Cincinnati Reds deserve a second look for All Star Game consideration in 2017

The second tally of the All Star Game voting was released and the Cincinnati Reds are absent from the top of the National League.

The Cincinnati Reds are close to the Chicago Cubs in the standings, but far away in All Star votes.  Some fans said that the Cubs were at it again with the entire Cubs’ infield on pace to be voted onto the team when the first vote count for the All Star Game was released.  Yet, the national media keep saying that this is the best infield in baseball.

For the Reds the argument can be made for five players that they should at least be considered.  Currently the voters underappreciate the seasons of first baseman Joey Votto, shortstop Zack Cozart, and left fielder Adam Duvall in 2017.  Closer Raisel Iglesias and third baseman Eugenio Suarez may end up on the All Star bench as well.  This was predictable.

As Joey Votto has warmed up, he has solidified his place on the roster.  Paul Goldschmidt has had a slightly better season and Ryan Zimmerman made a run at the Triple Crown for the first two months of the season.  Anthony Rizzo winning the vote, however, could end up keeping one of the three off of the team.  In the second vote update Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy were in the lead on the right side of the infield.

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For his part Cozart is slowly catching up to Coery Seager as Addison Russell fell from first to third.  Cozart was third at the first check of the votes, but second at the most recent.  With Cozart leading as many categories on the Reds and among NL shortstops as Cozart is, he should be the starter without a doubt if he can keep it up,

Cincinnati Reds’ left fielder Adam Duvall is inching towards the top of the outfield vote getters too.

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Duvall moved up to 13th among the NL outfielders.  Duvall is neck and neck with New York Mets’ left fielder Michael Conforto as the NL pacesetters in home run among left fielders.  They are within two HRs of the NL leaders in Zimmerman, Miami Marlins’ first baseman Justin Bour, and Duvall’s teammate, Scott Schebler.

Suarez has a good chance at making the team, but All Star rules may catch up with him.  Right now, it appears that Arizona Diamondbacks’ third baseman Jake Lamb may be the only representative of his team.  If that happens, Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs and Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies are already shoo-ins. That will likely leave Suarez without a roster spot.

The numbers game may cost Iglesias his spot too.  He is only eighth in the NL in saves and fourth in the NL Central.  There is  only closer he has more saves than in the division.  That is Neftali Feliz of the NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers.  Of course, Fernando Rodney could make it as a reliever for Arizona.  That in turn could increase the chances that Suarez makes the team.

The best part about this conversation is that it is about how many rather than which one.  Last year, Duvall was a bit of a stretch to make the team.  Now the Reds have a plethora of options.

Next: Joey Votto is simply the best...Canadian ever!

Some fans will complain that there are better ways to pick the All Stars.  Some writers say a neutral formula is a better idea.  Until then, part of the fun is looking at what everyone else is thinking.