Kuzul

The trade appeared finished on Saturday, was dead in the water on Sunday, and on Monday, the Boston Red Sox unveiled their new first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, to the media.

In a trade years in the making, the Red Sox sent top pitching prospect Casey Kelly, outfielder Raymond Fuentes, and power-hitting first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the San Diego Padres. In return, they get a player long-coveted by Boston’s front office.

In five full seasons in the Major Leagues, the 28-year-old Gonzalez has blossomed into one of the game’s top hitters, averaging 160 games played, a .288 average, 32 home runs and 100 RBIs.  He has been an All-Star the last three seasons, finished fourth in MVP voting last year, and has won two Gold Gloves.

After a frantic weekend, the deal is finally done. But there are still questions to be answered about the trade, Gonzalez and the remainder of the offseason.

Can Kevin Youkilis play third base?

Well, we know he can, but can he play it well? He was a Gold Glover at first base, but he did play third in the minor leagues, and has played over 219 games at the hot corner in the Bigs. His UZR/150 is a very good 6.9, not far below his figure across the diamond.

Youk should be able to handle himself well at third base. Even if he is not as good as Adrian Beltre, or even Mike Lowell, the overall package of Youk-Gonzalez is, both offensively and defensively, fearsome.

Speaking of that…

Who has the best infield, the Red Sox or Yankees?

The Yankees’ diamond of Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira is one of the best in the Majors. But the Red Sox can also make that claim.

Youk, Marco Scutaro, Dustin Pedroia  and Gonzalez is a pretty special infield, on both sides of the ball.

Seven of the eight have won Gold Gloves (accounting for 15 in total; Scutaro is the only one not to have won one), but Youkilis won his on the other side of the diamond and the less said about Derek Jeter’s defensive awards, the better. Both should be good defensive teams, and there is not much to pick between the two. New York might just shade it, though.

Offensively, it is much the same story. If Jeter, A-Rod and Tex have relatively bad years again, and the Red Sox stay healthy, Boston will have the best foursome with the bat.

However, if New York’s big-money guys can bounce back, their infield could produce 90-100 home runs.

For the money they are paying them, one would expect nothing less.

Who is the best first baseman, Gonzalez or Teixeira?

The Red Sox initially drafted Teixeira in the late 90s, but he chose to play in college. After the 2008 offseason, Boston had their chance again, but the Yankees swept in out of nowhere and signed him to an eight-year deal.

That was the defining mistake of this Red Sox administration, and they have been searching for something to rectify that error. Now, in Gonzalez, they have that.

Both will be in the running for Gold Glove awards, both are power hitters and both are playing in ballparks perfectly suited to their swing.

Despite that, Gonzalez hit just two fewer home runs than Tex (33 to 31) whilst playing in Petco Park, perhaps the most pitcher-friendly stadium in the Majors. Now he is at Fenway Park, expectations are high for the Sox’ new signing to tear the cover off the ball.

If he does and with defense being a wash, the Red Sox have the better player.

What next for the front office?

At the press conference introducing Gonzalez this morning, GM Theo Epstein said that the Sox were not done yet, and would now focus on two things: shoring up their bullpen, and finding a right-handed bat if they could.

The specific mention of a right-handed bat could signify that they are a bit less interested in Carl Crawford than they were before this trade.

With Jayson Werth’s stupid-money deal with the Washington Nationals, and the Yankees likely to push Crawford’s price tag up, it does not look good for those wanting to see the speedy left-fielder in Boston.

It is likely that Theo will still go after Crawford, but he has positioned himself to say that the front office was not that interested in him anyway.

Theo mentioned that if they found “someone who fits” then they would try and land an outfielder.

So there you go.

An available right-handed outfielder? Manny Ramirez, anyone?

How will he fare at Fenway Park?

Gonzalez put up monster numbers with San Diego, but when he was actually playing in San Diego, his stats were not as impressive. The exciting bit for Red Sox fans is that on the road, Gonzalez was far better, with a BA 40 points higher than at Petco, and almost double the number of home runs.

