The voting for the Major League Baseball 2016 All-Star Game ends June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. With less than one week left to vote, it is a true shame that Nolan Arenado, the best third basemen right now (and possibly ever), is not leading in voting for third base for the National League. As of June 22, Kris Bryant is leading Nolan Arenado by more than 500,000 votes. Look, I get it. Kris Bryant is on the Cubs and every casual fan who votes will probably just vote for anyone on the Cubs. But, Nolan Arenado is God’s gift to baseball and deserves to be voted into the All-Star Game. Don’t believe me? Here are a few reasons.
Gold Glove defense
Nolan Arenado is a vacuum at third base. Everything, and I mean everything, that is hit to third base is fielded and thrown to first. No matter how awesome Kris Bryant, or any other National League third baseman, is they can’t make these Gold Glove kind of plays. The All-Star Game is where the best of the best come to play. As a fan, wouldn’t you want to see the best of the best making web gems at the All-Star Game? If you want to see the best fielder in MLB at the All-Star Game, you better vote Nolan Arenado.
One error this season
The Colorado Rockies have played in 73 games this season. Nolan Arenado has played in 72 of them and in these 72 games he has one error. One error! This one error has led him to a .995 fielding percentage, which leads all third basemen in the MLB. Also, this error was not a ball through the legs or a ball thrown into the stands. No, he just didn’t cleanly field a throw that came from left field. As a comparison, Kris Bryant has five errors at third in only 44 games, and six errors over all. Wouldn’t you want the kind of consistency Nolan brings to hot corner for this year's All-Star Game?
Home run machine
Nolan Arenado is a home-run-hitting machine. Last season, he hit a career high 42 home runs, and so far this season, which is less than half over, he has hit a whopping 21 home runs, and is tied for first among all of Major League Baseball. Kris Bryant, the leader in votes for third base going into the final week of voting, hit 26 last season and has 18 so far this season. Respectable, but not as impressive as Nolan.
No Coors Field effect
Every baseball fan who doesn’t do their homework makes this ridiculous argument that players like Nolan Arenado only have these great stats because they play in the thin-aired Coors Field in Denver. Nolan Arenado has not been touched by the “Coors Field effect.” Last year, Arenado hit 20 home runs at Coors Field and 22 on the road. He literally hit more home runs on the road than at home.
Better stat line this season
Yeah, Arenado has hit more home runs, has less errors and has played in more games, but he also has the better overall stat line. Kris Bryant, the unworthy votes leader as of June 25, has a .268 average with 18 home runs, 50 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .361. Nolan Arenado, the deserving player who doesn’t have the votes, has a .299 average, with 21 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .379 on-base percentage.
Unlike other sports, the All-Star Game means something in MLB. The league that wins the All-Star Game earns more home games in the World Series. So, naturally, baseball fans, both passionate and casual, should want to see the absolute best players in this game, meaning Nolan Arenado should be voted in by fans. Period. He hits better, he fields better, and you didn’t hear it from me, but I heard that Kris Bryant got a B in gym. Is that the kind of player you want playing in this years All-Star Game over home run hitter Nolan Arenado?
Do yourself and all baseball fans a favor and vote for Nolan Arenado to play in this year’s All-Star Game. Voting ends June 30. Just follow this link and vote with every email you have, because I know you have more than one.
