I would guess Derek Bell or Carl Everett - not sure if either actually made the All-Star Team or just got close.
MLB HAS to take one player from each team. No need to waste 20 min of research. I'm sorry but I don't have time to read this. It's pool time! Congrats to UH's Michael Bourn. EAT 'EM UP!
I actually like the rule. The All-Star game is for the fans. Each team should have at least one, so each team's fans can have a reason to watch the game, and see one of their own in it.
NL All Star manager should love having Bourn on the bench to use as a pinch runner late in the game or a defensive replacement.
Is this code for "I didn't know the facts, and now that they are in front of me, I'm going to pretend I'm busy, so I don't have to admit I had no clue what I was talking about"?
I used to think that way, but not anymore. I never really felt like we got a "pity pick" before and now that we have, my opinion has changed. I'll probably watch at least some of the game, but will it be because of Bourn? No. I hope he gets into the game and does well, but he's just not a reason to watch. And Arkoe is right, if Selig wants to attach significance to the all star game and have teams really compete to win then it doesn't make much sense to leave better players off the roster just because they have to include at least one player from each team. I think they expanded the rosters this year to 34 players so that more deserving players wouldn't be bumped off the roster by players who were only chosen because somebody from their team had to be. It may end up that this results into those players sitting on the bench which would defeat the purpose of having a player from every team on the roster.
I thought only one Astro had a shot of making the team (Linstrom) but im glad Mike made it. Best defensive cf in the National League imo.
Nobody's thinking, "How goddamned bad are we that Micheal FREAKING Bourn is our all-star selection?" That's just downright depressing. And even more depressing is how people are trying to justify it like he actually may be somewhat worth it. He's not even close to being all-star caliber.
This isn't basketball where you can put player defense and offense on a similar level, as pitching plays the most important part in team defense. As for base stealing, he's stolen 25 bases and caught 7 times. The general rule of thumb is that 1 caught stealing negates 2 stolen bases. So he's had a net 11 bases stolen. 11 extra bases(basically turns 11 singles into doubles) doesn't make up for .678 OPS. Nor does it affect a lousy .336 OBP. As the cliche goes, you can't steal first. Don't get me wrong, I like Bourn a lot as a player. But him being an all-star is what makes this team a joke right now.
It's code for you don't know the facts. After the fan vote, the NL Pennant coach selects one member for each team and one Astro had to go so it was Bourn and if he thinks his stats of leading the NL in stolen bases and being the CF is good enough to make the team, then it's good enough for me. And it's also code for the bunnies were at the pool and you should of been there instead of wasting 20 min of your time for something I didn't read or care for.
Don't think Carl every made it but Operation Shutdown sure did, Derek was a very good hitter for the Stros.
Wait - if you didn't read my post, how would you know if I knew the facts or not? So your definition of "he deserved his selection" boils down to "he got picked, so he must deserve it." That's some quality (and highly useful) analysis there. You didn't read it, but you apparently quoted it and responded, in the processing claiming I didn't know the facts. Fascinating analysis there.
As it turns out, Everett did make the all-star team, but it was the year after he left the Astros (2000 for the Red Sox, and then again in 2003 for the Rangers).
