The Chicago Cubs are having their best season since 2016 when they won the World Series for the first time in 108 years.
At 54-36, the Cubs have a four-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker and Matthew Boyd were selected to represent Chicago in the All-Star Game, but several deserving Cubs were left off the team.
Chad Jennings of The Athletic put together an All-Star All-Snub team, and it featured three Cubs players but could have included some pitchers as well.
First baseman Michael Busch, second baseman Nico Hoerner and designated hitter/outfielder Seiya Suzuki are having excellent seasons and should be playing in the Midsummer Classic.
“The fans picked Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman as the starter, the players voted Pete Alonso of the New York Mets as the backup,” wrote Jennings. “The league added the Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson, who happens to be the Major League leader in fWAR at the position.
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“It’s a great group, but it left no room for Busch, who’s fifth in the Majors — regardless of position — in wRC+.”
Busch, 27, is having a breakout season in his second season with the Cubs. He was solid last year, but he has played exceptionally well this year.
The lefty slugger is slashing .297/.384/.566 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI in 84 games.
“By fWAR, the second base starters should be Ketel Marte and Gleyber Torres (they are), and both Brendan Donovan and Jazz Chisholm Jr. should be backups (they are),” said Jennings. “But the Baseball Reference version of WAR says Hoerner, actually, has been the best second baseman in baseball this season. And, honestly, how has that guy not been an All-Star yet?”
Hoerner, 28, continues to play strong defense and hit for average as a Cub. His power numbers are probably what keeps him from being an All-Star, but that really shouldn’t matter given how valuable he is without power.
“Cubs outfielder and designated hitter Seiya Suzuki leads baseball in RBIs. Twenty years ago, that would have made him not only an All-Star, but also would have put him in the starting lineup (probably as the clean-up hitter).”
There’s just no good reason as to why the Major League Baseball leader in RBI with 25 home runs isn’t an All-Star.
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