[Makonnen]

July 2nd

We'll preview the All Star selections, so this will be a bit of a longer entry.

#Awards

Lots of awards, as we moved into a new month!

First, the smaller ones. Houston's Jeff Bagwell was the National League Player of the Week, hitting .409 with 5 homeruns while Eric Davis of the juggernaut New York Black Yankees was the American League Player of the Week, hitting .481 with 5 homers in the same span.

In the monthly awards, the American League Rookie of the Month for June was San Francisco's Turkey Stearnes, who hit .378 with 11 homeruns in the month.

Kansas City's A. Rube Foster was both the National League Rookie of the Month and the NL Pitcher of the Month, going 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA, as the young hurler announced himself as, at least so far, a premier WBL starter. The American League Pitcher of the Month was Bump Hadley, Stearnes' teammate in San Francisco. Hadley was 5-0 in June with a 2.66 ERA.

Ottawa's star backstop, Gary Carter, was the National League Batter of the Month, hitting .397 with 14 homeruns in June while in the American League, unsurprisingly, the award went to the stellar Ty Cobb. The Detroit OF hit .408 with 11 homers in June, which actually brought his overall average down in that span (Cobb is leading the WBL in BA at .418).

#Team Performance

Yawn.

The Black Yankees and the Sea Lions continue to be the 2 best teams in the league, leading their divisions by 5 and 11 games respectively.

The Effa Manley Division might offer some excitement in the second half, as Brooklyn still leads Homestead by 4 and the New York Gothams by 5.5. But the only true race is in the Marvin Miller Division, where Kansas City has overtaken Indianapolis, now leading the ABC's by 2.5 games.

The Houston Colt 45's are 8-2 over their last 10 games, but still sit 5 games under .500. Detroit and Philadelphia are moving in the other direction, with each team managing only 2 wins in their last 10 contests.

Birmingham still has the worst record in the league, but they have moved over .400, sitting at .410 (34-49).

#Player Performance

Batters

It's still Ty Cobb's world, although Babe Ruth is doing Babe Ruth things, and reached the 40 homerun plateau during the last week.

José Canseco (MCG). 254/375/734. 36 HR.
Oscar Charleston (IND). 336/386/642. 103 H, 9 3B.
Ty Cobb (DET). 416/464/885. 116 H, 37 2B, 8 3B, 5.8 WAR.
Josh Gibson (HOM). 392/481/748. 5.1 WAR.
Tony Gwynn (HOU). 389/425/601. 116 H.
Pete Hill (HOU). 291/371/487. 10 3B.
Joe Jackson (CAG). 356/398/588. 103 H, 39 2B.
Stan Musial (KCM). 329/392/573. 37 2B.
Babe Ruth (NYY). 292/426/775. 40 HR, 90 RBI, 82 R, 68 BB, 5.0 WAR.
Larry Walker (OTT). 293/369/721. 36 HR, 85 RBI.

Rickey Henderson (San Francisco) and Tim Raines (Ottawa) continue to be 1-2 in the league in steals, but it's getting closer, with Henderson's edge now 60 to 53.

Pitchers

Starters

While his performance has been somewhat below par, the New York Gothams' Christy Mathewson continues to be definition of workhorse, leading the WBL with 20 starts, 2 ahead of a bevy of hurlers with 18.

7 pitchers have reached double-digits in wins, with Luis Padrón (Indianapolis) leading the way at 11-2. All 7 are included below. Houston's Toad Ramsey was so dominant for so long, he is still the top starter in the league despite a recent dip in form, but I would probably choose Lefty Grove of San Francisco or the emergent A. Rube Foster.

Frank Castillo (KCM). 10-1, 4.22.
A. Rube Foster (KCM). 5-1, 2.30. .203 BABIP, 0.98 WHIP, 3.70 FIP.
Lefty Grove (SFS). 10-4, 3.71. 126 IP, 132 K, 3.1 WAR.
Ron Guidry (NYY). 8-4, 3.86. 143 K, 3.80 FIP, 3.2 WAR.
Bump Hadley (SFS). 11-4, 4.21, 3.50 FIP, 3.0 WAR.
Orel Hershiser (BRK). 10-4, 3.87.
Luis Padrón (IND). 11-2, 4.21. 3.57 FIP, 3.3 WAR.
Eddie Plank (SFS). 11-3, 3.54.
Toad Ramsey (HOU). 11-4, 2.77. 124 IP, 152 K, 0.89 WHIP, 2.80 FIP, 5.2 WAR.
Ed Walsh (CAG). 6-3, 3.41. 1 Sv, .201 BABIP.
Smokey Joe Williams (BRK). 7-7, 3.41. 3.66 FIP, 3.4 WAR.

