I have made it no secret that I dislike the All Star voting process, however I will say that the fans didn't do such a bad job this year. In fact, the worst choice was voted in by the players. Of course I'm sure they were just impressed with Varitek's lofty .215 batting average. Ian Kinsler is the clear better choice for second base, and if he played for Boston or New York he'd probably be starting. That said, Pedroia is still deserving of an All Star spot, just not the starting spot over Kinsler. David Ortiz was voted in on fan bias alone, but since he can't play Milton Bradley gets the honor he deserves. I also might take Drew or Quentin as starters over Ichiro, but any of those three can make a case for the starting spot. And what's with all the relief pitchers on the AL roster? Probably the biggest issue I have with the fan vote is in the National League where Kosuke Fukudome will be starting in the outfield. Personally, I'm not sure if I'd even put Fukudome as an All Star, and certainly not the starter. I would take any of the reserves over him and also players who have been snubbed such as Griffey. Aside from those issues, the majority being relatively minor, I think they did a good job with the All Star teams.
And what's with all the relief pitchers on the AL roster? Now that the game counts, rightly or wrongly, I'm guessing Francona want's to increase his chance of winning it. Getting up quickly, pitching one inning, or throwing only a few pitches, being on from pitch one, is much more a relievers role. Generally a relievers stuff is more suited to relieving. Mike Mussina has had a great year. But he's more suited to going 5 innings and giving up 3 than quickly getting warm and coming in with men on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. So in that sense I can see what Francona's doing. The allstar game is basically a starter followed by a parade of relief appearances, and relievers by trade are more suited for that role.
I'm just hoping Hurdle and Francona have enough of a sense of drama to set up a Hamilton v. Volquez AB. Let's face it, neither the Reds nor the Rangers are post-season bound, so it's our only chance to see one this year.
I'm pretty disappointed about the Rays not being better represented. They are only the best team in baseball. Mainly, though I think it sucks that Francona didn't pick Maddon to be on his staff. What's that about?
Varitek was voted in by the players, his peers. It doesn't make it any better. Varitek getting chosen to go to the All-Stars game (or, as Lee Sinins calls it "the Some-Stars game") is the worst selection (by fans, players or managers) since Carlos Garcia in 1994 (1st half OPS .639, career .681 OPS). What makes it even worse is that there was a MUCH better choice (both statistically, historically and emotionally) than Varitek.
Mainly, though I think it sucks that Francona didn't pick Maddon to be on his staff. What's that about? Probably some ill-will still exists between the two teams after the Coco Crisp inspired brouhahas.
What makes it even worse is that there was a MUCH better choice (both statistically, historically and emotionally) than Varitek. Especially because the game is at Yankee stadium. The players really dropped the ball on that one.
If we are basing picks on emotion, I'm voting for Chris Snyder.
I think it sucks that Francona didn't pick Maddon to be on his staff. What's that about? 5+ years of bad blood between the two teams might have something to do with it. The infeild would be even better if the starting players at 3rd Base and Shortstop weren't Yankee players Better how when you replace A-Rod with someone worse? By the end of the week, the people most pissed about the Varitek selection are going to be Red Sox fans who have to hear about it. Anything that gives Steve Phillips air time depletes my soul. What joy, a well-called All Star pitching game! And those at bats against the best pitches in the NL by someone who can't hit a BP fastball currently. Good job, players. I think they may be less familiar with who's good than the fans.
What makes it even worse is that there was a MUCH better choice (both statistically, historically and emotionally) than Varitek. I have to agree. Dioner Navarro does in fact deserve to get the nod over Varitek. Oh, you were talking about Posada, weren't you? Well, Navarro used to be on the Yankees roster if that helps but he does deserve to be an All-Star this year.
By the end of the week, the people most pissed about the Varitek selection are going to be Red Sox fans who have to hear about it. Anything that gives Steve Phillips air time depletes my soul. At least you'll probably get to see me get trampled live on TV during the HR Derby along with hundreds of other Yankee fans. That should cheer you up.
Well, Navarro used to be on the Yankees roster if that helps but he does deserve to be an All-Star this year. I agree. Just as deserving as Scott Kazmir.
I am not a fan of giving every team a representative.
I have to agree. Dioner Navarro does in fact deserve to get the nod over Varitek. Oh, you were talking about Posada, weren't you? Well, Navarro used to be on the Yankees roster if that helps but he does deserve to be an All-Star this year. Navarro is on the roster. He was a manager's pick. If you are going to use 3 catchers, one of them might as well be Posada. My choices would have been Mauer, Navarro, Posada, with Jorge getting into the game in the 9th inning (to possibly catch Rivera). I am not a fan of giving every team a representative. Agreed. It's supposed to give people from every market a reason to watch the game, but I really doubt the K.C. fans are overjoyed that [looks at the rosters] Soria is getting to play. And those at bats against the best pitches in the NL by someone who can't hit a BP fastball currently. Good job, players. I have this horrible fear that Varitek will go yard in his first plate appearance, and the brain-dead section of the Red Sox Nation will go crazy with "I told you he deserved it!" crap. It would be super-duper-classy of "the captain" to bow out of the All-Star game, and Francona picks Posada as a replacement. Sort of like those Christmas time cease-fires during World War I, where bitter enemies can still show some respect for each other.