Move him to Fenway, with the Green Monster perfectly placed for a hitter with such power to the opposite field, and the Williamsburg bullpens in right being moved in nine feet this offseason, and his numbers could be phenomenal.

Are there too many lefties in the Boston lineup?

It is a legitimate concern. One exacerbated by the preponderance of left-handed pitching in the American League East.

The Red Sox now have JD Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Kalish (who, if he does not start, will likely be the fourth outfielder) in their lineup, all of whom are left-handed.

That is okay at the moment, especially when one remembers that Gonzalez hit over .330 against LHP last year, but Theo would sleep easier if he could add a righty.

Where will Gonzalez bat?

Knowing that manager Terry Francona likes to have left- and right-handed bats alternating through the lineup, the Sox starting nine could look like this (bear in mind that, as he did last year, Tito could switch the middle around quite regularly):

Ellsbury LF (L)
Pedroia 2B (R)
Gonzalez 1B (L)
Youkilis 3B (R)
Ortiz DH (L)
Drew RF (L)
Scutaro SS (R)
Salty C (S)
Cameron CF (R)

One can see where a right-handed outfielder would fit, between Papi and Drew, but even without, that lineup looks pretty good.

Where are they with the extension?

There were reports that the deal was off, on Sunday, after the window for contract negotiations closed without an agreement. The trade went ahead anyway, with Gonzalez due to be a free agent at the end of next year.

Obviously, it would be a colossal risk to give up three young prospects for what is possibly a one-year rental and it is unlikely that Theo did it just because, as he said, he got on well with Gonzalez and his wife.

The most likely scenario is that the sides have reached an agreement (somewhere in the seven-year/$161 million range) but will not sign it until after Opening Day, so the Red Sox avoid having to pay luxury tax.

How is his shoulder?

Gonzalez had shoulder surgery at the end of the season, and expects to be ready for Spring Training. He did not go on the DL with it last year, and even playing through the pain, his season was great. (That’s right, he put up those numbers whilst he was hurt.)

He says he feels fine now and since he has missed just 11 games in five years, we would be well-advised to take his word for it.

What will Tito’s nickname for him be?

Francona loves his nicknames. With Youk, Pedey, Tek, Ells, Cam, JB, Dice and Pap to name but a few, it is clear he will have one for Gonzalez. The obvious choice would be A-Gon, but that was reserved for Alex Gonzalez during his tenure in Boston, so he might go with Gonzo.

No matter what his manager calls him, the main thing is that Red Sox fans can call him their own.

And now, after a 10-year love affair with the player, three weeks of negotiations and a tumultuous weekend of rumours and speculation, they can.

Suddenly, 2011 is looking far more promising for Red Sox Nation.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Let’s get one thing clear, the Red Sox cannot find replacements for Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre, and improve offensively. Martinez batted .400 against lefties, Beltre was the best player on the team. Good luck finding that level of production on the trade market.

As far as replacing Victor Martinez, there is one thing everyone should remember: The Red Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia right now. It would not take much to be an improvement.

With Beltre, the Red Sox have some flexibility. They can go after a third baseman or move Kevin Youkilis to the hot corner and sign someone to play first.

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It is not crazy to say that without injuries to almost every major player, Boston would have made the playoffs last season. The team was a lot stronger offensively than people predicted and if Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Victor Martinez, Jason Varitek and Mike Cameron had been healthy all year, they would have made a serious run at the Rays and Yankees in the AL East.

But they weren’t, and they didn’t. Now, with free agency leaving holes in their lineup, and the tantalising prospect of signing Adrian Gonzales next year to be taken into account, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the 2011 lineup.

Gonzalez’ agent has said the slugger will test the free agent waters after next season and it is almost certain the Red Sox will be interested. That does create a rather awkward situation at first or third for 2011, depending on where Kevin Youkilis plays, and whom the Red Sox get as a bridge to Gonzalez.

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Every offseason the free-agent class is headlined by a small group of big-name players. In 2008, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were the big names. Last year, it was probably John Lackey. In 2010, Cliff Lee is undoubtedly the biggest fish in a very, very small pond.