Relievers

We've listed the top 3 leaders in saves, all 5 of the relievers who have reached double digits in Holds, as well as all 5 with an ERA below 2.00.

18 IP minimum.

Rod Beck (SFS). 3-2, 3.47. 21 Sv.
Rheal Cormier (NYY). 0-2, 6.03. 11 H.
Eric Gagne (BRK). 1-1, 2.92. 19 Sv.
Ken Howell (SFS). 4-1, 1.72. 1 Sv, 4 H.
Michael Jackson (HOM). 1-4, 4.13. 1 Sv, 10 H.
Brad Kilby (PHI). 1-2, 4.39. 2 Sv, 10 H.
Craig Kimbrel (KCM). 2-1, 1.14. 2 Sv, 11 H.
Josh Lindblom (HOM). 4-2, 3.45. 20 Sv.
Rob Murphy (IND). 1-3, 3.75. 1 Sv, 11 H.
Robb Nen (NYG). 3-2, 1.95. 9 Sv, 6 H.
Ron Robinson (SFS). 1-0, 1.64. 3 Sv, 3 H.
BJ Ryan (OTT). 1-2, 4.15. 1 Sv, 10 H.
Harley Young (BBB). 1-0, 1.23. 3 Sv, 5 H.

#Injury Report

Portland lost half of their backstop platoon as AJ Pierzynski will be out for close to a month. News was worse for Ottawa, as SP Bob Moose is out for close to a year.

Houston's Casey Stengel and Kansas City's Lou Brock are awaiting diagnosis on their current injuries.

Baltimore's Bobby Wallace, Detroit's Billy Hoeft, and the Black Yankees' Dave Righetti should all begin rehab assignments this week.

#The All Star Candidates

We'll look at these by position, mixing the two leagues for the time being.

For each position, we've included as many players as it takes to have at least 3-4 candidates from each league, highlighting some pretty severe disparities in talent between the AL and the NL.

If players don't qualify for the batting stats, their playing time is noted, as are some other potentially influencing factors. This indicates a leader at that position among the players listed (but not necessarily overall).

Each league can only select 32 players for the All Star Game itself (usually 20 or 21 position players and 11 or 12 pitchers), so quite a few of the players listed here will be left on the outside looking in.

{ Tables are easier to parse on the website: https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/2025/01/27/...ear-2-week-14/ }

#C

The NL dominates here, with 3 catchers with an OPS over 1.000. That means some worthy candidates--most notably NYG's Buster Posey --are likely to miss out.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Josh Gibson  HOM / NL  1.229  5.1 WAR; 67 RBI  3.1 FRM  
 Gary Carter  OTT /NL  1.073  28 HR  47.1 RTO%  
 Mike Piazza  BRK / NL  1.042  29 HR; 65 RBI  4.87 CERA  
 Ed Bailey  DET / AL  .972    57 G/216 PA; 43.6 RTO%  
 Jim Pagliaroni  BBB / NL  .925    61 G/231 PA  
 Mickey Cochrane  SFS / AL  .917    10 SB; 4.39 CERA  
 Ted Simmons  KCM / NL  .900    63 G/256 PA; 4.15 CERA  
 Buster Posey  NYG / NL  .870    3.8 FRM  
 Joe Mauer  POR / AL  .856    14 SB  
 Curt Blefary  BAL /AL  .826      
 Carlton Fisk  CAG / AL  .800    67 G/254 PA; 11 SB
 FRM=Framing Runs | RTO%=Runners Thrown Out | CERA=Catcher ERA

The other stalwart defensive catchers--Miami's Iván Rodríguez and Indianapolis' Johnny Bench--just haven't hit enough, although a late surge by Bench has moved him up these lists.

I don't think there is any question in the NL, where it's Gibson, Carter, and Piazza. Cochrane and Mauer should be in for the AL, with a question of whether you go with Bailey's bat in more limited appearances or Blefary. Should the NL decide to carry 4 backstops, the choice between Pagliaroni and Simmons (and, perhaps, Posey) is close.

