Should more Kansas City Royals be involved in the All-Star Game?

Dr. Vargas and Salvador Perez are good representatives for the Kansas City Royals. Should they have more in Miami though?

As obvious as it is to all* that Kansas City Royals southpaw Jason Vargas deserved an All-Star nod, and as obvious as it should be to anyone with eyes that Salvador Perez is the best catcher in the American League and possibly in baseball, it still feels like the Royals are going to be underrepresented at the Midsummer Classic.

*–with the exception of Fangraphs writer Jeff Sullivan, obviously. I haven’t forgotten the May 15 episode of Effectively Wild, Jeff, and I don’t plan to anytime soon.

Of the 11 other teams with a record equal to or better than Kansas City’s 43-40 mark, only three got less representation than the Royals—Tampa Bay (Corey Dickerson), Minnesota (Miguel Sano) and Milwaukee (Corey Knebel). Milwaukee, which leads the NL Central, should make some legitimate gripes that they got one rep and the last-place team in their division (Cincinnati) got two (Zack Cozart and Joey Votto), but hopefully the gang over at Reviewing the Brew will let the rest of the world know of this injustice.

I’m here for the Kansas City Royals. I can make an argument (one good, one bad and one that maybe only I will agree with) for three other Royals to head to Miami.

Stats current as of July 5.

The Good: Mike Moustakas

The Stats: .269/.305/.559 (.864 OPS/120 OPS+); 24 home runs, 52 RBI; 1.6 fWAR

The Case: This one is pretty self-explanatory, seeing as how Moose is on (and leading, at the time of this writing) the fan vote ballot for the final AL All-Star spot (which you can access here if that’s your thing). He’s already going to Miami anyway to participate in the Home Run Derby—which I laid out as a fairly important turn of events and upon further reflection, it may be more important to the franchise than an eventual All-Star nod—so you may as well keep him in South Beach the whole time.

Moose’s contributions go beyond the simple fact that he’s on pace to obliterate Steve Balboni’s Kansas City Royals single-season home run record, although that’s pretty significant too. When the offense struggled to find its footing April, Moustakas was there to supply a steady presence (.271/.303/.553, seven homers). When everything crested in June, it was Moose leading the pack (.313/.340/.635, eight homers, 22 RBI).

Hopefully, the fan vote will pan out and Moustakas’ stay in Miami will be a lengthy one. If not, and if Moose walks at the end of the season (he’s making a pretty compelling walk-year case, please don’t tell Scott Boras), it would be a real shame if 2015 was his only opportunity to represent the Kansas City Royals at the Midsummer Classic.

Anybody Have His Spot Who Shouldn’t? Among AL infielder’s, Sano and Baltimore’s Johnathan Schoop make it under the “Every team has to be represented” rule (which is how “two-time All-Star Jose Rosado” became a thing in the late-90s). Moose vs. Starlin Castro is compelling—Castro has slightly better peripherals in the shadow of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, while Moustakas stands out for carrying the Kansas City Royals to this point.

Among his final vote brethren, I’d cross off Xander Bogaerts and Didi Gregorious almost immediately. Logan Morrison and Moustakas are having similar years, but Morrison has been a pain the butt for much of his big-league tenure and even now is whining because Sanchez has his Home Run Derby spot. Elvis Andrus’ career-high 11 home runs and continually high-end peripherals make him a compelling candidate—but the Rangers are also 17 games out in their division. At gun point, I’d give the nod to Moustakas—but don’t count out LoMo or Andrus.

How Robbed Should He Feel?: 6 out of 10 about the initial vote and manager’s choice, 31 out of 10 if this fan vote thing falls through. Kansas City Royals fans are the same people who got Alcides Escobar an All-Star start in 2015; this should be a cakewalk.

The Unlikely Renaissance: Mike Minor

The Stats: 1.96 ERA/2.28 FIP/1.02 WHIP, 4-1 in 33 appearances, 3.67 K/BB, 9.6 K/9, 1.2 fWAR

The Case: I like to think that somewhere in mid-May, this conversation took place in Ned Yost’s office…

MINOR: You wanted to see me, Skip?

NED: Yeah, Mike. I was sitting around a few days ago and thought, “Boy, I haven’t done anything nutty in a while and I need to keep everybody on their toes.” So I thought maybe you’d like to start Saturday’s game.

MINOR: Well, I appreciate that Skip, but I’m actually good. I like this bullpen thing.

NED: [shining a tuba] Really?

MINOR: Yeah. I was a pretty so-so starter, but I think this long-relief stopper role may be just for me.

NED: [playing thrash metal in a vain attempt to soothe a dozen frightened baby goats] Is that so?

MINOR: Yeah. Bring up Junis or Skoglund or someone like that and let them get their feet wet. I’m happy where I’m at.

NED: [attempting to figure out a fidget spinner] If you say so. Good talk Mike.

MINOR: Same Skip. Also, the guys wanted me to remind you that aluminum foil is not microwave safe.

The point (aside from the sarcastic barbs at Ned Yost) is that Minor has figured out what he’s good at—and it’s not taking the ball every five days and trying to find six quality innings.

Anybody Have His Spot Who Shouldn’t?: Yu Darvish is not having his finest year by any standard, but somebody has to represent Texas. I’m not real sure why Luis Severino is here—the Yanks are well-represented with five All-Stars, which should just remind everyone that the Yankees are the worst—but I guess I can see it?

The most obvious comparison is Andrew Miller, but Andrew Miller is also a late-inning god who should never be compared to anyone and is best avoided at all costs. 13.82 K/9, ERA/FIP/WHIP all under 2.00 (his WHIP is a microscopic 0.71) and I’ll put you in a class by yourself.

But in American League Relievers Who Are Not Closers (Non-Miller Division), Minor is on the shortlist of game changers, and aside from Houston’s Chris Devenski (who got ROBBED of an All-Star bid) and teammate Joakim Soria, Minor is the only one on a contender. While I never consider an All-Star nod to be some kind of lifetime achievement banner, the fact remains that Soria has had his and unless something tragic happens, Devenski will get his. If I’m replacing Severino (and in this hypothetical, I am), tie goes to the guy who’s never been before.

How Robbed Should He Feel?: I mean… Luis Severino? Eh. Devenski has more of a gripe here. Give Minor a 4 out of 10.

Verdict

I nearly included Hosmer in the proceedings, but between Justin Smoak’s renaissance in Toronto and Yonder Alonso’s ability to be the only useful player in Oakland, I just couldn’t justify it. Hosmer’s April was too much of an albatross to get around.

Moustakas should be in somehow. I don’t like the “Can participate in the Home Run Derby without being in the All-Star game” thing anyway, so if Moustakas can be in one, he should be in the other. I think this logic would make Logan Morrison roll his eyes into the back of his head and begin speaking in tongues.

Merrifield would be the ultimate “Gosh this is so cool, I’m just happy to be here,” guy and honestly, I couldn’t blame him… but I also probably couldn’t support many measures that put him on ahead of more deserving candidates either. And if Devenski—who, again, was ROBBED of a bid—can’t make it, wait hope does our man Mike Minor have? All appearances peg Devenski as already being the guy I hope Minor can turn into.

Next: Moose's Derby Day

So Moustakas should join Dr. Vargas and Perez in Miami. Seems right. Let me know how stupid you think I am in the comments.