The problem is, players of this ilk command huge salaries and usually end up on big-market teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets. The most interesting part of free agency is to be found when one looks past the big names at bargain players—those whom people had forgotten about.

Even when looking at the underrated players on the market, this year’s free-agent class is still poor.

Not to kill the suspense but, no, Cliff Lee will not be appearing on this list.

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The Texas Rangers won their first-ever American League pennant in 2010. If they hope to make a return to the Fall Classic and avenge their loss to the San Francisco Giants, they have one offseason priority: re-sign Cliff Lee.

Lee was nothing spectacular in the regular season, but in the playoffs, he showed once again why he is so sought-after. Without him, Texas would have probably lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.

Obviously, the Yankees will be after him, and outbidding New York is an immensely difficult task. However, Lee has said that he enjoys playing with the Rangers. They are coming off the back of their most successful season ever and have just landed a huge, 20-year, $3 billion TV rights deal. Having Cliff Lee pitching in Arlington in 2011 might not be as improbable as it first appears.

That said, though, Rangers fans have to prepare themselves for the worst. If their ace leaves, their chances of back-to-back pennants take a huge hit.

They have very few viable options if Cliff Lee decides not to have “TEXAS” emblazoned on his chest next season.

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General Manager Theo Epstein announced a few years ago that he had signed a new deal. The terms of that deal were never disclosed, but it’s safe to say that whatever he is making, this offseason will be a test to see if he’s worth the money.

He wasn’t to blame for Boston’s missing the playoffs, but in a way, the GM is always culpable. The team is full of free agents and Epstein will have a lot to consider, as he attempts to build a side which can compete in baseball’s toughest division.

Catcher

Look at the AL East and name the five best starting pitchers this year.

The Red Sox had two: Clay Buchholz (17-7, 2.33) and Jon Lester (19-9, 3.25). The Yankees had two in CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18) and Andy Pettite (11-3, 3.28). And the Rays had one in David Price (19-6, 2.72).

Four of them are left-handed.

With the exception of Andy Pettite, they are all under contract for 2011. Even if he leaves, however, it is likely that the Yankees will pick up another great lefty—Cliff Lee. If he stays, New York’s three best pitchers will be left-handed.

In 2010, Martinez led all Major League hitters in batting average against lefties. He’s a career .300 hitter, will hit 20-25 home runs and drive in close to 100. He’s shown he can be durable, too. Apart from his two injury-hit seasons of 2008 and 2010, he’s played over 140 games every year since becoming the Indians’ starting catcher in 2004.

If he can be brought back for three years, the Red Sox should do it. If they have to go to a fourth, be prepared for much of 2014 to be spent between first base and the DH spot.

As for the backups, Jarrod Saltalamacchia was signed to a one-year deal, but really, one would like to see Jason Varitek back. He is probably the best backup catcher in the AL and did a good job as captain of the team, despite missing much of the season with a broken foot.

First base

Kevin Youkilis’ ability to play great defense at first and third gives the Red Sox two options. Either they can keep the 2007 Gold Glove winning first baseman where he is—in which case they can go after a third baseman or re-sign Adrian Beltre—or they let Beltre go, move Youk to third and try and land a first baseman.

Earlier this month, ESPN’s Gordon Edes reported that the San Diego Padres will pick up Adrian Gonzalez’s $6 million option for 2011. After that, they will likely be financially unable to keep him with the club. A September stumble cost them a playoff berth, and if the Padres don’t contend for the postseason next August, look for him to be dealt.

Boston has coveted Gonzalez for a long time and will go hard after him. If he isn’t available at the deadline, he almost certainly will be in the offseason. He and Prince Fielder will be targets one and two, respectively, for teams seeking a first baseman. The Yankees will not be any competition to the Red Sox, though, as they have Mark Teixeira.

They could also take a look at someone like Derrek Lee. He struggled last year, but after a midseason trade from the Cubs to the Braves, he performed much better. His defense is good, and he wouldn’t be too expensive. Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko are also available, but they will be seeking more years than Lee.