Gibson and Cochrane should be the starters.

#1B

The AL has a slight edge here, but there's a lot of talent throughout.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Lou Gehrig  NYY / AL  1.057  28 HR; 21 2B; 65 RBI  .995 Fldg  
 Will Clark  NYG / NL  1.006      
 Frank Thomas  CAG / AL  1.004      
 Hank Greenberg  DET / AL  .991  26 HR  .998 Fldg; 3.1 ZR  
 Mike Epstein  HOM / NL  .965      
 Anthony Rizzo  HOD / NL  .964      
 Lance Berkman  CLE / AL  .957      
 Jim Thome  MCG / AL  .927  28 HR; 64 RBI    
 Jeff Bagwell  HOU / NL  .923  66 RBI  .995 Fldg  
 Boog Powell  KCM / NL  .920    .995 Fldg; 9.23 RF; 2.9 ZR
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

Gehrig and Clark are almost certainly the starters, and the AL will likely take Thomas and Greenberg as well. In the NL, it gets a little trickier, as Powell (along with Greenberg) is one of the better 1B defensively. Epstein's offense will carry him, but after that my guess is Rizzo gets the selection (but cannot participate via injury), and is replaced by Powell, with Bagwell having a legitimate complaint.

#2B

The NL is ridiculously stacked in terms of offensive-minded 2B.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Joe Morgan  IND / NL  1.088    47 G/199 PA  
 Roberto Alomar  OTT/ NL  1.008  21 2B; 18 HR; 64 RBI; 31 SB; 3.5 WAR    
 Ryne Sandberg  HOD / NL  .995  28 HR; 60 RBI; 2.9 WAR  .997 Fldg; 5.00 RF  
 Jackie Robinson  BRK / NL  .938      
 Rogers Hornsby  POR / AL  .919    53 G/234 PA  
 Charlie Gehringer  DET / AL  .876    57 G/225 PA; .989 Fldg; 5.09 RF  
 Eddie Collins  CAG / AL  .850  36 SB    
 Bobby Grich  LAA / AL  .845  15 HR    
 Craig Biggio  HOU / NL  .841      
 Chase Utley  PHI / NL  .781    4.92 RF; 9.3 ZR  
 Cookie Rojas  MCG / AL  .766  27 2B  .987 Fldg
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

Joe Morgan is included just for interest--he missed too much time to injury to warrant serious consideration. Detroit's Charlie Gehringer, on the other hand, probably makes the cut, despite starting the season in the minors.

In the NL, it's pretty clear: Alomar, Sandberg, and Robinson, with the starter being decided between Sandberg and Alomar over the next week. The AL is trickier, but I think it ends up going according to form: Eddie Collins to start, with Gehringer and Hornsby behind him.

#SS

It's pretty impressive there are this many shortstops that can hit, and Ernie Banks' production is incredible.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Ernie Banks  HOD/ NL  .978  30 HR; 71 RBI    
 Cal Ripken, Jr.  BAL / AL  .967    39 G/140 PA; .993 Fldg; 4.90 RF  
 Carlos Correa  HOU/ NL  .929  18 2B; 2.8 WAR    
 Arky Vaughan  CLE / AL  .887  19 2B; 2.4 WAR  6.3 ZR  
 Álex Rodríguez  OTT / NL  .885  23 HR    
 Robin Yount  MCG / AL  .845  15 HR  5.8 ZR  
 Jim Fregosi  POR / AL  .793      
 Dick Lundy  SFS / AL  .783  7 3B; 2.1 WAR; 33 SB    
 Derek Jeter  NYY / AL  .762      
 Dobie Moore  MEM / AL  .750  22 SB  .983 Fldg  
 Ozzie Smith  KCM / NL  .672  19 2B; 25 SB  .994 Fldg; 6.3 ZR
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

Ripken, Jr. is really not a serious contender, but he has been impressive in the 40 G's he's played. That gives us Banks, Correa, and Rodríguez in the NL and Vaughan, Yount, and either Fregosi or Lundy in the AL.

Smith is included because of his superlative defense, but doesn't probably make the cut.

This is an interesting position: Vaughan and Rodríguez changed teams in the off season, and Correa's performance has been a bit of a shock.

