It must warm the heart of AL teams everywhere knowing that potential home field advantage rides on the outcome of this game, and the best pitcher in the AL isn't even there. And won't top teams from both sides be biting their nails to see if Mike Williams can blow on by Dmitri Young, or if Lance Carter can strikeout Rondell White. If they're going to fo through with this idiotic idea of having home field advantage rest on the outcome of this game, at least DO IT RIGHT. No fan vote and no one player from each team. It won't make the idea any less of an idiotic one, but at least we won't be seeing scrubs take the field to decide the outcome of home field advantage for the World Series. Baseball is to great for Selig to ruin, but damned if he ain't giving it his best shot. Also - Dotel over every other relief pitcher in the NL.
No way JB, The biggest joke is Lance f******* Carter being in the Allstar game. If anyone even knew who he was before today, congratulations. They need to do away with this stupid rule of every team having a rep. TB doesnt deserve one, Detroit damn well doesn't, the Mets don't, the Padres don't, the Indians don't. Btw, the best 3b in the NL was not selected, because of limited playing time. Yes, that would be NL league leader for 3b in OPS, Morgan Ensberg. Aaron f***** Boone over Ensberg or Kent is a disgrace. I don't even think Pittsburgh deserves a rep. Giles is good, but damn there are outfielders with better numbers and infielders too. The Astros had 4 legit Allstars in Dotel, Wagner, Ensberg and Kent, and they are one of the better teams in the NL. To only get one is a joke. And yes Wood over Willis is ridiculous, and even moreso when you look at who is managing the NL. You would think baker would be one to want to promote a young african american baseball star, when there are few of those in the big leagues. Not to mention Dontrelle has better numbers. Mfclark, Giambi is not the right pick on that 5 man AL group, eric byrnes is. An outfielder of his style and stature in his home ballpark having a .920 OPS deserves it over 1b expected to mash and having an OPS 40-50 points higher but in a home park tailor made for his swing. Also, I think you should get prepared for the Braves to flame out come postseason time, as that pitching staff scares nobody. Maddux is pitching like a number 3 and Ortiz is not even as good as millwood, and inconsistent. The back 3 is at best mediocre. Plus, I don't see the depth in the bullpen to get the ball to Smoltz either. Congrats on all the all stars, but I think this is another braves team built for the 162 game season that will get humbled in the postseason. Especially when Giles and Lopez come down from fantasy land. But I wish my astros were playing as well as the Braves. We just got swept by Pittsburgh, ugh.
Considering that Boone leads all NL second basemen in home runs and RBI, and is third in stolen bases with 12, I'd say calling this a "disgrace" is a bit overboard. I'd even go so far as to say it's justified, because the only key category Kent has Boone beat in is batting average. (.313 vs .268) Of course, Kent's time missed due to injuries affects his numbers. But hey, lots of other players were left off the team due to similar constraints. There were several players picked on the all star team who I'd consider questionable, but I don't think Boone is one of them, personally.
I disagree junglerules. Kent has a higher OPS of .894 to .800, has one less rbi and has been out for about 2 or 3 weeks with wrist tendinitis, and has only 7 less runs scored and 4 less homers in 60 less at bats. The only significant plus for boone is 8 more steals. And while kent plays half his games at MMP, Boone plays half his at the great american small park so it washes out. Austin Kearns should have been the reds rep anyways. But to me aaron boone is one of the most overhyped players now in baseball because he had a career year last year and approached 30-30 levels. But Jeff Kent has a higher ops, almost identical rbi, run and hr totals in 60 less at bats, and is on a better team. By virtue of their runs scored/runs allowed, the reds should be around the worst team in the National League, but that aside, Kent is having just as good a year, on a better team, and thus should have been an allstar. Ensberg is having a better year than both, btw.
Oh, I don't think Giambi is the best pick in the AL; I think Frank Thomas is, who is putting up a quietly spectacular season: OPS of 1.002, 20 HR (plus 22 doubles) and 48 RBI. I just think Giambi is a shoo-in since it's a fan vote. Byrnes would be a nice choice, but there are more deserving outfielders with higher OPS' who were left off, such as Milton Bradley. And yes, I'm worried about the Braves' pitching, because I don't think their offense can withstand the better pitching in the postseason well enough to win it all. The loss of Paul Byrd hurts,. yes, but the Braves at least have three decent starters right now in Maddux, Ortiz, and Ramirez. It's time to bring back Marquis and start him over Reynolds. But you're right, they need more - like a #1 or #2 starter. Bullpen depth isn't nearly as good as last year, but it's not horrible either. Ray King has been effective, as have Trey Hodges and Jung Bong. Problem is that the other two primary middle relievers - Hernandez and Holmes - have been injured at times and not very effective at others. As for Ensberg (not quoted) - blame his lack of playing time (and thus consideration) on Jimy Williams. Can't really make a case for him as an all-star, though, not with the season Lowell et al are having nor with Ensberg's lack of playing time and experience.
Here's my prediction based on Clemens not making it. There's already been buzz that he's thinking about going one more year. What would be more storybook than him playing in his last all-star game in his hometown? Clemens will not retire and will play next year in the all-star game in Houston.
That was my first inclination in thought as well, bigtexxx. However, from the reports on espn during the announcements of the players named as all-stars, there wasn't this insurmountable surge of online votes from international areas. I may have misinterpreted the stats, but it sounds like, like in Matsui's case, the Yankee fans in the stands actually got out there and voted for him. Is there a breakdown somewhere of online vs in-stadium votes? Baseball tonight kept referencing it, but it'd be a great thing to check out, especially in this case.
