As the 2022 All-Star Game Rosters stand this year, the Chicago White Sox only have one all-star and that is starting shortstop, Tim Anderson. Tim is becoming one of the most iconic players in the MLB and he has had a very good season.
What was disappointing from the perspective of a White Sox fan was the snubbing of pitcher Dylan Cease and first baseman Jose Abreu.
Sure, the Chicago White Sox haven’t been having the greatest season but many worse teams have multiple all-stars including the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers who each have 2. The White Sox should have at least that many.
Dylan Cease has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, going 8-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 18 starts so far. Those are easily all-star numbers. He’s also second in the American League in strikeouts with 142. He ties Jose Abreu for the team lead in rWAR at 2.7, both higher than the Sox’s only all-star Tim Anderson.
Jose Abreu and Dylan Cease should be Chicago White Sox All-Stars this year.
Yet for some reason, neither Dylan Cease nor Jose Abreu was named to the all-star team this year. Cease is having a better season than several of the players that made it this year, including Gerrit Cole. The only thing Cole beats Cease at is popularity and playing for a better team. Despite playing for a better team, Cease has just as many wins (8) as Cole.
Jose Abreu has been having a fantastic season in his own right. After a slow start, he revived his season and has shown why this should not be his last year with the Chicago White Sox. The team should definitely bring him back for at least 2 more years.
Unfortunately, Abreu’s all-star snub is going to hurt his future Hall of Fame chances as Abreu is currently only a 3-time all-star. Each additional all-star appearance would really help his case as he really might have a case for the Hall.
Abreu leads all AL first basemen in FanGraphs WAR with his 2.9 leading the next best, Luis Arraez, at 2.3 fWAR. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was named the starting first baseman for the all-star game, is all the way down at 1.7 fWAR.
Ty France and Anthony Rizzo both would have been better options to start the game than Guerrero Jr. but the best option would be Abreu.
With the roster more reflecting a popularity contest than the actual best players, it’s going to be hard to cheer for the American League this year, especially considering the game doesn’t count.
Hopefully, the wrongs are righted and Dylan Cease and Jose Abreu get named to the team as replacements eventually.