I'm really turning into for two moments: 1) Josh Hamilton's first at-bat. I'm hoping the crowd gives him a nice ovation. 2) The hope that Mariano Rivera will be the last pitcher of the night and he gets the save for an AL win. I really want Tampa Bay to have home-field advantage in the World Series. ;)
The Varitek situation would be even worse if Posada was having the year he had last year. I'd think the Yankees would rather him rest his arm. Making a 9th inning appearance and not throwing to 2nd might be an option. Varitek should bow out simply because he needs to regroup. Either rest or take BP, but I don't see how going to the all-star game is going to help anything. I have this horrible fear that Varitek will go yard in his first plate appearance, and the brain-dead section of the Red Sox Nation will go crazy with "I told you he deserved it!" crap. FWIW you're talking about a section that really doesn't exist except in the troll crowd. Of the sox sites I visit that I have any respect for 99.99 percent think Varitek going is a joke. The players picked him, blame the players.
Agreed. It's supposed to give people from every market a reason to watch the game, but I really doubt the K.C. fans are overjoyed that [looks at the rosters] Soria is getting to play. Every year players are kept in reserve, and many times (remembers back when Dimitri Young was the Tigers' best excuse for an all star) these players are from the cellardwellers who only had one all star. So those fans don't even get to see their player play. I can remember several years where that happened to Tigers fans.
Agreed. It's supposed to give people from every market a reason to watch the game, but I really doubt the K.C. fans are overjoyed that [looks at the rosters] Soria is getting to play. I disagree. Through large stretches of my Brewers fanhood this was the only reason for me to watch the all star game. Why not let every team have a player? It's not about having the best players there otherwise Varitek wouldn't be making the trip.
I think your Royals example may be a touch off base. Soria has a 1.62 ERA, 44 k's aganst 17 walks, and has converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities. I think he deserves it, and I think quite a few Royals fans who are only casual baseball fans overall would watch.
1) Josh Hamilton's first at-bat. I'm hoping the crowd gives him a nice ovation. Hopefully it's at least a nicer reception than the one he got at Yankee Stadium last week.
Hamilton realizes there are observers waiting for him to fail. He hears the abuse on the road. This week, he listened to fans in the Yankee Stadium bleachers chant: "Josh smokes crack! Josh smokes crack!" "I wanted to correct them," Hamilton says. "It's 'Josh smoked crack.' If you're going to rag on somebody, then get it right."
Hamilton realizes there are observers waiting for him to fail. He hears the abuse on the road. This week, he listened to fans in the Yankee Stadium bleachers chant: "Josh smokes crack! Josh smokes crack!" That is really hateful. Rays fan gave him a standing ovation, and they are the ones who actually lost out because of his problems.
I think your Royals example may be a touch off base. Soria has a 1.62 ERA, 44 k's aganst 17 walks, and has converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities. I think he deserves it, and I think quite a few Royals fans who are only casual baseball fans overall would watch. Good point. I picked the Royals rep on reflex because (for the last few years) they usually send the biggest example of "filling the need for every team to be represented". Soria has the numbers to go to the show. Then again, almost every team has at least one reliever that is having a good year, and you need a lot of relievers/pitchers for the Some-Stars game, so "filling the need" almost always falls on the relief pitcher. "I wanted to correct them," Hamilton says. "It's 'Josh smoked crack.' If you're going to rag on somebody, then get it right." Heh. Sounds like he's (finally) got a good head on his shoulders.
No excuse for leaving Maddon off All-Star staff According to Francona, while the coaching announcement was made in May, the All-Star coaching selections were actually made in January, when the Rays were not the First Place Rays. File under: No apology necessary.
According to Francona, while the coaching announcement was made in May, the All-Star coaching selections were actually made in January, when the Rays were not the First Place Rays. Why would Girardi have been picked? He had been manager of the Yankees for all of two months.
Why would Girardi have been picked? He had been manager of the Yankees for all of two months. It's being played in NY during Yankee Stadium's last season.
It's being played in NY during Yankee Stadium's last season. I know. I didn't realize that merit played absolutely no part in the selection of the managers.
It's being played in NY during Yankee Stadium's last season. So maybe they should have Joe Torre come back and manage at the All-Star game. Giradi hasn't achieved that level of respect to coach an All-Star game yet just cause he's wearing pinstripes as the skipper...even if it is being played in Yankees Stadium's last year.
Doesn't matter. You're a guest in their house, you respect your hosts. You wouldn't go to a recently re-married friend's house, not acknowledge his current wife because she wasn't there when the house was built.
Maybe they should exhume Casey Stengel. Not for the All-Star Game or anything, just because those rings would be worth something.
So, uh, does anyone want to go to the Futures Game/Celebrity Softball Game? I have 1 ticket available.
I know. I didn't realize that merit played absolutely no part in the selection of the managers. To be honest I've never run into a debate over managers; it's always been the players. And since the managers are picked in january, merit would have to be for the previous season, so I'm having a hard time mustering any outrage. In what's a figurehead position anyway, I don't see any better reason than history to include the yankee manager on the coaching staff. Giradi hasn't achieved that level of respect to coach an All-Star game yet just cause he's wearing pinstripes as the skipper It's not out of respect to Girardi. It's out of respect to the Yankees. That it occurs in the first year of a yankee manager is by chance. Giving the honor to torre would make it about torre, not the yankees. And that's ignoring the fact that torre is in the national league now. So, uh, does anyone want to go to the Futures Game/Celebrity Softball Game? I have 1 ticket available. Include a plane ticket and I'm there :)
