record is solid, his 2.40 ERA is excellent, and his 9.75 K/9 is very good, but not elite. He’s a very good, borderline great pitcher this year and like Julio is worthy of selection. As worthy as about 12 other starters in the league. The trouble is it’s doubtful that 12 starters are selected and even more doubtful the best 12 starters are selected due to the requirement that all teams are represented. With Roberts on the coaching staff and the game being played at Dodger’s stadium, I’ll put my money on The GOAT getting his 9th All-Star appearance.
Mookie Betts and Trea Turner have already made the team and Will Smith and Tony Gonsolin will be there barring travesty. Clayton Kershaw has home-field advantage and a body of work that should get him there. Freddie Freeman might get the sentimental nod from his former manager. Urias is deserving in a crowded field and Gavin Lux is just on the outside looking in. Which Dodgers do you think will make it?
Future Dodgers Down on the Farm
- Oklahoma City Dodgers
- OKC Lost 4-3 to Las Vegas
- Miguel Vargas was 1-4 with a double, a Walk, and an RBI
- Mike Busch was 1-4 with a BB and Double
- Carson Fulmer pitched an inning and dropped his ERA to 1.56
- Andre Jackson continues to be a trainwreck – he needs to move to another organization
- Tulsa Drillers
- Tulsa Lost to NW Arkansas 6-3
- Jonny DeLuca was 2-5
- Andy Pages was 1-5 with an RBI
- Ryan Ward who moved to AA this season is having a hot July. He is being challenged by AA pitching but is rising to the challenge. (.259/.819 OPS). He was 1-3 last night with his 18th HR and 2 RBI. Keep an eye on him
- Clayton Beeter pitched .2 innings and was roughed up for 2 runs on 1 hit and 3 BB
- Great Lakes Loons
- Great Lakes beat Lansing 7-3
- Nick Nastrini pitched 6 magnificent innings, allowing 4 hits, 0 R, 1 BB, and striking out 7. It was his most impressive outing!
- Alex DeJesus was 3-6 with 3 RBI
- Jorbit Vivas was 2-4
- Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- RC lost to IE 14-4
- Nothing relevant to report
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (78)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I do not think it’s too early to say that this ump definitely sucks!
This umpire actually gets paid for this. How could it be that he advanced to major league level?
not over yet
Lux continues to hit, did not take the defensive miscues to the plate. Good sign for the kid, but Roberts has to finally stop playing him in LF just to keep Alberto or Muncy in the lineup.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, one of those days it looks.
I think I will go to bed now, already 11.30 pm over here in Germany .
Bickford is pitching himself off the team, 5.50 ERA now, time to bring up Fullmer.
Good night everybody.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s one of the reasons why we need someone good to get back from the IL like Treinen and bump someone like Bickford to AAA.
…in the 3rd inning.
Kershaw makes the All-Star game
One run game 8 to 7
Just took the lead 9 8
Bickford was much better last year, it looks like his fastball is missing a tick or two. It’s amazing how much of a difference 1 or 2 mph makes for most pitchers.
William Contreres over Will Smith? Seriously? d’Arnaud’s backup makes it? What Bull Shit!
You can say that again. Heck I’ll say it for you. What BULL SHIT!
So we got a closer!
DODGERS WIN!!!!
So you’re telling me the two guys tied for fifth in BA in the NL are not all stars? Not to mention Will Smith! And all three are plus defenders! Bulltwinkie! And Price had a bit of a hiccup tonight but still had five good appearances in a row. And I wouldn’t call a back end reliever with a .338 era bad.
Up 8 on the Padres, 12.5 on the Giants. Good times!
So the concensus in these discussions, I think, is that the Dodger pitching has been surprisingly strong while the offense has been surprisingly meh, thanks mostly to the struggles of Muncy, Belli and JT…. and let’s not forget Taylor’s strikeouts.
But after today’s game, the Dodgers suddenly have three of the top ten hitters in the NL by batting average–and one of them is Lux! The others are Freddie and Trea.
Now I realize that OPS is a better metric. And lookee here, Mookie at 6th with .890 and Freddie 10th at .875 are among the NL leaders. So overall, that’s four batters a fairly high level–and both Will Smith and now (suddenly) Justin Turner moving on up.
So perhaps the Dodgers hitters (overall) are starting to catch up with the overachieving pitchers.
This was a strange game. Julio did not pitch well, but Lux failed to get two very catchable balls in the first. Yeah, Lux is still learning, but those plays were ugly. Is this part of a subconscious campaign to return full-time to the infield? I prefer to think it isn’t–but Doc did make the shift during the game.
Best lineup now might have Lux at 2nd with the Thompson/Lamb platoon in LF, while Muncy and JT share the 3B/DH duties.
When Taylor comes back, perhaps he’ll revert to the super UT role and Alberto be sent down or DFA’d.
Nice to see Graterol deliver the 2-inning save.
Yikes…. Just read this from the LAT’s Mike DiGiovanni:
“Left fielder Gavin Lux had one ball sail over his head and another drop in front of him — both with catch probabilities of 90%, according to Statcast — for key hits in the first.”