OK, so the All-Star voting process is stupid. If you've been playing this for a while, that isn't news to you. Whine about it if you like; whatever.

I'd like, however, to also try and figure out exactly how the hell the All-Star selections are made. I'm going to list two guys - both from my own team - one of whom is an All-Star and the other who is not. If you have ideas why that may be so, please share them

Player A (RP)
52 Games
87.1 IP
5-2 W/L record
1/1 saves
1.85 ERA
1.13 WHIP
8.66 K/9
2.99 BB/9
.219 OAV

Player B (RP)
52 games
97.0 IP
19-0 record
1/1 saves
1.95 ERA
0.91 WHIP
9.46 K/9
2.32 BB/9
.182 OAV

If you want to know any other stats because you think they may play a role, just ask and I'll post them.

So, Player A is an All-Star, Player B is not. Ideas why that may be so?

ERA is the only stat that would support A over B.

And you've got an RP with a 19-0 record at the AS break? Holy crap, the 2-man rotation is really working huh?

yeah 19-0 is crazy , not only should he be an all star, but they probably shouldn't even bother with the cy young voting this season

Right this is hands down Player B....even throw out the 19-0 record...he has more IP, a better WHIP, K/9, BB/9, OAV and his ERA is only a tenth higher...B should have easily gotten it fwiw.

How many innings are true relief innings for player B? If you have him as tandem it might not concider him a relief pitcher.

Quote: Originally Posted By wafairb on 5/25/2010How many innings are true relief innings for player B? If you have him as tandem it might not concider him a relief pitcher

All of them. Both are Setup A pitchers.

How's this for an explanation:

You're 11 games past the All-Star game.

Since the All-Star game was played, player A has been shelled in his six appearances to the tune of 7 earned runs in 8 innings. Player B has pitched 11 scoreless.

I'm too tired to do the math, but it's pretty clear that at the time the All-Star game was played, player A had the better stats and was thus selected to the game.

The All-Star rosters don't change after the game is played.

Quote: Originally Posted By soxfan121 on 5/25/2010ERA is the only stat that would support A over B.

And you've got an RP with a 19-0 record at the AS break? Holy crap, the 2-man rotation is really working huh

Actually, now that I look we're a couple days past the AS break and I think we was 16-0 at that point, but the rate numbers are consistent.

And yea, the 2-man rotation seems to be holding up pretty well in 2 of my Worlds. The modified 3-man in my 3rd World is doing OK too. Not as good probably, but relative to the ratings and talent in the World it's close.

Quote: Originally Posted By tecwrg on 5/25/2010

How's this for an explanation:

You're 11 games past the All-Star game.

Since the All-Star game was played, player A has been shelled in his six appearances to the tune of 7 earned runs in 8 innings. Player B has pitched 11 scoreless.

I'm too tired to do the math, but it's pretty clear that at the time the All-Star game was played, player A had the better stats and was thus selected to the game.

The All-Star rosters don't change after the game is played.

Yea, had my Worlds mixed up and, unfortunately, I compared my guy to one on another team at the time of the AS game, not to the other on my team. Didn't want to bring any issue of favoratism in here. The guy on the other team had worse rate numbers across the board and fewer innings/games, but was 1-0 with 18/18 in saves instead of 16-0 with 1/1 in saves.

The easy explanation there, of course, is that saves weigh far far far more than wins for RP.

all-star and awards selections(especially the fireman award) are indeed horrid. i agree that the save statistic is WAY overrated in this game.

the fireman award is as it is in real life. that is 1 thing that is done correctly. in real life the fireman of the year is selected based off of a formula which gives every rp/closer a score which determines the winner. that is also how it is in hbd.

Quote: Originally Posted By sportsboy010 on 5/25/2010the fireman award is as it is in real life. that is 1 thing that is done correctly. in real life the fireman of the year is selected based off of a formula which gives every rp/closer a score which determines the winner. that is also how it is in hbd

The official fireman of the year award is Japanese. That which we often call the Fireman of the Year is actually the old Reliever of the Year from The Sporting News. That was voted on.

You're right, however, that the current Rolaids Relief Award is statistically-based, although whether the formula used is the "correct" one is certainly subject to debate since (even with the new creation of "tough saves") it does not reward ERA, WHIP, etc.

I do wonder whether HBD uses the same formula. I tend to doubt it, since (to the best of my knowledge) "tough saves" are not tracked in HBD.

FYI - Tough saves are used to determine points the Rolaids Relief Man Award. A "Tough Save" when a pitcher gets a save with the tying run on base. Also, if a reliever enters a game in a non-save situation and gives up the lead before being replaced, he will be assessed a two-point penalty (same as a blown save) but will not be charged with a blown save since the opportunity for a save did not exist.

Good point. They probably do not count that in.

Well tough saves were introduced in 2000. But I thought I read when HBD was started, that it was based on the year 1997. I'm sure I'm wrong but nonetheless it's there.