Although 10 players from the New York Yankees and Mets won’t make the MLB All-Star Game, here are the Top 10 up to this point in 2015.
By Robby Sabo
This means that real dissecting of the New York Yankees and Mets can be conducted without worrying about sample size.
The Yankees have played 82 games going 44-38, good enough for second-place in the AL East. Considering the ridiculous number of question marks surrounding the club heading into 2015, the fact that they’ve showcased themselves as one of the more consistent AL squads is a real positive.
The Mets on the other hand – after their torrid and unbelievable 13-3 start – have played 83 games in total. Their 42-41 mark is rather disappointing when realizing just how filthy their young starting rotation has been.
Finding a solution in the lineup is Sandy Alderson’s only mission right now. Finding that guy without having to surrender any of their Phenom-Five will also be a mandatory mission for the All-Star cast of front office execs in Flushing.
Despite the contrasting feel around each team at the moment, there are some All-Stars in the Big Apple right now. There will be a handful of players from these two squads that’ll surely receive the All-Star nod despite none of them finding themselves on the official starting rosters that were released on Sunday.
While 10 All-Stars is stretching the issue, we rank the Top 10 New York City Baseball players so far during the 2015 MLB season:
10. Brian McCann (C-Yankees)
- .264 BA, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 32 R
Top snubs on the list include the Mets Curtis Granderson and Yankees Jacoby Ellsbury and Michael Pineda. Ellsbury probably would have found himself near the top of this list if he hadn’t gotten injured (something that has followed his MLB career since whispers out of Boston warned us about his brittle ways).
Nevertheless, Yanks catcher Brian McCann starts the list on a great note.
McCann probably won’t be heading to Cincinnati, but he’s been valuable during his second season in the Bronx. He’s hitting for power, leading a very shaky starting rotation, and acting as a clubhouse leader each and every night.
The other thing McCann does is hit walk-off home runs to provide his club with sole possession of first-place this past Friday night:
9. Wilmer Flores (2B-Mets)
- .248 BA, 10 HR, 45 RBI, 30 R
Ladies and gentleman, the New York Mets leader in runs batted in on the season isn’t Lucas Duda, Curtis Granderson or Michael Cuddyer. It turns out that it’s Wilmer Flores with 45.
While his defense leaves a ton to be desired and his batting average (.248) and lackluster on-base percentage (.280) are also below top marks, the power that Flores provides from the middle of the infield has been invaluable for Mets 27th ranked offense.
There’s not one single Mets position player who even comes close to touching an All-Star nod aside from Flores, and even he’s a stretch.
8. Andrew Miller (RP-Yankees)
- 17 S, 1.03 ERA, 0.684 WHIP, 14.7 K/9
What the 2015 MLB season has turned into for New York City’s locals is “the year of the bullpen arm.”
The club from the Bronx has a considerable leg-up on the competition.
Not only is Dellin Betances extraordinarily lights out, but combining his right arm with lefty Andrew Miller allows Yankees fans to feel their team can make a deep run in October.
If hadn’t been for this current DL stint, Miller would have found himself near the top of this list. Absolutely silly numbers like a 0.684 WHIP and 14.7 K per 9 has Joe Girardi foaming at the mouth to get his closer back.
7. Matt Harvey (SP-Mets)
- 7-6, 3.11 ERA, 1.073 WHIP, 9.6 K/9
Suddenly, with the continuing emergence of Jacob deGrom and the hype surrounding sensation Steven Matz, Matt Harvey has remarkably taken a back seat in Mets fandom.
Obviously he hasn’t faded that far into oblivion that we forget about the Dark Knight, but his very human-like performances over the last two months has made Mets fans think the unthinkable.
Could Harvey end up not being the ace of this staff?
It’s surely possible. He’s demonstrated that there is an adjustment period as it pertains to getting over Tommy John surgery. Also, it’s become clear that his filthy 2013 and torrid beginning to 2015 are tough to duplicate every time he takes the mound.
Still though, he’s putting up outstanding numbers in what many consider a good, not great season.
