Prediction: Markakis makes first All-Star team
I know it's way too early for such proclamations, but Major League Baseball doesn't want us to wait. We must pick our All-Stars now. Regardless, I feel pretty good about this: Nick Markakis will play in his first All-Star game in July.
A bit more on Markakis (who was 2-for-4 with another run in last night's loss) in a bit; first, the All-Star details.
The season is less than three weeks old, but All-Star voting has already begun. The Internet ballot boxes opened yesterday, and the Orioles don't want their fans to sit this one out.
Prior to last night's game, the Orioles introduced their “Vote Orange, $ave Green” campaign, which mixes colors and a dollar sign! The team is offering the chance to save money, save paper and help their favorite players win a spot on the All-Star team. At the same time!
From the release:Fans who vote at www.orioles.com and select the Orioles as their favorite team will receive an exclusive promotional code for $5 off any ticket to any non-prime Orioles home game after the All-Star break. Those who vote the maximum 25 times at the website will receive a promo code good for a free Upper Reserve ticket to any non-prime home game after the All-Star break.
Buying votes. Encouraging fans to vote early and vote often. Democracy in America -- Awesome!
Can we agree that giving every fan up to 25 votes and opening the ballots this early is a complete joke? Last year voting didn't begin until April 29, a full week later. Pretty soon, we'll be picking this team during spring training.
Regardless, Markakis is playing like an All-Star right now, and I think he'll be playing like an All-Star a couple of months from now, too. Let's discuss ...
In last night's 8-2 loss, Markakis had two of the Orioles' eight hits. Though the Orioles have lost six of their last seven, the right fielder has strung together a nice little nine-game hit streak. Plus, he's leading the American League in RBIs, runs and several other categories and is sixth with a .397 batting average.
Just for fun, let's compare him against some other American League outfielders. First, let's note that last year's top vote-getters among AL outfielders were Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki and Josh Hamilton. Well, Manny's being Manny in the NL now, Ichiro started the year on the DL and is currently batting .240 and Hamilton is hitting just .231 with one homer.
We're a couple of weeks away from the point where numbers start carrying a bit more meaning, but let's line up some of the outfielders anyways:
-- As the league leader, Markakis' average is obviously higher than Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter, J.D. Drew, Carlos Quentin and Grady Sizemore. Jermaine Dye, et al;
-- Obviously, he also has more RBIs than Quentin, Sizemore & Co., too;
-- Though a good number of guys will always have more homers than Markakis, he did enter last night's game tied for the AL lead in total bases (36);
-- Plus, he also led all outfielders in on-base percentage (.463), hits (23), runs (18) and doubles (7), too.
Oh yeah, and despite a miscue here and there, you won't find many better defensive right fielders.
You get the point. What's especially interesting is that since Markakis took over the starting job, he's always been a late starter. His numbers in April and May have been consistently low each of the past three seasons, picking up dramatically in June. So it's difficult to look at this hot start and project what the next couple of months will look like.
Sure, expect some numbers to level off, and he probably won't be leading every offensive categories in July. But if I'm Nick Markakis, I don't make any fishing plans for the All-Star break this year. There's a good chance he'll have a spot in the dugout in St. Louis.
Photos: Associated Press
Comments
Markakis has usually started off pretty slowly, which is why he's never made an All Star Game, although it doesn't exactly matter if he did or not he's great regardless, but still it would be nice to see one of our young players get more national attention.
Posted by: Marcus | April 23, 2009 9:11 AM
Its obvious he'll make the team, but you didn't differentiate b/w starter and reserve. You talked about voting, so I assume your post is saying he's gonna be voted on as a starter? I hope so. He deserves it.
Posted by: Almost Believin' | April 23, 2009 9:55 AM
It'll be tougher as a starter. NYY and Bos fans will obviously back guys like Swisher and Drew in big, big numbers. Also, not sure Markakis resonates with casual fans, West Coast fans or NL fans enough. Certainly his peers respect him, which is why is first appearance is more likely to be as a reserve.
Posted by: Maese | April 23, 2009 10:03 AM
You only vote for who you want out there. Do not assume he will make it, get out and vote, that is the bottom line. You have an all star second baseman, Huff should get votes, and if Jones keeps his numbers up, he should get your votes. Most other parks when doing the all star votings announce show your support of your Yankee players by casting your vote. Since the fans have been voting it has been that way. Remember one year when 8 Reds were selected. We do not want our players that are doing well to miss out.
Posted by: cb coach | April 23, 2009 11:47 AM
He'll resonate if his name is first or second or third when ESPN starts to talk about how voting's going. So, do what I did -- do your civic duty and vote 25 times for Nick Markakis. Because the Orioles are paying you.
Posted by: Beau | April 23, 2009 11:52 AM
As a Red Sox fan I can tell you, not one fan of the Boston Red Sox would ever vote for JD Drew for any thing but the most over-paid, worst signings in baseball, team.
He might make that team if the O's fans didn't stuff the ballot box with Albert Belle votes.
Posted by: Ted | April 23, 2009 12:31 PM
Reply to the post by Beau the Red Sox fan: All I can say is WOW!!! Red Sox fans are harsh!!!! I know the O's pitching is absolutely horrendous and admittedly, I don't follow the Sox that closely, but J.D. Drew absolutely DESTROYS the Orioles......I HATE seeing him come up because he shoots lasers all of the park......I dread seeing him up more than Ortiz when he's hot......Lastly, the worst team has to include Zito and God willing, Sabathia......
Posted by: Ocean City Scot | April 23, 2009 1:58 PM
J.D. Drew destroys the Orioles in June but does nothing against the Yankees in September.
He opted out of his contract with the Dodgers and everyone thought he was insane. The Red Sox bidding against themselves, agreed to pay him $75M for 5 years when the next best offer was $30M for three years.
Also Kyle Farnsworth has to be on the worst signing team.
Posted by: Ted | April 23, 2009 2:46 PM
Most likely, he'll be named as a reserve. Everyone here knows he's the best RF in the AL, and should (if his numbers hold up) be named to the starting 9. But the problem is that most people outside B'More don't know him. If Swisher or Drew get more votes that Markakis, that's just sheer lunacy...although I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.
Posted by: Brian | April 23, 2009 5:52 PM
as good as nick is the average baseball fan has no idea who nick really is and how good he is. that's what he gets for playing on a horrible team.
Posted by: fkterp | April 23, 2009 6:23 PM
I say Nick definitely deserves to get in...but what about Wieters?
I say the Orioles fans take it online and write Wieters in...everyone knows the guy is the second coming of Johnny Bench, so what if he hasn't played a game?
Posted by: Wieters! | April 23, 2009 7:25 PM
He doesn't need to play in any games - he's so good even his intangibles are tangible.
www.mattwietersfacts.com
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Daniel, I think you've given us an easy post for Friday. We're in your debt. -- Maese
Posted by: Daniel | April 23, 2009 9:38 PM
I will vote for Nick 25 times. I will also vote for Brian Roberts, Adam Jones and even Aubrey Huff 25 times. And of course, I will also write in Matt Wieters.
Posted by: R Jay | April 23, 2009 10:12 PM
http://www.writeinwieters.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Wieters | April 24, 2009 2:13 AM