By Jonathan Bedingham
Starters
SP Mike Davis (Cincinnati Reds)
In what is shaping up to be an outstanding year for the rookie, Davis has made the all-star game at the first attempt. An eighth overall pick in the 1995 draft, Davis made good progress through the minors and after some time working on his control in AAA made his debut in late 1997. While he took some time to adjust to major league play during his September cameo, Davis has been on fire since opening day of this year. He leads RLB in ERA for qualified pitchers and is the top WAR pitcher in the NL. A well-deserved spot for a potential future star of RLB.
SP Scott Ellis (San Franscisco Giants)
Initially a twentieth overall pick by the Rangers, Ellis declined his bonus and in a controversial move which spelt the end for draft bonuses, signed to the Giants for a large sum. Ellis quickly progressed to the majors and quickly rose to the top in spite of two all-star snubs in 91 and 92. Now back at the all-star game for the fourth time, the two-time Cy Young winner is having an excellent year. After two seasons where his playing time was limited by major injuries, Ellis is back on the pace that could earn him his third pitcher of the year crown. Ellis is a long-time star of the Giants rotation, and recently penned a big deal that will keep in in San Francisco for the rest of his career. Ellis has a top three ERA, a top 5 FIP and if he remains health, will be a big contender for end of season awards.
SP David Flores (Chicago Cubs)
The elder statesman on the team, David Flores has had a long career in the RLB after initially being drafted in 1981 by the Kansas Royals with the sixth overall pick. After a short period, he was traded to Colorado where he won a world series ring in 1988. Like a fine wine, Flores has grown into a fine pitcher in his maturity, and is currently enjoying the best years of his long career. A move to the Cubs in 1995 preceded back-to-back all-star appearances and Cy Young’s in 96 and 97. While not quite at the extraordinary level of last year, Flores has produced outstanding work again, with an astounding 133.2 innings pitched and is the second highest WAR pitcher in the NL. Flores is set to hit free agency at the end of the year but is giving his all for one last push for a Cubs World Series.
Jim Lawless (San Franscisco Giants)
Lawless’ return to the National League has been a successful one. A fifth overall pick by the padres in 1984, Lawless was quickly on the move to the Cubs where he had a number of uninspiring years. Lawless started 1992 in inspired form, and found himself shifted to a relief role in Washington. It was in this role, that Lawless built his career, and three all-star years were to follow. A big payday arrived in 1997, and with it, an expectation to produce as a fully-fledged starter. While Lawless had a respectable year, the star power was clearly missing and after a hot start to this year, he found himself traded back to the NL with the Giants. In this new environment, Lawless has flourished. His partnership with Kyle Pero has given him newfound confidence, and he sits sixth in the ERA standings and tenth in FIP. Lawless is currently vindicating the Giants aggressive move to trade for him and it will be fascinating to see whether or not this form is sustainable for him.
SP Johnny Lortie (Chicago Cubs)
After a controversial snub last year, Lortie has ensured he is impossible to ignore this time around, earning his first all-star appearance. The highest draft pick of any pitching all-star in the NL this year at three in 1996. Lortie was picked up by the White Sox but his debut would come 10 miles further north at Wrigley Field. Part of a blockbuster trade, Lortie made his way to the Cubs and despite never having pitched in a AAA game, would debut out of camp in 1997. An excellent rookie season followed and he placed second in Cy Young voting with many arguing he should have won it outright. A complete pitcher, Lortie leads the NL in FIP and is a runner up in ERA and WAR. A true contender for the pitcher of the year award, Lortie will be a crucial piece of Chicago’s world series bid this year.
SP John Ratza (Cincinnati Reds)
With his inaugural visit to the all-star game achieved, Ratza has defied many of his early expectations. Drafted in 1990, in the seventh round by the Rockies with the 186th overall pick, Ratza was initially viewed as a mediocre arm and there were doubts over his ability to make it to the majors at all. A move to Atlanta in a blockbuster deal for Danny Cervantes quickly followed, and in 1992, Ratza took a big step forward, demonstrating a ceiling much higher than initially seen. Atlanta handed him a debut late in the year but by opening day the next year, he found himself in Oakland. Initially poor, a return to the minors was in store but this was short lived, and in 1994 he finally delivered on his potential. Cincinnati was quick to snap him up, and a number of respectable years followed. This year he has reached a new level, and his ERA has plummeted, becoming the 4th best performer with the metric. While his journey to the all-star game has been far from routine, Ratza has earned his spot, and looks set for a career year.