#3B

The top 5 are locks, beyond that, it gets much trickier, especially in the NL.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Albert Pujols  KCM / NL  1.046  32 2B; 60 RBI; 2.8 WAR    
 Ron Cey  BRK / NL  .967  2.4 WAR  .976 Fldg; 3.3 ZR  
 Gary Sheffield  MCG/ AL  .929  22 HR; 55 RBI; 15 SB    
 Evan Longoria  CLE / AL  .926    2.2 ZR  
 Mike Schmidt  NYY / AL  .926  23 HR; 55 RBI  2.59 RF  
 Scott Rolen  PHI / NL  .922  2.1 WAR  .974 Fldg; 2.7 ZR  
 Ron Santo  HOD /NL  .906    52 G/192 PA  
 Eddie Mathews  BBB / NL  .904  24 HR  .978 Fldg; 2.66 RF  
 Wade Boggs  MEM / AL  .896  26 2B
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

After Pujols and Cey, it's hard in the NL. Matthews and Rolen edge ahead of Santo due to defense and Santo's relative low usage, but picking between the two of them is very challenging, to the point the NL may go with 4 players at the hot corner.

#OF

All of the OF spots are a bit combined in the end, but we're keeping them separate for the sake of comparison.

#LF

When Detroit's Ty Cobb plays the OF, he plays here as well, making the AL selections pretty simple.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Babe Ruth  NYY / AL  1.201  40 HR; 90 RBI; 5.0 WAR  .988 Fldg; 5.1 ZR  
 Ted Williams  MEM / AL  1.063  23 2B; 65 RBI    
 Frank Robinson  BAL / AL  1.035  24 HR; 64 RBI; 2.3 WAR  1.000 Fldg  
 Adam Dunn  IND / NL  .906  24 HR  .989 Fldg; 3.41 RF  
 Roy White  BRK / NL  .866      
 Oscar Gamble  DET / AL  .852      
 Rickey Henderson  SFS / AL  .840  2.8 WAR; 60 SB  7.2 ZR  
 Tim Raines  OTT / NL  .773  7 3B; 53 SB 
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

So, Ruth, Williams, and Robinson are in, and perhaps Henderson's 60+ SB warrant a spot. In the NL, it's more challenging. Dunn seems to be a lock, and White is a bit of a sentimental choice. It may be just those 2 from this group.

#CF

Tris Speaker, as despicable of a human being as he is, is the best in the AL right now, especially considering the defensive contribution. Over in the NL, Willie Mays probably edges Oscar Charleston as the starter.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Rick Monday  OTT /NL  1.172    41 G/136 PA  
 Tris Speaker  CLE / AL  1.088  31 2B; 4.0 WAR  2.68 RF; 5.1 ZR; 6 Kills  
 Turkey Stearnes  SFS / AL  1.065  7 3B; 24 HR    
 Eric Davis  NYY / AL  1.058  26 SB  41 G/188 PA; 1.000 Fldg  
 Julio Rodríguez  MCG / AL  1.052    39 G/177 PA  
 Oscar Charleston  IND / NL  1.027  9 3B; 60 RBI; 24 SB    
 Willie Mays  NYG / NL  .977  31 HR; 62 RBI; 2.9 WAR  .990 Fldg; 2.70 RF; 7.7 ZR  
 Mike Trout  LAA / AL  .965  24 2B; 2.8 WAR; 21 SB  1.000 Fldg  
 Carlos Beltrán  OTT / NL  .916  63 RBI; 21 SB    
 Alejandro Oms  MCG / AL  .883  5 3B  6.3 ZR  
 Curtis Granderson  BBB / NL  .876  26 HR  3.01 RF
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

Monday, Davis, and Rodríguez aren't really in contention, but their performances in limited action have been pretty spectacular.

Speaker, Stearnes, and Trout are pretty much locks in the AL, with Oms being a hard luck case. Beltrán deserves the spot behind Mays and Charleston.

