The Giants have extended their lead to 8 G over the Diamondbacks at the Break, best in baseball by those 8 G. Only the Reds have a similar lead in their division, with every other race at 5 G or less.
The Giants may have the best record in all of baseball but only send three players to the All Star Game, starters Andy Frederick (4) and Jorge Ramirez (1), as well as CF David Rojo (2, 1st NL). The roster review (below) shows that this is probably a fair reflection of the individual performances over the first half of the season.
• SP Andy Frederick (SF) - 7-7, 3.67 ERA, 117.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 2.0 WAR
• SP Jorge Ramirez (SF) - 10-2, 2.90 ERA, 114.2 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 2.2 WAR
• CF David Rojo (SF)* - .305/.369/.569, 357 AB, 21 HR, 15 SB, 158 wRC+, 4.9 WAR
Stewart sees seven of his former Royals make the All-Star game for the AL, including Juan Anaya and Bobby Nickelberry with their 8th selections and Nelson Saiz and Mike Gronkiewicz their 7th.
RP Juan Anaya (KC) - 6-1, 1.25 ERA, 57.2 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 1.3 WAR
RP Randy Wambolt (KC) - 1-2, 2.25 ERA, 36.0 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 13.8 K/9, 1.1 WAR (Injured)
C Nelson Saiz (KC)* - .312/.403/.451, 266 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 135 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
1B Biagio Torrisi (KC)* - .293/.386/.550, 338 AB, 20 HR, 148 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
SS David de Anda (KC) - .270/.343/.642, 204 AB, 20 HR, 17 SB, 160 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
CF Mike Gronkiewicz (KC)* - .274/.369/.502, 237 AB, 13 HR, 26 SB, 135 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
RF Bobby Nickelberry (KC)* - .285/.348/.523, 302 AB, 18 HR, 1 SB, 133 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
The majority of the Giants bats are performing above league average, with Juan Magana, Gianvito Heaton, and Wilfredo Polo everyday players with a wRC+ over 120. On the other side of the scale are IF Gabino Galindo (72 wRC+) and OF Jaquan Willie (61 wRC+), both of whom are at risk of demotion with AAA players believing they deserve their shot in Kevin Dobbs and Steve Freese.
Nate Hudson, with a 99 FIP-, can consider himself somewhat unlucky to be demoted but Pete Lamar has earned his shot in the rotation despite a challenging first couple of starts. Greg Ward is the only Giant that can feel slightly overlooked when All Star selections were made, his 81 FIP- and 2.6 WAR leading Giant starters.
In the bullpen, Greg Hyder’s mediocre performance cost him his place while David Silva is at risk should Stewart decide to give a chance to any of the AAA pitchers making a case for a shot.
Minor League Performance
The Giants only have three players named to the All Star Prospects Game, Luis Burgos making his second selection and joined by two AAA first timers in Dan Namken and Arturo Varela.
SP Luis Burgos (SF-AA) - 5-5, 6.37 ERA, 70.2 IP, 1.53 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 0.0 WAR
RP Dan Namken (SF-AAA) - 3-0, 5.14 ERA, 28.0 IP, 1.68 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 0.7 WAR
RP Arturo Varela (SF-AAA) - 1-1, 3.06 ERA, 17.2 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 14.8 K/9, 0.2 WAR
