Todd Frazier Is Last Slim Hope for Reds In All-Star Balloting
By Adam Hughes
Jun 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier (21) in the on-deck circle against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. The Reds won 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball has released its last public tally of All-Star vote totals before Sunday night’s announcement of starters, and things aren’t looking so good for our Cincinnati Reds. As Craig Calcaterra’s breakdown on HardballTalk shows, only third baseman Todd Frazier is within a country mile of the leaders at his position.
Given that the Reds’ offense has lay lifeless at the roadside during the first half while the pitching staff has valiantly held up The Medium Red Machine with their strong arms, it’s not too surprising that Cincy’s hitters can’t get traction in the polls. Still, the 28-year-old Frazier is in the midst of a career year, having slugged 17 homers with 46 RBI and an .860 OPS. That’s good for 3.3 WAR, already better than last year’s 2.7. That performance is easily the best offensive showing among National League third baseman, yet Frazier is fifth in voting at the position through last night. Ahead of him are Aramis Ramirez, David Wright, Pablo Sandoval, and Matt Carpenter.
If that smells like contender fever to you, you’re probably correct. How much different would things look for Frazier if the Reds had been streaking and sweeping in May rather than late June when the voting damage was already mostly done? Hard to say for sure, but I bet he’d be a lot closer to the top rung of the 3B ladder.
As it stands, we Reds fans still have some time to make a difference here, as online voting remains open until 11:59 on Thursday night. Can we push Frazier over the top? Not likely, considering that he’s a cool half-a-million votes off the lead, but we can surely move his name up the board a bit.