#RF

A deep, deep group, probably 4 deep in each league.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 José Canseco  MCG / AL  1.109  36 HR    
 Larry Walker  OTT / NL  1.090  36 HR; 85 RBI; 22.4 WAR  3.89 RF  
 Reggie Jackson  SFS / AL  1.027  63 RBI; 2.8 WAR; 24 SB    
 Tony Gwynn  HOU / NL  1.026  6 3B; 24 2B; 2.8 WAR    
 Aaron Judge  PHI / NL  .994    .992 Fldg  
 Mickey Mantle  NYY / AL  .993  30 HR; 76 RBI    
 Joe Jackson  CAG /AL  .986  39 2B; 27 SB    
 Stan Musial  KCM / NL  .964  37 2B  5.5 ZR  
 Johnny Callison  NYG / NL  .945    .993 Fldg  
 Mookie Betts  MEM / AL  .865  24 2B  1.000 Fldg
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

Canseco, Mantle, and the 2 Jacksons seem locks in the AL, with Walker, Gwynn, and Judge in the NL. It's possible Musial misses the cut, as ridiculous as that sounds.

#DH

The pressure here is immense, given the competition for the other OF spots.

 Name  Tm / Lg  OPS  Reg Stats  Other  
 Ty Cobb  DET / AL  1.350  37 2B; 8 3B; 26 HR; 73 RBI; 5.8 WAR; 31 SB    
 Kal Daniels  LAA / AL  1.023  21 2B; 2.3 WAR; 30 SB    
 Manny Ramírez  MEM / AL  .986    56 G/224 PA  
 Ryan Braun  MCG/ AL  .982  31 HR    
 Willie Stargell  HOM / NL  .980  27 HR    
 Gavvy Cravath  BAL / AL  .926  22 2B; 69 RBI    
 Benny Kauff  NYG / NL  .909 
 Fldg=Fielding % | RF=Range Factor | ZR=Zone Rating

Cobb is, of course, a lock, and it would be hard to keep Daniels off the roster. Beyond that, though, it gets difficult to justify a pure DH, although Braun, Stargell, and Cravath all have decent arguments.

#P

Pitching is, of course, a constant crapshoot, and a lot could change in the outings this week.

All pitchers are sorted by ERA.

#SP

This list has everyone with an ERA under 4.00 or 10 or more wins.

 Name  Tm / Lg  W-L; ERA  Reg Stats  Other  
 Toad Ramsey  HOU / NL  11-4, 2.77  152 K; 0.89 WHIP; 5.2 WAR; 2.80 FIP  71% QS; 5 CG; 2 SHO; 2.34 SIERA; 1.7 WPA  
 Doc Gooden  LAA / AL  7-5, 3.17      
 Hardie Henderson  PHI/ NL  9-6, 3.18      
 Smokey Joe Williams  BRK / NL  7-7, 3.41  3.4 WAR    
 Ed Walsh  CAG / AL  6-3, 3.41  1.06 WHIP    
 Eddie Plank  SFS / AL  11-3, 3.54      
 Roger Clemens  HOU / NL  9-4, 3.71    65% QS  
 Lefty Grove  SFS / AL  10-4, 3.71  132 K  4 CG; 3 SHO; 2.87 SIERA  
 Johnny Cueto  IND / NL  8-4, 3.75    67% QS  
 Rube Foster  IND / NL  6-4, 3.80      
 Ron Guidry  NYY / AL  8-4, 3.86  143 K  2.58 SIERA  
 Orel Hershiser  BRK / NL  10-4, 3.87      
 Brett Anderson  LAA / AL  7-2, 3.91  1.06 WHIP    
 Andy Pettitte  NYY / AL  9-5, 4.05      
 Bump Hadley  SFS / AL  11-4, 4.21  3.50 FIP    
 Luis Padrón  IND / NL  11-2, 4.21  3.3 WA; 3.57 FIP    
 Frank Castillo  KCM / NL  10-1, 4.22    3 CG; 2 SHO  
 José Méndez  MCG / AL  6-4, 4.45 
 FIP=Fielding Independent Pitching | QS=Quality Starts | SIERA=Skill Interactive ERA | WPA=Win Probability Added

Right now, I would guess the starting matchup is Toad Ramsey for the NL and Eddie Plank for the AL.

Beyond that, in the AL, I see Gooden, Walsh, and Grove as easy picks. Guidry is likely in as well, leaving Anderson and Hadley on the bubble.

The NL is much harder to figure out. Henderson, Hershiser, Padrón, and Castillo feel like they deserve selections, with Williams having a very strong case as well. That would leave some excellent performances--Clemens and Cueto especially--on the outside looking in.

