The following post expresses the opinions of a raving Jerichoholic. He is biased, opinionated and bitter. You have been warned.
From now until the 9th, fans will have the opportunity to vote for who they decide should be the final member of each league's all-star team. While Frank Thomas has had an exceptional carerr, there is another player who deserves the spot more. For any of thos who have not yet decided who will get their vote(s) for the All-Star game, I humbly offer Jason Varitek. The A's should have gotten Tim Hudson instead of the catcher in the game, and a good switch hitter would be invaluable in a pinch-hitting situation.
The preceding post expressed the opinions of a raving Jerichoholic. He was biased, opinionated and bitter. You were warned.
The key reason to vote for Varitek: With each vote he gets, its one less that Giambi gets. And really, anything to screw a Yankee is a good thing. And, how is a Hall of Famer not even considered on the National League extra player list. I mean, I know he has been on the disabled list, but a Hall of Fame career should not be diminished by being left off of an All-Star ballot. How can anyone claim its a true All-Star game when Lou 'I'm From Framingham, And Your Making a Mockery of My Career' Merloni is not one of the 5 NL players to vote for. Its a sad day in baseball history when this occurs.
(edited by redsoxnation on 6.7.03 2106)
(edited by redsoxnation on 6.7.03 2134) If Vince would just hire Dick Dastardly and Muttly and tell them to Catch the Pigeon, it would draw at least an 8 rating.
Varitek's numbers are so much better than those of Ramon Hernandez. That's a pick I don't understand. And Giambi? There isn't a first baseman in the AL hitting better than .266? Please.
I also picked Giambi, because he is the best backup first baseman availabe in the AL. He leads the league in Walks, has a great OBP, lots of RBIs, HRs. He deserves it more than Matsui, who got the Japanese vote. He also deserves it more than Tejada.
EDIT: In the ESPN poll, for the 32nd Man, it is a close AL race, Varitek has 30%, Thomas has 28%, and Giambi has 23%. I'm still going with Giambi for just one pinch hit at-bat. In the NL side, Jenkins has a big lead at 46%.
The voting for Worst snub was Dusty Baker not picking Willis. The biggest AL omission was Meche, but he has plenty of company with my 3 Yankees, Mussina, Wells, and Clemens. Also MacDougal of KC was a joke, they were already represented by Sweeney, and that guy isn't even a good closer. Don't even get me started with Benitez and Williams over Dotel in the NL.
What about Dontrelle Willis? I know we can't vote for him, but it's a definite snub to him to be left off the team. How can Pirates closer Mike Williams with a 6.29 ERA be put on the team, and not Willis, who's 8-1 with a 2.13 ERA?
Yo, it's me, it's me, it's (points to self) P-A-B!
Of necessity, the All Star Game isn't going to represent all the best players. Brian Giles, as has been stated almost everywhere, would be a much better Pirate representative than freakin Mike Williams, but the outfield is a crowded place. Hell, where's Austin Kearns in the NL? Not even up for 32nd man. And Lance Carter for the D-Rays? What about Huff and Baldelli? Both are far better players than Carter. So is setup man Al Levine. But again, there is too much depth at 3B and OF, so these guys get left out.
It's still nonsensical. If you needed a Pirate outfielder to replace Patterson, why not Giles? Lofton's numbers this year are nowhere near the top. MLB can't seem to decide between a real contest and a meaningless exhibition based on Q ratings.
"Georgie Porgie, he might buy the whole league, but he doesn't have enough money to buy fear to put in my heart." Pedro Martinez
Ponson is borderline. 3.85 is not a spectacular ERA, and I don't care so much about the Won/Loss record. I mean, Pedro is 6-2. Is Ponson better than Pedro this year?
Bradley's having a terrific year, however. Only Melvin Mora has a higher OBP than he does in AL outfielders. A victim of the NY/Japan axis that put Matsui in the game. I just hope they don't put Giambi in there. He may be hot now, but he has not had a Giambi-caliber first half, much like Sosa has not lived up to his own stats. Hell, Eric Byrnes has hit more homers (11) than Matsui (9), has a higher average (.309 to .307) and a higher OBP (.376 to .367). And Matsui has had 52 more at-bats than Byrnes, as well as more experience in pro ball. I meant to praise Bradley in this paragraph, but I'm just realizing how many people have better numbers this season than Matsui.
In the NL, Brian Giles OBP is one point lower than Bradley's (.444), less only than Barry Bonds, and he's not even considered for the 5th man.
Edit: And there you have it. Varitek wins. Thomas might have been more deserving (clearly I am biased), but not a bad call.
(edited by PalpatineW on 9.7.03 1939) "Georgie Porgie, he might buy the whole league, but he doesn't have enough money to buy fear to put in my heart." Pedro Martinez
Austin Kearns has played like garbage for the past month, which has been a huge help to my fantasy team.
Isn't Shawn Chacon injured? Couldn't Dontrelle just fill in for him?
Over 1650 posts and still never a Wiener of the Day! But I'm not bitter!
Q: If you could have one superpower -- the strength of 100 men, invisibility, or the ability to fly -- which would you choose and why?
Michael Vick: Oh man, invisibility. If I was in a bad situation or something or I said something or you know, caught with two girls I could just disappear. I could be gone just like that -- no trouble.
"I don't understand the creative process. Actually, I make a concerted effort not to understand it. I don't know what it is or how it works but I am terrified that one green morning it will decide not to work anymore, so I have always given it as wide a bypass as possible."-- William Goldman
Austin Kearns has played like garbage for the past month, which has been a huge help to my fantasy team.
Isn't Shawn Chacon injured? Couldn't Dontrelle just fill in for him?
Kerry Wood is the fill-in for Chacon. Baker said he went off of the player voting for that choice and Wood was next on the list. Willis' best shot to get in now will be as a replacement for Kevin Brown, who I believe is out with back spasms.
Baseball's Sad Lexicon
These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble, Making a Giant hit into a double- Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble: "Tinker to Evers to Chance."