2024 All-Star Ballot

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

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American League

First Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

Second Base: Jose Altuve, Astros

Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Guardians

Shortstop: Gunnar Henderson, Orioles

Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Orioles

Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees; Juan Soto, Yankees; Kyle Tucker, Astros

Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez, Astros

National League

First Base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Second Base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks

Third Base: Matt Chapman, Giants

Shortstop: Mookie Betts, Dodgers

Catcher: William Contreras, Brewers

Outfield: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres; Christian Yelich, Brewers; Cody Bellinger, Cubs

Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

 

 

 

Newsletter Excerpt, June 6, 2024 -- "Nine Pitches"

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

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In play, run(s), 100.1 mph four-seam fastball

Tell your statistics to shut up.

The best part about this homer wasn’t the swing, wasn’t the exit velocity, wasn’t the distance. The best part about this homer was how Paul Skenes knew it before the ball was even over his head. Skenes finishes the pitch and swings around, facing towards the first-base stands, grimacing, well aware his shutout is over. It turns out you can’t throw six fastballs past Shohei Ohtani, especially when the sixth is as poorly located as the Young Republicans booth at Smith College orientation.

 

 

 

Newsletter Excerpt, June 5, 2024 -- "Tucupita Marcano"

 

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

You can subscribe to the newsletter for one year for $79.95 using your PayPal account or major credit card.

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For these people, baseball players being suspended for betting on baseball games is evidence that MLB is being corrupted by the league’s gambling relationships. For a smaller number of people, the suspensions are morally tenuous, MLB taking with one hand and banning with the other. 

I don’t think the two stories are related at all. Marcano, Kelly, Jay Groome, Andrew Saalfrank, Jose Rodriguez...they all walked past Rule 21(d) every day, they all got the lectures each spring about the rules. Granted the ability to play professional and even Major League Baseball, they elected to break the one rule that would forfeit that privilege. MLB has every right to suspend them even as game odds scroll across the screen on MLB Network while it’s covering the story. They’re just not related. Baseball players are governed by Rule 21(d), the larger public is not. MLB is pitching bonus bets and strikeout props to tens of millions of people while holding those in its employ to a higher standard.

 

 

 

Newsletter Excerpt, June 4, 2024 -- "Clutch Central"

 

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

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These two teams represent one of the great divides in baseball: Clutch performance isn’t a skill over and above performance, but clutch performance does happen and can make all the difference in a given season. Saying “it probably won’t continue” doesn’t take away from the value it’s had to date, nor does it mean that everything will even out over the next four months. 

 

 

Newsletter Excerpt, June 3, 2024 -- "Dynamic Duos"

 

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

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After that explosion, which drove a Yankees sweep at Oracle Park, Aaron Judge is hitting .288/.417/.658 for a 200 OPS+; Soto is at .322/.417/.614 for a 189 OPS+. Together, they have started every game for the Yankees, who now have MLB’s best record at 42-19. Together, they’re threatening to become the best-hitting pair of teammates -- not Yankee teammates, any teammates -- in almost 100 years. 

 

 

Newsletter Excerpt, June 2, 2024 -- "Aaron Judge"

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

You can subscribe to the newsletter for one year for $79.95 using your PayPal account or major credit card.

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Through April 26, batting exclusively in front of Stanton and Rizzo, Judge hit .178/.317/.356, taking his walks -- 20 -- but not seeing enough pitches to do damage against. Just 45.9% of the pitches he saw were in the zone, per Statcast. On April 27, with Verdugo behind him, Judge homered. On April 28, with Verdugo behind him, Judge homered. Verdugo then went on paternity leave for a few days, and Judge didn’t homer. On May 3, Boone slotted Verdugo into the cleanup spot behind Judge against right-handed pitchers for good, and Judge has hit .394/.509/1.000 in the 27 games since then.