#Swingmen / Long Relivers

These are players who are either swing starters or have seen more innings than the finishers below. As is often the case, there are a few folks here who, for whatever the reason, took a while to be inserted into the rotation.

 Name  Tm / Lg  W-L; ERA  Reg Stats  Other  
 A. Rube Foster  KCM/ NL  5-1, 2.30  0.98 WHIP  7 GS; 90 IP; 86% QS; 2 SHO; 1.0 WPA  
 Jim Whitney  BBB / NL  4-2, 3.26  1 Sv; 2 H; 1.03 WHIP  11 GS; 94 IP; 73% QS; 1.9 WPA  
 Tom Brewer  SFS / AL  0-1, 2.33  1 Sv; 2 H  2 GS; 27 IP  
 Fernando Valenzuela  BRK / NL  5-0, 2.37  1 Sv; 4 H; 0.96 WHIP  1 GS; 60 IP; 1.0 WPA  
 Rheal Cormier  NYY / AL  0-2, 6.03  11 H
 FIP=Fielding Independent Pitching | QS=Quality Starts | SIERA=Skill Interactive ERA | WPA=Win Probability Added

Foster and Valenzuela seem clear selections, with Brewer and Cormier missing the cut and Whitney being on the bubble.

#Closers & Setups

20 IP Minimum, with a possible exception for Brian Wilson of the New York Gothams.

 Name  Tm / Lg  W-L; ERA  Reg Stats  Other  
 Brian Wilson  NYG/ NL  1-0, 1.08  11 Sv  17 IP  
 Craig Kimbrel  KCM / NL  2-1, 1.14  2 Sv; 11 H; 0.89 WHIP  15 SD; 5.6 IRS%; 2.90 SIERA; 2.0 WPA  
 Harley Young  BBB / NL  1-0, 1.23  3 Sv; 5 H    
 Ron Robinson  SFS / AL  1-0, 1.64  3 Sv; 3 H    
 Ken Howell  SFS / AL  4-1, 1.72  1 Sv; 4 H    
 Robb Nen  NYG / NL  3-2, 1.95  9 Sv; 6 H    
 Eddie Guardado  KCM / NL  2-1, 2.08  1 Sv; 5 H  2.92 SIERA  
 Tug McGraw  HOU / NL  3-3, 2.16  7 Sv    
 Ross Reynolds  LAA / AL  2-0, 2.19  1 Sv; 1 H    
 Goose Gossage  NYY / AL  2-3, 2.32  9 Sv; 8 H  .90 Sv%  
 Lee Smith  HOD / NL  4-1, 2.73  5 Sv; 6 H; 0.73 WHIP    
 Eric Gagne  BRK / NL  1-1, 2.92  19 Sv  17 SD  
 Justin Hampson  BAL / AL  0-0, 3.00  7 H; 0.95 WHIP    
 Terry Adams  CLE / AL  1-2, 3.18  15 Sv; 2 H  .94 Sv%  
 Josh Lindblom  HOM / NL  4-2, 3.45  20 Sv  .95 Sv%; 16 SD; 1.3 WPA  
 Rod Beck  SFS / AL  3-2, 3.47  21 Sv; 0.73 WHIP  15 SD  
 Rob Murphy  IND / NL  1-3, 3.75  1 Sv; 11 H    
 Michael Jackson  HOM / NL  1-4, 4.13  1 Sv; 10 H    
 BJ Ryan  OTT / NL  1-2, 4.15  1 Sv; 10 H    
 Brad Kilby  PHI / NL  1-2, 4.39  2 Sv; 10 H  2.73 SIERA  
 Rob Dibble  IND / NL  2-2, 5.25  16 Sv    
 Jeff Pfeffer  KCM / NL  1-3, 5.61  16 Sv
 FIP=Fielding Independent Pitching | QS=Quality Starts | SIERA=Skill Interactive ERA | WPA=Win Probability Added

A difficult set of choices for sure. Of the true closers, Gagne, Lindblom, and Beck seem locks, with Kimbrel, Young, Howell, Nen, McGraw, Gossage, and Smith deserving nods as well.

That would give the NL 7 selections, likely keeping Wilson from making the team. It would also give the AL only 3, opening the door for Adams and even Reynolds or Hampson.