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You have to be carefull when using situational stats. They have a small sample size and generally vary greatly from year to year. As you increase the sample size over a few years, the numbers converge to reflect a player's career stats.
Both of them only have 48 AB in a 2 out RISP situation. That's not enough data to make a strong case. If you expand it to RISP, it's:
Beltre - .294/.337/.565
Lowell - .286/.394/.429
At least expanding it to general RISP, you increase the sample size to about 80 AB for both.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when anouncers misuse statisics. Some of the situational stats are so restricted that a player may onle have 20AB in that situation and it's completely meaningless.
I still don't get the defensive differences. They have the same amount of errors and virtually the same fielding percentage.
I definitely don't buy into the thinking that having better players on your team should make you less worthy of awards.
Beltre is worthy of being on the All-Star team, I won't deny that. However, when I look at all their numbers I don't see either of them as being above or beyond the other player. Aramis Ramirez has pretty much the same numbers (hitting and defense) as both of them also...
I will say that it was a joke that Juan Pierre was included in the final fan vote (at least he didn't win). Sure he's stolen 20 bases but he's also been caught 13 times (less than a 66% success rate)
The whole All-Star system is a sham anyways. Hideki Matsui is on the freaking team for the second time! In neither season he did nothing spectacular with the bat while playing as a corner outfielder (a position that is supposed to be heavily weighted towards offense) At least this season he actually is putting up semi-worthy All Star numbers.
One last thing: There's no way in hell that Sammy Sosa, Alou, or Danny Graves deserved their spots on the team. So what if Graves had 31 saves, he's blown 7 saves. That makes him an average closer at best who has had a lot of chances.
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