Minor Leaguer Lars Anderson is a top prospect with AAA Pawtucket. He played poorly after his September call-up, but then again, so did Dustin Pedroia in 2006, who languished below the Mendoza line. In 2007, he was AL Rookie of the Year, so don’t discount Anderson yet. If Epstein somehow manages to stumble to Spring Training without landing anyone to replace Youkilis at first, Anderson is decent as a last resort.

Second base

I think the Sox are sorted here, aren’t they?

Third base

In the event that the Red Sox opt to keep Youkilis at first, this will represent the toughest spot for Theo Epstein to fill. Beltre underwent an offensive rebirth in Boston, and now Epstein will have to decide whether that was down to the new ballpark and surroundings, or the fact he was playing for a contract.

If you were to take out his ridiculous 2004 campaign, in 2010, Beltre set career highs in: hits (200), doubles (29 higher than ’04), home runs (28), RBIs (102), average (.321), on-base percentage (.365), slugging percentage (.553), weighted on-base average (.390), isolated power (.233) and wins above replacement (7.1). He also struck out 82 times, the third-lowest figure of his career.

In a lineup where merely staying healthy was an achievement, Beltre stayed productive, and put together a great year. MVP Awards have been won with less. He did what he came to Boston to do, and he will be rewarded with a big contract. The question is where.

For once, neither New York team will be in the hunt; the Yankees have the highest-paid player in Major League history in Alex Rodriguez, and the Mets have David Wright.

Regardless, there are more than enough teams with money to spend on Beltre to keep his agent Scott Boras happy. The Angels, Tigers and White Sox could all be in the race, spurred on by a desire to make a return to the postseason. Also, the Braves and Giants, who made the playoffs this year,

Beltre will probably find someone to offer him five years; if a team does, it will almost certainly price the Red Sox out of the market.

If they can’t get Beltre, the best option would be to move Youkilis across the diamond. Dunn, Konerko and Lee are more attractive options than Melvin Mora, Miguel Tejada and Wilson Betemit.

Shortstop

Marco Scutaro, who had a very respectable first year in Boston, will be back in 2011. The Sox will have to make a decision during or following the season, though, about the future.

The position has been Epstein’s Kryptonite as GM. For that reason, the Scutaro deal will make him very happy. He’s performed well and will still be with the team next season. After that, the front office might look to Jed Lowrie, who had a very good end to 2010, as a bridge to highly-touted youngster Jose Iglesias, who finished the year with AA Portland.

Outfield

J.D. Drew is in the final year of his contract in right field, so it’s only left and center with which Theo needs to concern himself. Jacoby Ellsbury missed almost the entire year with a rib injury, and there is talk of him being traded in the offseason—something which would have been unthinkable just a year ago, after he stole a Sox single-season record 70 bases. If he stays with the club, the Red Sox will have only one spot to fill.

The most viable option is free agent Jayson Werth. If Beltre doesn’t sign, whatever the Red Sox offer him will be enough to land Werth. A more expensive alternative is Carl Crawford. As great as he is, there is some doubt about him, as he will want a long-term deal, and since most of his offense derives from his speed, it is a possibility that his decline would be sharper than most players.

Werth’s career OBP is 30 points higher than Crawford’s, and he has more power. Conversely, Crawford is a better fielder, and certainly better in left. Werth is more suited to playing in right, but with Drew there, he would have to switch to play in front of the Green Monster. He has played more than 200 games in LF, so it’s not out of the discussion.

Also, it is unlikely that the Red Sox would have two of the game’s best stolen base threats on the team. That’s not to say it wouldn’t work, but if Ells is still with the team, Werth will make the most sense to the front office.

Designated Hitter

David Ortiz once again struggled in April. Once again, he bounced back. 2010 saw him put together his first 30-100 season since 2007 and a wOBA 40 points higher than the year before. He has a club option for $12.5 million. The Red Sox should pick it up. Papi won’t be happy, but it’s the safest road to go down.