Relievers
RP Steve Dominick (Philadelphia Phillies)
Another first time all-star, Dominick has finally reached the culmination of an unusual journey to the top. A reasonable regarded RP prospect, Dominick was drafted 95th overall by the Expos, but this would be the start of a long road to the majors. A strong start quickly faded into mediocrity in AAA and in 1988, he was drafted by the Spiders in the rule 5 draft. While initially promising a path to the majors, Dominick was returned before he could play a game, and spent another two years working away in AAA. An unexpected debut arrived in 1990 but he was never able to match the expectations set out for him, and in 1992 a move to the deserts of Arizona beckoned. This would turn into a blessing for Dominick and after a couple of years of problem solving, he hit his stride aged 31 in 1994. Four strong years would follow, and finally, after being picked up in free agency by the Phillies, Domenick has put together a start to be proud of. A hefty innings count and a tidy ERA have made him a reliable arm in the Phillies pen and with 11 saves to his name, he has shown a coolness under pressure that has made him the go to man.
RP Freddy Valdez (Arizona Diamondbacks)
One of the biggest shocks of the year, Valdez has come from nowhere to earn a nod for the big game. Discovered in the Dominican Republic in 1985 by the Oakland scouting team as a SP, Valdez was a long shot prospect, and with an infamously low work ethic and prankster personality, many wrote him off as a no name. Despite this, he began to attract some admirers and in 1988 earned a callup to the CAR team. Now a well-known prospect, Valdez bounced between a large number of minor league teams and in 1991 was a late pick in the expansion draft for the newly created Diamondbacks. Valdez took his chance and in 1993 was given a 1 inning scoreless debut but this would prove to be the peak for some time. Valdez slid into a slump and even a move to the pen seemed to be too much for him to handle. After an unsuccessful try out at starter in 1997, Valdez was on the ropes heading into this year but has surpassed even his wildest dreams. Valdez stuff has been much improved and his strikeout numbers have soared. With a strong FIP and ERA over a good volume of work, Valdez has saved his career, and in doing so, earned a spot at the all-star game.
RP Fernando Vasquez (San Franscisco Giants)
The Bared Wire has been set and has torn his competition to shreds. The young reliever from Pennsylvania with electric stuff drafted fifteenth in 1996 by the Royals. He spent the rest of the year tearing up the minors and in 1997 broke camp as a major part of the Royals bullpen. His rookie year was a strong one, albeit a little underwhelming for a pitcher of his reputation. With the Royals changing GMs in the offseason, Vasquez found himself traded to the reigning champions in San Francisco and has excelled there. A K% of 24 and an enormous 3.4 WPA give some indication as to the quality of Vasquez’s stuff and his 1.90 ERA and 2.90 FIP confirm what many feared; Vasquez is elite. At 22, do not expect this to be his last all-star nod.
CL Dave Arandia (Cincinnati Reds)
A more expected face from the pen, Arandia returns to the all-star game for the third time. A Cubs draftee, the tenth pick from the 1984 draft, Arandia showed promise right from the start. A regular all-star futures attendee but held back by poor control, Arandia found himself moved as part of a package for Mitch Bourne and packed his bags for Kansas. His debut came shortly after and after a hot start, he found himself an all-star in his rookie season but this would not be all. At the end of the season, he received the shock award of Relief Pitcher of the Year and the RLB had a new star on its hands. Colorado came calling soon after and Arandia quickly made his name as one of the most reliable relief pitchers in baseball. Following the departure of their long time GM, the Rockies traded Arandia to the Reds in the offseason, along with long time colleague Mike Plessner. Arandia has shown new life in Cincinnati and has become a familiar face to Reds fans in high leverage situations. With 22 saves, and a number of clutch appearances, Arandia has reminded the league of why he was considered the national leagues top RP all those years ago.
CL Bobby Britton (Chicago Cubs)
After a disappointing previous year, Britton is back with a vengeance. Britton was drafted 32nd in the second-round by the Mike Q of the Braves in 1983 but quickly established a first-round pedigree. Making his debut in 1985, Britton became an integral part of the Braves dynasty winning three rings and despite poor final years in 90 and 92, fans were shocked to see him traded to Colorado. His performance would pick up again with an all-star appearance in 94 and following another strong year in 95, he would reunite with GM Mike Q in Chicago. Now in his thirties, Britton has found a new gear and has found enormous success in limiting the long game giving up just 0.3 HR/9. An all-star nod has inevitably followed, and Britton will be a contender for the big prize of relief pitcher of the year if he can maintain his current performance levels.
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