04/19/24
July 04, 2010
MLB Announces All-Stars: The All-Stars have been announced. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was the top vote getter with 5,372,606 votes, the third-highest of all time. St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was first among National Leaguers. One surprise omission: New York Mets starter Mike Pelfrey, who missed out on being selected by Phiadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel despite being 10-2 with a 2.93 earned run average.
I'm a total homer here, but the Padres have the best record in the NL, have been leading the West most of the season, and we get one guy in? And no pitchers?
posted by LionIndex at 10:53 PM on July 04, 2010
I wonder if Arod's contract required the Yankees manager to select him for the all-star game, because he does not seem to be having a very Arod type year.
posted by graymatters at 11:45 PM on July 04, 2010
More surprising omission: Joey Votto of CIN. I may be parroting the ESPN talking heads here, but he really should be recognized for the season he's having.
posted by boredom_08 at 02:14 AM on July 05, 2010
On re-thinking, he is in the fan vote thingy, to be fair.
posted by boredom_08 at 02:31 AM on July 05, 2010
It's dumb, just like every year. All-Star selections should no longer be considered when judging HoF merits. Votto has arguably been the best hitter in the NL this year.
Omar Infante? Joke.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:47 AM on July 05, 2010
Iif you told me, at the start of the season, that the Blue Jays would have 3 representatives, and that they'd be Vernon Wells(!), Jose Bautista(!!), and John Buck(!!!), and that they'd be legitimate choices (not just one-rep-from-each-team nonsense), I'd have thought you were off your rocker.
posted by grum@work at 11:46 AM on July 05, 2010
I wonder if Arod's contract required the Yankees manager to select him for the all-star game, because he does not seem to be having a very Arod type year.
Yup, if the fans had selected him it would be a different story. Doesn't deserve to be there this year.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:11 PM on July 05, 2010
As a Reds fan, I definitely see the snub of Votto as a travesty, but it's really hard to argue against Albert Pujols, one of the best ever to play the position. Kinda sucks for Joey. Same thing happened throughout the late 80's into the 90's with Barry Larkin. Sure, he was great, but how do you vote against Ozzie Smith?
Maybe a better way to run the show is to have players and coaches elect the team, then allow the fans to choose the starters. Kind of an inversion of the present system, where the initial vote is a popularity contest largely decided by city size. Well, Votto can take heart. When his contract runs out and he's purchased by an American League team with a larger fan base, he'll stand a fighting chance.
posted by tahoemoj at 12:42 PM on July 05, 2010
It is hard to argue against Pujols but try arguing that Omar Infante deserves the spot instead of Votto. Not an easy thing to do. The lack of Padres on the roster is ridiculous as well, I maintain that Manuel had no idea what he was doing when he made that roster.
Of course, every year I rant about the all star choices. Usually it is because of the fan vote though which makes this year especially frustrating.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:55 PM on July 05, 2010
try arguing that Omar Infante deserves the spot instead of Votto
I honestly had no idea who Infante was, so I looked up his stats. Holy shit! That guy's an all-star? Less than 200 AB's, one home run, and 22 RBI's? That is a disgrace. Votto's numbers virtually match Pujols, Infante has those of an every third day utility infielder.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:31 PM on July 05, 2010
Votto didn't lose his spot to Infante. He lost his spot to "manager's pick" Ryan Howard (same position).
Infante was put on the team because of the new rule that allows a fielder to be taken out of the game and then put back in later (if required). Since Infante has played many games in his career at multiple positions (3B, SS, 2B, OF), he becomes the "All-Star utility infielder". He'll replace a 2B/SS/3B in the 7th inning or later (after a pinch-hit), and then get pinch hit for himself after that. Then, if that doesn't end the game, he'll be brought back in to field 2B/SS/3B again.
Basically, MLB told Manuel to take a utility infielder, and Infante was his choice. Ty Wigginton was Girardi's choice for the AL team (and also answered the "Who the hell do we choose from this terrible Baltimore team?" question).
posted by grum@work at 01:52 PM on July 05, 2010
My issue with it is that the NL already has an All Star utility guy. Prado has played every position but centerfield and outfield so Manuel could easily have him start the game (since Utley is hurt) and then insert him later in the game if needed.
Considering this and that there are several other Braves on the roster (including Prado!) the choice of Infante makes no sense. At least with Wigginton Girardi was forced to choose somebody from Baltimore.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:58 PM on July 05, 2010
I understand that Infante didn't get the 1B all-star position. Just consider my objection twofold
(1) Manuel took his own player rather than a more deserving player. Sure, that's his right as manager, and Howard is an otherwise worthy choice, but is simply not having the kind of year that Votto, a strong MVP candidate is. It's homerism at its worst. (2) Infante has no business on an all-star roster.
posted by tahoemoj at 04:41 PM on July 05, 2010
To add to all this, according to ESPN last night, Infante himself didn't even think he'd gotten the spot. The Braves GM called him at 8:30 on Sunday morning and when he saw the name on the caller ID, he thought he'd been traded.
posted by boredom_08 at 04:51 PM on July 05, 2010
During tonight's game, Votto has hit 2 HRs, tying him for lead in the ML. Pujols is undoubtedly your starter, but Votto actually deserves some consideration for that and regardless is a no-brainer for a spot. Hopefully, this sinks in with the fans, but the fact that this is going to the fan vote makes the All Star Game and process a bigger joke than it already was. As tahoe said, the Howard pick just wreaks. Sure, Howard's numbers are good, absent considering anyone else's season. In comparison, I can't see a single point that could be argued in favor of Howard. There's always clamoring for taking away a baseball writer's vote when they leave a sure-fire first-ballot player off, just out of spite. Well, then, similarly, Manuel should never be allowed to set foot in an All Star dugout.
posted by littleLebowski at 10:10 PM on July 05, 2010
Charlie Manuel has no idea how to build an All Star roster. Omar Infante? Really?