Minnesota Twins: In Defense of Nunez’ Selection
For whatever reason, the Minnesota Twins and Eduardo Nunez have come under fire regarding his selection to the All-Star Game. And it’s time for people to back off.
With the recent announcement of the American League and National League All-Star rosters, there has been a large amount of flack received by both managers for players included and excluded.
This has reignited the annual debate regarding whether Major League Baseball should continue with its rule of every team must be represented.
In what should be a surprise to no one, the Minnesota Twins’ Eduardo Nunez finds himself front and center of the controversy.
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If you find yourself interested in reading about it, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com wrote a story about how he feels it is unjust for a guy like Nunez to block a legitimate star such as Carlos Correa from being on the All-Star roster.
And yeah why should a guy who’s hitting just .265 with 13 home runs make the team over a guy who’s hitting literally over 50 points higher with 11 home runs?
If you didn’t catch that, the guy who is hitting 50 points higher with two less home runs is Nunez.
Ah yes, it seems crazy but the terrible, awful, no-good Minnesota Twins do feature someone who is actually doing better than Correa in a statistic.
Now, I’m not saying Nunez is a better shortstop than Correa, that’s crazy.
What I am saying is if the All-Star game is about who is playing the best by the time the Midseason has hit, then Nunez is no doubt an All-Star.
He has continued to play his heart out despite being on a team that has just 29 wins.
Again, he is hitting over 50 points higher than Correa and has just two less home runs. Where Correa really is beating Nunez is in the RBI department (52 to Nunez’ 36).
But if we’re really being technical, Correa is a middle-of-the-order guy whereas Nunez has been featured mostly as a leadoff hitter for the Minnesota Twins.
So what can I say? Yes, I am absolutely biased but if we are just going off the stats – the big ones not the WAR or any of the stuff managers who fill out the rosters probably really take into effect – than statistically, Nunez deserves the spot.
Again, I’m not saying he’s a better shortstop, that’s not the argument here. All I’m saying is Nunez is not the worst All-Star selection in the world like a lot of media outlets are making him out to be.
And truthfully, just because you are a big name doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be an All-Star every year.
Correa will no doubt get his time to shine at the Midsummer Classic. For guys like Nunez, this might be it.
They say the All-Star Game matters, so the rosters should feature all the big guns.
Well that is true, it does matter for postseason implications but for those who won’t be making the postseason, what truly matters are stories of players such as Nunez.
Stories of guys who have worked their tails off to get to this point and finally, when given the opportunity to play every day, takes advantage of it and finds himself at the All-Star Game.
And like it or not, that too is what makes baseball and the All-Star Game truly great.