Boston would probably be fine with giving him a two-year deal, but he will be looking for more. When you start talking about still having Ortiz in 2013 and beyond, you start getting worried about how he’ll hold together.

Ortiz struggles mightily against left-handed pitching, but if the Red Sox brought back Martinez, he could DH against lefties over Papi, and Salty or Varitek could be behind the plate.

Starting rotation

The top of the rotation is set for the next three years. Buchholz, Lester, Lackey, Beckett all have their contracts sorted. One could argue that the latter two should be making the salaries of the former pair, and vice versa, but it’s beside the point.

As for the fifth guy, the Red Sox have Daisuke Matsuzaka, who pitched increasingly well towards the end of the year. Don’t be surprised if they traded him, however. He could be very attractive as a trading chip as part of a package. He is only making $8 million, and that’s not bad money for a guy with a very big upside, even if his downside rears its head more often than one would like.

If they do trade him, Tim Wakefield could be the rotation’s No. 5. He had a bad year, yes, but he’s bounced back before and he can do it again.

Unlike most positions, the most interesting story coming from the starting pitching will not be free agent signings or trades. Rather, it will be whether or not Lackey and Beckett can live up to their huge contracts.

Bullpen and Closer

This is the biggest concern. When the Red Sox managed to claw their way into a lead late in a game, the bullpen would far too often choke it away.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon blew a career-high eight saves, and his ERA skyrocketed by more than two runs from the year before. This led to many calling for Daniel Bard to be moved into the closer’s role. Bard had a great season, posting a sub-2.00 ERA, but Terry Francona was right to keep him as the set-up guy.

Next year is a different matter. Bard may become the closer, but it’s unlikely. Papelbon will be a free agent after the 2011 season, and then he will probably be gone. Papelbon had a bad year, but he should rebound somewhat from it, even if he never again reaches the potential he showed early in his career. He’s not the main worry in the relief corps.

Scott Atchison did an admirable job, but when your team is reliant on him as often as Boston was, things are not as they should be. Many chastised Epstein for not getting a reliever at the trade deadline, but the asking prices were too high. It’s a different story in the offseason, so one would expect Epstein to be able to bring in new arms.

Boston would have been a competitive team in 2010 except for the injuries. There is a good chance the team will change drastically between now and Spring Training, but if things go well in the winter, the team could be set up nicely for a postseason run.

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Sometimes one reads an article that is so far from what one believes, it makes one scream and hastily hammer out an angry comment.

ESPN’s Bill Simmons wrote such an article today, about how the Boston Red Sox have been boring this year. Many things, he says, have contributed to this.

While I agree that the hangover from the Steroid Era and the length of games have added to a general decline in interest across the sport, I vehemently disagree with the charge that the Red Sox have been uninteresting.

Nota bene, I really like the Sports Guy, and in no way intend to rip or criticise one of the better writers at ESPN. I just think he is wrong on this, and was inspired to write this in response.

He said today “Quite simply [JD Drew]’s a boring player on a boring team during a fairly boring season.”

He’s wrong. Here’s why.

First off, I will concede that JD Drew can be an infuriating player at times. Not many people would decide literally five minutes before the game that they were not going to play because their leg was a bit sore. Also, not many would, when at bat, watch his teammate steal home plate (in your home stadium, against the New York Yankees) and not even crack a smile.

He doesn’t show emotion, he just goes about his business. His face wears the same nonchalant look when he hits a grand slam in the ALCS as it does when he strikes out looking. Again.

So, maybe he is dull. But who else on the 2010 Red Sox is? Adrian Beltré has taken it upon himself to take out as many of his fellow Sox as possible, and has carved out a niche in proposing to his home runs.

OK, the two players who made their Boston debut alongside him, Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro aren’t the most exciting or dramatic players.

Scutaro hasn’t been electrifying, but he has been vital as a leadoff guy since Jacoby Ellsbury was Beltréd on April 11.

Cameron has been poor—especially in the field, which has surprised most people, not least those who spent the offseason bleating about UZR.

