MLB All Stars

**Clones85'** · 07-06-2008, 05:42 PM

What do you guys think about fans voting for the starters in the All Star game? I for one hate it. You get loaded down w/ Red Sox and Yankee players every year b/c they are the most popular team as well as the Cubbies. Here is a list of the starters:

AL

C- Joe Mauer (Agree)
1B- Youkilis (Either him or Morneau, Morneau wins easy if he plays for Red Sox instead of Twins)
2B- Pedroia (Kinsler anyone? Pedroia has been good but Kinsler got jobbed here)
SS- Jeter (If his name was not Jeter and he didn't play for the Yankees, he would not have made the team this year)
3B- Arod (Agree)
OF- Hamilton (Agree)
Manny (see Jeter)
Ichiro (don't know about a starter but I can see it)

NL
C- Soto (Great year and great catcher, but his numbers are not as good as McCann's or Martins)
1B- Berkman (Agree, was suprised D Lee didn't steal this one. A lot of good first baseman in the NL)
2B- Utley (Agree)
SS- Ramirez (Agree)
3B- Chipper (Agree)
0F- Braun, Soriano, and Fukudome ( Soriano and Fukudome? Good players but come on here. What has Fukudome done to garner an invite to the game let alone be a starter? Soriano has missed almost 40 games. Braun is good and I can see him getting a starting spot. Players that should have been starters IMO are Holliday, Carlos Lee, and Braun)

I just don't like how fans can stuff the ballot to name the starters when there are many more players more deserving. By my accounts they got 8 out of 16 correct. I would like to see them change this

**CTAClone** · 07-06-2008, 05:46 PM

Cubs just set a record for number of All Stars, so I don't think it's an every year thing for them. Fukudome is a good player, not sure if he should start but should definitely be an all star. Soriano was the best player in baseball before he got hurt, but him not playing should be a factor in voting. I don't know why you don't think Soto should start. He IMHO should start.

**ISUAlum2002** · 07-06-2008, 05:46 PM

The All-Star game is for the fans. Doesn't necessarily mean the best players will be voted in. I like the way it is set up.

**mwitt** · 07-06-2008, 05:47 PM

Awful, awful, awful. This isn't fan voting, but Jason Varitek? Seriously? You would think that he would be embarrassed to show up with the year he's having.

.219 BA
.301 OBP
.360 SLG

Among AL catchers, he is last in BA, 9th in OBP, 7th in slugging, and 9th in OPS.

There is no perfect system, but if it were up to me there would be two committees: one with 16 people, one with 14. Each team would have a representative. They'd be locked in a room and they'd pick the team. It's not the fan's game when the winner gets home field.

**cycopath25** · 07-06-2008, 05:48 PM

Loshe got hosed!

**rworkman83** · 07-06-2008, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Awful, awful, awful. This isn't fan voting, but Jason Varitek? Seriously? You would think that he would be embarrassed to show up with the year he's having.

.219 BA
.301 OBP
.360 SLG

Among AL catchers, he is last in BA, 9th in OBP, 7th in slugging, and 9th in OPS.

There is no perfect system, but if it were up to me there would be two committees: one with 16 people, one with 14. Each team would have a representative. They'd be locked in a room and they'd pick the team. It's not the fan's game when the winner gets home field.

Sounds like a bitter White Sox fan. Only getting two players in, while the cross town foe gets 7.

**mwitt** · 07-06-2008, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

The All-Star game is for the fans.

Hasn't been for a couple years.

**kcclones** · 07-06-2008, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

NL
C- Soto (Great year and great catcher, but his numbers are not as good as McCann's or Martins)

Have you looked at the numbers lately?

Soto .290 avg 15 hr 52 rbi .529 slg Team Record 53-36
McCann .298 avg 15 hr 48 rbi .542 slg Team Record 41-47
Martin .305 avg 9 hr 42 rbi .449 slg Team Record 42-25

Not only does Soto have just as good as numbers but his team is doing better. Soto has done great calling games for his staff.

**mwitt** · 07-06-2008, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by rworkman83

Sounds like a bitter White Sox fan. Only getting two players in, while the cross town foe gets 7.

I don't care how many the Cubs got in. The White Sox had a ton in 2006, if you recall, and then fell out of first place in the second half of the season.

I'm talking about Jason Varitek being the most undeserving All Star that hasn't been injured in recent memory. If anyone feels like making a case for him, go nuts.

**ISUAlum2002** · 07-06-2008, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Hasn't been for a couple years.

Sure it has. MLB just put the home field advantage for the Series to it so that the players the fans vote in actually care about playing instead of just lollygagging it.

**CrossCyed** · 07-06-2008, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by rworkman83

Sounds like a bitter White Sox fan. Only getting two players in, while the cross town foe gets 7.

Dye was hosed, Danks or Floyd should have been in too.

Crede is a joke.

**mwitt** · 07-06-2008, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

Sure it has.

Compelling argument.

**Clones85'** · 07-06-2008, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by nickborton

Have you looked at the numbers lately?

Soto .290 avg 15 hr 52 rbi .529 slg Team Record 53-36
McCann .298 avg 15 hr 48 rbi .542 slg Team Record 41-47
Martin .305 avg 9 hr 42 rbi .449 slg Team Record 42-25

Not only does Soto have just as good as numbers but his team is doing better. Soto has done great calling games for his staff.

No doubt Soto is good, but the only stat that he outweighs these players is RBI's. Look at the team that he plays on compared to the teams of the Dodgers and Braves. Those offenses are not very good and compared to the Cubs are terrible. That is the main reason he is getting more RBI's. Martin and McCann are better catchers

**CTAClone** · 07-06-2008, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

No doubt Soto is good, but the only stat that he outweighs these players is RBI's. Look at the team that he plays on compared to the teams of the Dodgers and Braves. Those offenses are not very good and compared to the Cubs are terrible. That is the main reason he is getting more RBI's. Martin and McCann are better catchers

What about Team ERA? He's calling all those games behind the plate.

**alaskaguy** · 07-06-2008, 06:23 PM

How many players from the Devil Rays will make the team?

Carl Crawford has put up superstar numbers in his first five years and IMO should be starting.

Crawford is leading AL LF in RBI, SB, Hits, AVG, Triples, and Slugging. Crawford is outslugging Manny Ramirez! but unfortunately, Manny will probably be starting in left field for the All Star Game, just because he happens to play in Boston.