The All-Star selections are out, and the Yankees have three picks. Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are All-Stars. Surprisingly, at least to me, Mike Mussina is not. Jason Giambi is one of the five players named that voters can select for the final spot on the team. The tricky part for Terry Francona, the AL team manager who picks the final selections, is that every team must be represented. He had six picks available to him, and four were taken up by teams that had nobody voted in by fans or players.
Alex Rodriguez led the AL voting and will start at third base.
Derek Jeter led voting at shortstop and will start there.
Mariano Rivera was one of the pitchers selected by players.
Tough for Mike Mussina not to make the team, the way he's pitched. I guess he'll be going to the Lycoming County Fair, as he said yesterday was his plan.
Comments (15)
Fans should have nothing to do with the selection of the All Stars. Its basicly a popularity contest for some of the fan favorites with deserving players not even getting a shot at for some a once in a lifetime opportunity. Besides the players,managers and coaches should have a vote. This would be indicative of a true All Star selection. Its rediculous when fans can vote twenty-five times for their favorite player.
Arod is hitting .253 with RISP and Derek has been average at best of late but both are starting.
Larry - Fans aren't the only ones who make bad selections - Terry Francona is bringing Jason Varitek (he of the .219 BA, 7 HR, and .300 OBP)
Chip: You would hope the professionals could be professional in their selections.
Now, I hope Boston rewards Varitek with a contract similar to Jorge's with his All Star statistics.
I agree that the fan voting makes it more of a popularity contest than would be ideal, but the league's purpose with the mid-season classic is to be as fan-friendly as possible. I'm not against fan involvement, but perhaps there's a way to divvy the votes into percentages of total votes by category. Then again, any complication of the process would probably only serve to drive people away.
In any case, if you're going to limit the selection process, then baseball writers should be included. They get to pick awards and HOF selections, and they're just as likely to be knowledgeable about league-wide in-season performances as players, so they should get to pick as well as players and coaches.
What I meant to say was that perhaps the votes should be tabulated on a 25% players, 10% coaches, 15% writers, 50% fan scale. Or something of the sort.
These numbers are more or less off the top of my head, but reflect the idea that every player would get a vote, each team's manager and coaches would vote, each team would get two beat writers to vote, plus a rotating selection of local and national BB columnists and commentators. Something of that nature. Fan voting could continue to be tabulated leading up to the break, so the method wouldn't necessarily curtail fan interest.
Five words I didn't expect to say:
Will the Rays ever lose?
DC Yank: Just to throw a little fuel to the fire. We know there is no perfect system but remember when a voting writer left Jeter off the ballet for MVP.
Your approach is certainly worth some consideration but writers are fans as we know all too well.
This is the first time today in the existence of the franchise that I have checked to see if the Rays were winning or losing to get an idea of the Yankee situation tonight. My has the sun, moon and the stars aligned themselves directly on the Rays in ST. Pete.
I feel bad for Mike, he really deserved to be on the team this year. Especially given how horribly he pitched last year. It is a damn shame. I hope he enjoys the fair! :(
Sabathia to Milwaukee....wow. At least I don't think we need to worry about him signing an extension to stay there.
Larry M.,
Good point about Jete and the MVP voting, but there's simply no way to account for home-town favoritism, whether it's with fans, players or sportswriters. Blind love is simply part of the game. God knows it's happened to me.
Jim A., is CC to Brew-land a done deal? Really? What a coup for the fat city! Impressive. Hope they make a run at it, for their sake.
Wow, Jim A. You are correct, Sir.
CC to the Brew Crew.
Gotta love the small town teams making a play for it this year. Good for baseball.
Not to be a bummer, but check out Jason Stark on ESPN today, on how well mid-summer acquisitions do:
• The last two starting pitchers acquired at midseason to win a World Series game were Jeff Weaver (picked off the scrap heap), for the 2006 Cardinals, and Mike Torrez (a relic of another era), for the 1977 Yankees.
• And the last two pitchers traded on Deadline Day (July 31) to win any kind of postseason game were Oliver Perez (a reclamation-project throw-in), for the 2006 Mets, and David Weathers (as a set-up reliever), for the 1996 Yankees.
Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings
Obviously, Starks two examples should have been inverted.
CC and Prince Fielder on the same team: That post game buffet is in trouble!
Igawa has to have a place on the All Star team!
The fans need to stop being allowed to vote, well except me as I know all!
Tonight, was my worst time posting, and had to leave, (sniff) as DC Yank threatened my life. Just go to tonights blog , and see, there was no troll, just myself and that fool loser who keeps saying he likes men. Hope Islander1955@aol.com comes through, and sells these two All Star game tickets I still have. Love, Jen.