All-Star Ballot - 2022 Cancer Season
With a stolen US Supreme Court handing down a bullshit decision on Friday, setting back reproductive rights in this country by 50 years, it’s been one of the worst Cancer seasons in recent memory. After a weekend of protesting, marching, and donating to abortion funds, I’m taking a moment to appreciate one of the perennial treats of Cancer season: MLB All-Star Voting.
As you may imagine, I use my fantasy point system to evaluate players, even in real-life situations. And since I already built out Fantasy Astrology lineups as of the start of Cancer season (6/21), I’m just going to use those point totals to determine my ballot, rather than re-calculate points one week later. I’ll show you those point totals a little later, but below is a screenshot of my ballot, complete with headshots and traditional stats.
Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez (1,260 points / 21.0 points-per-game) was the top-scoring (dedicated) batter as of the start of Cancer season, so I feel justified taking him with my first draft pick in my real-life fantasy league. J-Ram’s excellence, combined with the top NL first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (1,221 / 18.5) and the top-scoring (dedicated) pitcher Sandy Alcantara (1,275 / 91.1), are big reasons why Virgo emerged as the best among all Negative Polarity signs so far. But surprisingly, fellow Earth sign Taurus is right on their heels, thanks to top-scoring AL outfielder Aaron Judge (1,236 / 19.0).
There’s a good chance that Virgo could be heading to the top overall spot, since the top two players on the previous leader - Libra - are both currently injured. Defending MVP Bryce Harper (1,137 / 19.0) got my vote as the NL DH, despite both a UCL injury that has kept him from playing in the outfield AND a fractured thumb. And Mookie Betts (1,031 / 17.2) should earn another outfield spot, despite being on the IL for a cracked rib. It’s obviously been my All-Star voting policy to ignore injuries and let the replacement chips fall where they may.
Red = American League
Blue = National League
For the above chart, the positions in parenthesis represent additional spots where players qualify for fantasy purposes, even though you’re not allowed to vote for them at those positions. For example, even though Yordan Alvarez (1,003 / 17.0) has played 30 games in left field (compared to 34 as DH) in 2022, the Cancer Crabs slugger (and another member of my real-life fantasy team) was only on the ballot as designated hitter. In a curious move, Taurus super utility player Tommy Edman (954 / 14.5) is listed as a shortstop on the ballot, even though he has a ratio of 48 games at second base to 32 games at shortstop. That puts him behind another Cancer Trea Turner (985 / 15.2), who incidentally also has holdover second base eligibility thanks to last season.
Until next time, stay in those streets, and never stop fighting for your rights!