And what’s worse? The fans got the vote wrong.
Here are a few stats that show why Youkilis is simply a much better all-around player than Swisher.
.080: Difference between Youkilis’ OPS (.981) and Swisher’s OPS (.901). A player’s OPS is a simple statistic that combines his slugging percentage and on-base percentage to form a more telling offensive number.
8.6: Difference between Youkilis’ RC (68.9) and Swisher’s RC (60.3). RC, or "runs created," is a sabermetric stat used to determine the amount of runs a player actually contributes to his team.
.40: Difference between Youkilis’ walk-to-strikeout ratio (0.93) and Swisher’s walk-to-strikeout ratio (0.53). Youkilis, who has walked 51 times and struck out 55, ranks eighth in the AL in that statistic, while Swisher, who has only walked 37 times while striking out 70, doesn’t even crack the top 40.
.20: Difference between Youkilis’ pitches per plate appearance (4.29) and Swisher’s pitches per plate appearance (4.09). Youkilis ranks sixth in the AL, while Swisher ranks 19th. Bottom line, Youkilis makes pitchers work harder.
5: Difference between Youkilis’ major league rank in first basemen zone ratings and Swisher’s rank among major league right fielders. Zone rating is a stat used to determine how much ground a fielder covers. Youkilis was sixth among first baseman, while Swisher was the 11th-best right fielder. Simply put, Youkilis has a better glove.
7.4 million: Difference in the amount of people that live in New York City (eight million) as opposed to Boston (600,000). Consequently, when Swisher beat Youkilis in the closest All-Star Game Final Vote ever, it was Youkilis who actually got a greater percentage of local fans to vote. Swisher only made the All-Star roster because he plays in New York.