Speaking of the outfield, some suggested before the season that the Red Sox re-sign Johnny Damon, and the outfield’s collapse has only reinforced their cries. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I would have tracked down Theo Epstein and battered him with sticks had he done that.

Victor Martinez, when he’s not nursing a broken thumb in the Sox’ favourite holiday spot, the DL, swings like a pendulum from “great hitter” to “I’m gonna throw my pitchers under the bus”.

Then there’s his backup, Jason Varitek. The captain’s injured, too, of course. But before he hurt his foot, he was one of this season’s better surprises. He may only have 105 plate appearances, but he has the highest slugging percentage of his career and had he continued at that level for the whole season, was on pace to reach a career-high in home runs.

His fellow veteran Big Papi is hitting—21 home runs, 64 RBIs, his highest wOBA since 2007—and is getting back to the status he enjoyed for so long in Boston: when he’s at the plate, you’re not leaving the sofa for another beer.

Those guys were the faces of the franchise for years, but these days, it’s Dustin Pedroia, and to a lesser extent Kevin Youkilis. Youk is on pace for career bests in OBP, SLG, wOBA and homers and perhaps most remarkably of all, he is still healthy. Touch wood.

As for Pedey, he has been what you expect. He plays every game like he’s a six-year-old being allowed out of the house for the first time in a month. He broke his foot, but that didn’t stop him taking grounders from his knees. He epitomises this year’s Red Sox. Scrappy, determined, and imbued with the just-won’t-die attitude of 2004.

The middle relief hasn’t been that boring, either. It’s just sucked.

At the back of the bullpen are Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon. Bard’s been as lights-out and blasé as a closer-in-waiting should be, but Pap has enjoyed a season-long game of the not at all boring How Close Can I Come to Blowing This One? It’s painful to watch, but it’s not dull.

But all of that pales in comparison to the people who have stepped up when the starters have gone down. Bill Hall has played left, centre, right, third, short, second and has even pitched a perfect inning.

Darnell McDonald had a game-tying home run and a walk-off single in his first game. Daniel Nava hit a grand slam on the first pitch of his Major League career.

They should be at Triple-A or in a platoon role on the Pirates, but they are largely responsible for Boston being just 5.5 games out of the Wild Card.

As for the season itself, it’s been exciting. Being stuck in third place all year has been difficult, but for the first time in a long time, the AL East is a race between three teams. It will never—it can never—mean as much or be as important as it did in 2004. Of course not.

But if one stops looking for that level of meaning behind the season, one can see that 2010 has been a damn good year so far. Five no-hitters, two perfect games, a player gunning for a Triple Crown, the Padres, Braves, Reds, and Rangers being in first place attest to that.

The 2010 Red Sox have been at times painfully mediocre, often exasperating and always injured. But they have at no point been boring, regardless of what anyone on the LeBron Network says.

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Ken Griffey, Jr. retired earlier this year. He was in the midst of the worst season of his career, failing to hit any of his career 630 home runs in 2010. Still he will go down in history as one of the greatest sluggers the game of baseball has ever seen.

But he left the game with one major accomplishment missing from his resume: a World Series ring.

And he’s not the only great player to retire without winning it all. Here are 10 of the best players ever to play the game of baseball without winning the World Series.

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Before voting for this year’s MLB All-Star Game, the Boston Red Sox were batting 1.000 in the Final Vote. Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, and Hideki Okajima have all appeared on the ballot and all three made the team.

This year, the run came to an end. Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis lost out to Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher in his bid for a third straight All-Star appearance and will not fly to Anaheim for the Midsummer Classic. But he should be making that trip.

It was the closest result in the nine-year history of the Final Vote, but that will be of little consolation to Youk. Regardless of the method by which one quantifies baseball, he should have won.

For the sake of this argument, let’s take out Michael and Delmon Young and Paul Konerko.

We’ll start by taking a look at the basic, old-fashioned baseball statistics. Thankfully, both have appeared in almost the same number of games (Youk 81, Swisher 79), making the comparison easier.

Swisher has a slight edge in batting average. His .298 is six points higher than Youkilis’. He also leads in hits and singles, trails by one in doubles and by two in triples. That’s where it starts to go downhill for the Yankee.

