Unfortunately, a lot of our star power is balanced out by perhaps the most atrocious 6-8 hitting combo in baseball. Not to mention a bullpen made up of only one good pitcher. Also, Lidge does NOT deserve to be on the all-star team. The selection was probably made with some residual effect from his sick 2nd half + postseason last year. Otherwise, there are so many more deserving pitchers. The Astros really only have 3 true all-stars.
Lidge was voted in by the players. Apparently, they think he's deserving. Has he been as dominant as last season...no. Is he still one of the top 5 closers in the game...hell yes. I think it is deserved based on one of the greatest postseasons ever by a reliever. The Astros will have 4 all-stars this season...all deserving in their own right.
Pornstache pulled a hammy last night... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2101198&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233 Biggio, Chase Utley & Marcus Giles are all very comparable. Tough decision.
Looks like Ensberg was robbed again... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050707/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_all_stars_phillies/nc:1362 NEW YORK - Philadelphia Phillies closer Billy Wagner and shortstop Jimmy Rollins were added to the National League All-Star roster on Thursday as replacements for New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis. Izturis went on the disabled list Tuesday with a sore right hamstring. Martinez is scheduled to start Sunday at Pittsburgh and won't be available. With the additions, the Phillies have three All-Stars for the first time since 2002, when Rollins, Scott Rolen and Vicente Padilla were on the NL team. Bobby Abreu was elected to start in the NL outfield this year. TOTAL BS
Man, La Russa sucks. Why does he need 3 shortstops, which is the second weakest postion other than catcher. Rollins is having a decent year but has a .307 OBP, which is bad.
Just heard on the radio that when the player voted to start by the fans is unable to play due to injury, then MLB rules state that the player at that position (not already on the team) with the next highest vote total in the players' voting is named to the team. So Tony LaGenius may not be at fault here. Or maybe Rich Lord is confused. Wouldn't be the first time.
Perhaps Buck meant the the player-vote and not the fan vote? Izturis was the player-voted SS, so maybe in that scenario, the next highest rated player in the player-vote gets picked? That would at least explain it.
You got it, Major, thanks. This was relayed by 610, from an email from the Astros. So unless Lord's reading comprehension is as poor as my typing, it seems legit.
Ok, that makes some sense. It's still a stupid rule that's robbing the NL's best thirdbaseman from the first half of the season his spot - but it makes some sense. Also - if Kent pulls out are there any rules to make sure the Dodgers are represented in the game?
I'm pretty sure that a team doesn't necessarily have to have an active player in the game. I believe that as long as a player from each team is selected, that is all that needs to happen. I could be wrong. I don't care what the rules say, Morgan got hosed.
