If you base the first half MVP based on stats you come up with a player who leads the American League in OPS and WAR (Wins Above Replacement) not projected in the all star game by many sporting news agencys like CBS Sports. And that player is the Super Utility turned Starting 2B Ben Zobrist. He didnt start the season but gained the 3.1 PAs per game required to be a league leader primary after Akinori Iwamura went down with an ACL injury. Top WAR in MLB (3.1 PA/Game min) 1. Albert Pujols 4.2 2. Ben Zobrist 4.0 3. Chase Utley 3.9 4. Joe Mauer 3.9 5. Evan Longoria 3.8 (Fangraphs.com) He wasnt eligible for the fan vote because Aki was starting at 2B, but he has a 4.0 WAR against Cano's 1.6 WAR and Pedroia's 1.7 WAR, the leading 2B vote recipients. On the fielding category, Cano has a fielding rating of -.8, Pedroia has a fielding rating of 3.4 and Ben Zobrist has a fielding rating of 10.2. And batting, Cano has a batting rating of 4.8, Pedroia .9, and Zobrist 22.3. Other surprising players with high WARs are Russel Branyan (3rd AL 1B above Miguel Cabera, Mourneau and Tex with 2.8 WAR), Jason Bartlett (3.2 WAR #1 AL SS not projected in All star game), Brandon Inge (3.0 WAR, #2 AL 3B), Nelson Cruz (2.4 WAR #2 AL RF if you consider Zobrist at 2B), and Franklin Guiteerez (2.1 WAR #3 AL CF). These Sports News writers fail to remember who is going to be picking this years AL all star reserves, Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon. So I see no way Joe Maddon snubs Zobrist for the all star game, Jason Bartlett is probably a 80% chance, Crawford 95%, JP Howell 75% and Carlos Pena has a 50-50 shot due to him being in the top AL HR leaders and being a Rays player. Rays could have their entire infield in St. Louis for the all star game.
Zobrist made the All star game along with Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett and Carl Crawford. If you vote for Carlos Pena for the final vote, the rays will have their entire infield. If Pena doesnt get voted then it will be the last player since 1993 for the leader in HR not to make the all star team. JP Howell didnt make the all star game witha 1.63 ERA in 39 games,
