The Los Angeles Dodgers were the first team in the National League to reach 50 wins this season, currently hold the best record in the NL, have won 17 of their past 20 games, and only recently had a season-best 10-game winning streak snapped.
Yet, as it stands, the Dodgers won’t have a starter in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game. Their best-case scenario would be Corey Seager overtaking Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart prior to when voting closing at 8:59 p.m. PT on Thursday.
An update revealed Seager (2,151,923 votes) had narrowed the gap on Zack Cozart (2,260,205).
The prospect of the Dodgers not being represented by at least one starter in the All-Star Game flummoxed and agitated manager Dave Roberts.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “I like to do things that make sense. [Not having starters] doesn’t make sense. I really don’t know if it’s the fan voting, current player voting, I don’t know how that shakes out.
“What I do know is that we should have six players who are All-Stars. At the end of the day, when the All-Star break comes around, I would expect us to have six guys playing in the Midsummer Classic.”
Tuesday was not the first time Roberts voiced his displeasure with the current voting for the All-Star Game. He recently championed Seager as the best shortstop in baseball and deserving of a start at Marlins Park.
Roberts need not look far to find a comparison to his club. Last year, the Chicago Cubs were in a similar position as they too sat atop the standings. Though, the Cubs were represented in the All-Star Game by five starters, and seven players overall.
“How that’s not paralleled in any capacity is beside me,” Roberts said. “We’ll see how it plays out, there’s still some time. But, I am surprised.”
The Dodgers had Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw and Seager named to the NL roster last year as reserves. The trio figures to make the trip to Miami this year, and could — should — be joined by Justin Turner and Alex Wood.