6. Alex Rodriguez (DH-Yankees)
- .284 BA, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 44 R
It’s time to shut down the polls, New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez is the 2015 AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Amazingly, Rodriguez has comeback to demonstrate flashes of the great A-Rod. His 15 home runs and 46 runs batted in is more than anybody could have imagined heading into the year.
Furthermore, his drama-free personality has made most think of the 2009 Rodriguez, the one who helped the Yankees capture the World Series.
The most thrilling stat of all for Rodriguez comes in the form of games played. His 76 games played without a single DL stint has Brian Cashman doing cartwheels in the halls of Yankee Stadium.
5. Mark Teixeira (1B-Yankees)
- .246 BA, 20 HR, 59 RBI, 37 R
Speaking of comeback players, Mark Teixeira may have a claim to that award as well.
The notion that both Rodriguez and Teixeira are coming up with this production after a 2014 that featured the two combine to play in only 123 games total (of a possible 324) is pure madness.
Teixeira clubbed 22 home runs last season to go along with 62 runs batted in. He’s essentially matched those numbers in just a half a season in 2015 with 20 total “Tex-Messages” and 59 runs knocked in.
As long as Teixeira and Rodriguez keep producing at this rate, the Yankess will be a tough out down the stretch.
While Teixeira could easily be chosen as a reserve for the AL All-Stars, he’d probably just want the days off to rest that brittle body.
4. Jacob deGrom (SP-Mets)
- 8-6, 2.30 ERA, 0.965 WHIP, 8.7 K/9
Coming in as the No. 4 All-Star in New York is the Mets 2015 ace, Jacob deGrom.
While Matt Harvey still embodies the role and projects to be much more of a bulldog-like leader, it’s been deGrom who’s captured the tag through his phenomenal stuff.
To realize he’s only won eight games and lost six while pitching to a disgusting 0.965 WHIP just makes everyone want to strangle Sandy Alderson that much more for not improving the lineup.
deGrom has a fantastic chance to actually be chosen by Bruce Bochy and find himself in Cincinnati next Tuesday night.
3. Brett Gardner (LF-Yankees)
- .299 BA, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 60 R, 15 SB
Perhaps there’s nobody more deserving of an All-Star nod than Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner.
This Joe Girardi favorite is the quintessential underdog. Most told him he lacked the talent to be an everyday player on a big-league club, yet he fought his way through.
First it was the Yankees system in the farm, then to the bench as a speed specialist, now he’s an All-Star table-setter for some of the best power hitters in the game.
Not only does the guy do damage at the plate, but the ground he covers in the outfield needs to garner more attention than it normally does.
Unless Ned Yost endures one serious brain-fart over the next week, Gardner will be representing the Yankees at the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.
2. Jeurys Familia (RP-Mets)
- 22 S, 1.16 ERA, 0.905 WHIP, 9.3 K/9
Earlier, we dubbed the 2015 MLB season as “the year of the bullpen” here in New York.
Mets closer Jeurys Familia is one enormous reason for this overly strong sentiment.
Once Jenrry Mejia was caught with his hands in the cookie jar, Familia found himself as the man in the back-end of the Mets pen. What he’s done with the opportunity has now given him a stranglehold over the closer role in Flushing for a very long time.
If Mejia can come back and contribute and youngster Logan Verrett can continue his hot ways, Terry Collins will suddenly have some dangerous ammunition late in games.
Familia very well may be the lone Mets representative at the 2015 All-Star Game.
1. Dellin Betances (RP-Yankees)
- 7 S, 1.50 ERA, 0.857 WHIP, 14.6 K/9
The most obvious and deserving All-Star in New York is hands down Yankees reliever Dellin Betances.
His numbers this year are so filthy that many think of the Great Mariano in comparison. Of course the playoffs will have a big say in the continuation of those comparisons, but when you glance at this guy’s stuff out there on the mound, eyes light up.
To go along with a 0.857 WHIP, Betances sports an unheard of 14.6 K/9 (68 strikeouts in just 42 innings pitched).
With Andrew Miller’s return just around the corner and Adam Warren now planted in the bullpen, the Yanks suddenly possess that special weapon the Kansas City Royals unleashed on the AL during the playoffs last season: a nasty, untouchable bullpen.