Youkilis has slugged 17 home runs, three more than Swisher. He has 14 more runs, seven more RBIs, 16 more walks, and 16 fewer strikeouts. His OBP is 33 points higher and his slugging percentage is 56 points higher.

How do they compare if you’re a fan of sabermetrics? Youkilis is better in:

Isolated power, runs created, runs above average, weighted on base average, home run to fly ball ratio, win percent added, RE24, every contact stat, runs above replacement, wins above replacement, and UZR.

Swisher leads in line drive percentage.

How important is overall value to the team? Youk wins there, too, since he’s one of only four Red Sox starters still healthy (although perhaps not for much longer; he left the game two days ago with ankle spasms). Take Swisher out of the Yankees lineup, and they’re still winning the AL East.

It doesn’t matter how you compare them. The fact is that Kevin Youkilis is having the better season. And it isn’t even that close. Swisher is having an above-average year by his standards, but that shouldn’t be enough. In this annual popularity contest, the most-followed baseball player on Twitter won. The public got it wrong.

On the National League side of things, however, the public got it right.

It was a cake walk for Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who eased into the All-Star Game with almost 14 million votes. That’s five million more than Swisher.

That righted what could have been the biggest wrong in ASG history. Votto is having an MVP-caliber season. Not to have him in Anaheim would have been a travesty.

The voters gave Votto the recognition he deserved at the second time of asking. There was no such reward for Youkilis.

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Here are two MLB players, A and B, and their numbers through the first half of the season:

A is batting .311 in 56 games, with one home run, 22 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases. He has a .343 OBP and a .378 SLG, giving him a .721 OPS.

B is batting .312 in 77 games, with 19 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases. He has a .412 OBP and a .572 SLG, giving him a .984 OPS.

Now, say you have to select one of them for the All-Star Game. Given that you have a starter at both A and B’s respective positions and are only selecting a late-game substitute to play two innings, who do you pick?

Hands up all of you who picked player B.

You are all wrong.

Player A is Omar Infante. Player B is Joey Votto. Infante is an All-Star. Votto is not.

Votto’s on base streak is at 40 games. He’s tied with Albert Pujols for the NL lead in home runs. He leads the league in OPS. He is in the top five in each Triple Crown category. If the season ended today, he’s in the Most Valuable Player discussion.

But, of course, he’s not an All-Star. That makes a whole lot of sense.

He’s not the only snub, either.

Felix Hernandez leads the league in innings pitched, is tied for first in quality starts, is third in strikeouts, and has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last nine starts.

Billy Wagner leads all NL closers in WHIP and opponent OPS. He was passed over in favor of Matt Capps. Wagner has allowed 19 hits in 33.2 innings pitched. Capps has allowed 44 in 36.2.

Josh Willingham is third in the league in OBP, second in walks, and has 15 home runs.

Miguel Olivo should be there, not just because of his offense, but his defense too. He has thrown out over half of all would-be base stealers this year (20 of 39). He also leads all NL catchers in BA, SLG, OPS, and HR.

He’s not there. Neither are Jayson Werth, Jaime Garcia, Andy Pettite, Magglio Ordonez, or Colby Rasmus.

I will, however, compliment the players and managers on not voting in Stephen Strasburg. That would have been one of the most ludicrous All-Star selections in recent years. Yes, he’s been every bit as awesome as everyone initially thought, and then some. But he still hadn’t thrown a pitch when everyone else had already been playing for two months.

Also, the fact that there are pitchers who are neither starters nor closers is to be applauded. Relievers Evan Meek, Arthur Rhodes, and Matt Thornton will all go to Anaheim. And that’s good, because this game matters.

Of course, the winner of the Midsummer Classic wins home field advantage for the World Series. I don’t like it, but I’m not going to open that particular can of beans right now. The principal thing is this:

Along with celebrities playing softball and players trying to hit a MasterCard sign 450 feet away, there is an important game to be played.

You should definitely be there. It’s a shame that some of this year’s best players won’t be.

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