Steve Webb
In the closest battle for position players, Turner has the edge
LOS ANGELES — I’m going to say something that is a little controversial outside of Southern California. Justin Turner should be the starting third baseman for the National League in this year’s All-Star game, and it’s not really that close. Don’t get me wrong. The Cubs’ Kris Bryant and the Cards’ Nolan Arenado are good players who are having good seasons, but Turner deserves the nod this year. Let me prove it to you.
Numbers very similar this year
First things first. If you look at just the numbers, it’s probably the closest contest on the National League side. Bryant, who led the position in fan voting, currently has a .859 OPS. Nolan Arenado has an .828 OPS, and Justin Turner has an .863 OPS. So, if we go only by OPS, Turner is the better player. It’s true that Bryant and Arenado both have more home runs (each has 15, compared to Turner’s 12) and they both have more RBI. Turner has only 40 RBI compared to 50 for Arenado and 41 for Bryant. However, Turner’s batting average is considerably higher than either Arenado’s or Bryant’s. Turner is hitting .292, Arenado .266 and Bryant .265. So, any way you slice it, the competition at the hot corner is fierce.
Turner has been much better lately
However, if we look at production recently, it’s really no contest. Turner is playing much better right now than either of his opponents in the voting. In the last 30 games, Turner’s slash line (BA/OBP/SLUG) is .309/.397/.500. Compare that to Arenado’s .227/.281/.445 and Bryant’s .209/.275/.373. It’s not even close. Turner is simply playing better baseball now that summer is here than the other two guys, who put up big numbers early and have been declining as the weather turned hotter.
But wait, you say! Arenado is a much better defensive third baseman than Turner or Bryant. Maybe that is true for his career, but Fan Graphs recently ran an analysis of Arenado in St. Louis and his numbers are not that great, especially when he is out of position playing in the shift. And Bryant, don’t get me started on that dude. He has only played 23 games at third the whole season. He’s barely even a third baseman anymore. If anything, he’s a utility man, and more likely a right fielder, so I don’t even know what the guy is doing in this category, much less leading the pack.
Vote for JT!
So just based on this rudimentary analysis of the numbers, Justin Turner has had the best first half of the season. He deserved to be a starter. I know all those annoying Cubs’ fans will be voting for Bryant, and Cardinals nation will be supporting Arenado, but the true fan can see that my argument is correct. Justin Turner for NL All-Star. Let’s make this happen Los Angeles! Besides, can Arenado or Bryant do this:
Voting resumes Monday morning
Phase 2 will last for four days, beginning at noon ET on Monday and concluding on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET. At 9 p.m. ET on Thursday night, the starting teams will be announced during the 2021 Google MLB All-Star Starters Reveal on ESPN.
Fans can cast their votes exclusively online at mlb.com/vote, via mobile devices at MLB.com, all 30 club websites, the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps and on Google Search in the U.S. and Canada by searching “MLB All-Star vote” or “Vote” along with a player’s name. (Fan voting determines the starters at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, catcher and the three outfield spots in each league, plus the designated hitter spot in the AL. Pitchers and reserves for both teams will be determined through a combination of Player Ballot choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office.)
