MLB All-Star Game

[🏀]

I'll admit that I do enjoy watching the All-Star games from every sport. I'll watch the basketball version & the Pro Bowl for at least a half. However, there's something about the MLB All-Star Game that I generally will watch the entire thing. However, this voting process just pisses me off. Two weeks ago, the voting was looking like either a Brewer or a Cardinal at every position. I'm sure every Brewer and Cardinal fan out there will agree it's not the best field to be teaming.

The voting process puts the power to fans to vote their favorite players. But this isn't to honor the 'favorite' players, it should be the best players from the end of April to early July. Not everyone knows the MONSTER seasons that players like Adam Lind, Nelson Cruz & Adrian Gonzalez are having. And they should be in the game.

Right now, the lineups are looking like:

AL: Youkilis, Kinsler, Longoria, Jeter, Mauer, Bay, Hamilton & Suzuki.
NL: Pujols, Utley, Wright, Rollins, Molina, Ibanez, Braun & Beltran.

Every single player is/has become a household name. Personally, I feel the lineups should look something more like this based off of the first season statistics.

AL: Morneau, Kinsler, Longoria, Barlett/Zorbist, Mauer, Crawford, Cruz, & Bay.
NL: Gonzalez, Utley, Reynolds, Ramirez, McCann, Ibanez, Kemp & Beltran.


Putting your favorite team aside, what do your All-Star Game lineups look like?

[MU B2002]

I agree that the MLB voting process is flawed, but doesn't someone else control the sub players? (Coaches, players, etc.) I can't remember.

I would switch Either for Kemp, as he has been killing it lately.  (but that is a homer move.)  I don't think I watch enough other teams play to make informed decisions on the rest of the guys.  i would enjoy seeing Cruz make it, as I saw him play quite a bit for AAA Nashville.



Also just curious.... are you a Rays fan?

[Hards Alumni]

Pujols belongs at first, and I hate the Cardinals.

he has had a short slump but beyond that he has had a great year while playing with mostly rookies around him... i.e. no protection.

[🏀]

I agree that the MLB voting process is flawed, but doesn't someone else control the sub players? (Coaches, players, etc.) I can't remember.

I would switch Either for Kemp, as he has been killing it lately.  (but that is a homer move.)  I don't think I watch enough other teams play to make informed decisions on the rest of the guys.  i would enjoy seeing Cruz make it, as I saw him play quite a bit for AAA Nashville.



Also just curious.... are you a Rays fan?

No, Cubs fan. Purely statistical analysis.

Hards, how can you say Pujols has had nothing, when Gonzalez LITERALLY has nothing.

[Hards Alumni]

Because Pujols is ahead of Gonzo in every major batting catagorey except Home Runs?

[NavinRJohnson]

I would have a hard time trying to discredit your line ups, but when you talk about the other guys it is really an exercise of splitting hairs. You could replace a couple names (Pujols, Braun, etc.) and I could pretty easily defend that as well. In many respects, that is why I like the system of fan input. Yeah, sometime guys who don't belong end up starting, but who really cares?

[🏀]

I would have a hard time trying to discredit your line ups, but when you talk about the other guys it is really an exercise of splitting hairs. You could replace a couple names (Pujols, Braun, etc.) and I could pretty easily defend that as well. In many respects, that is why I like the system of fan input. Yeah, sometime guys who don't belong end up starting, but who really cares?

I think I made it clear that the deserving players should be there. The fan input becomes even more pathetic when teams drape their stadium with banners and announce that the fans need to go vote. This isn't the high school prom, it's the MLB All-Star Game. I don't want some 17 year old girl voting for JJ Hardy because he's cute. It's just stupid.

Hards, put Gonzo in a Pujols lineup and the runs, OBP & RBIs would be identical.

Braun on the other hand, statistically isn't even a top 10 OF in the league right now.

[GGGG]

The voting process puts the power to fans to vote their favorite players. But this isn't to honor the 'favorite' players, it should be the best players from the end of April to early July. Not everyone knows the MONSTER seasons that players like Adam Lind, Nelson Cruz & Adrian Gonzalez are having. And they should be in the game.

While I generally agree that fan voting has gotten to become just a glorified beauty contest, I don't think that the All-Star game should be filled with guys who are hot for the first (and least) important half of the season.  I think the players that should be there are those who have proven it over the past couple of seasons.  To me, it is more of a joke to have people like Corey Hart and Scott Podsednik in there who just happened to have apparent statistical anomolies, than the fan voting.

So IOW, I don't think Nelson Cruz should be there until he shows he is one of the better players in the game for longer than a few months.

[Chili]

I think I made it clear that the deserving players should be there. The fan input becomes even more pathetic when teams drape their stadium with banners and announce that the fans need to go vote. This isn't the high school prom, it's the MLB All-Star Game. I don't want some 17 year old girl voting for JJ Hardy because he's cute. It's just stupid.

Hards, put Gonzo in a Pujols lineup and the runs, OBP & RBIs would be identical.

Braun on the other hand, statistically isn't even a top 10 OF in the league right now.

Wrong!

Braun (amongst NL OF):
2nd in Runs
7th in Hits
5th in HR
4th in RBI
4th in OPS

How is that not top 10?

[NavinRJohnson]

I think I made it clear that the deserving players should be there. The fan input becomes even more pathetic when teams drape their stadium with banners and announce that the fans need to go vote. This isn't the high school prom, it's the MLB All-Star Game. I don't want some 17 year old girl voting for JJ Hardy because he's cute. It's just stupid.

Hards, put Gonzo in a Pujols lineup and the runs, OBP & RBIs would be identical.

Braun on the other hand, statistically isn't even a top 10 OF in the league right now.

Sigh...Can I suggest you move this post to the pissing match, because its pretty obvious where you're coming from with those comments.

Braun not a Top 10 OF?

BA - 8th
OBP - 4th
SLG - 5th
OPS - 4th
HR - 5th
RBI - 4th

He's even 7th in Hits and 2nd in runs scored with a .990 Fielding Percentage. You're right, not even in the top 10. Do you listen yo yourself Cub Boy?

[Hards Alumni]

time to eat crow ptm.

Pujols is better than A-Gon... have you even looked at who the Cards have been putting around Pujols?

[🏀]

Statically, the outfielders rank as:

Crawford
Ibanez
Hunter
Cruz
Bay
Jones
Upton
Kemp
Damon
Beltran
Braun

These are ESPN's rankings. Not mine. I could make a case for Braun and against Braun for a lot of the players.

[Robyrd5]

I agree that the All-Star game is a popularity contest and sometimes deserving players aren't voted in. But I'm also not sure how I feel about the game determining home field advantage in the WS. Thoughts on that?

[BrewCity83]

Statically, the outfielders rank as:

Crawford
Ibanez
Hunter
Cruz
Bay
Jones
Upton
Kemp
Damon
Beltran
Braun

These are ESPN's rankings. Not mine. I could make a case for Braun and against Braun for a lot of the players.

That's both leagues...where does Braun stand among the NL'ers? (I can't identify a couple of these names...)

[Chili]

Statically, the outfielders rank as:

Crawford
Ibanez
Hunter
Cruz
Bay
Jones
Upton
Kemp
Damon
Beltran
Braun

These are ESPN's rankings. Not mine. I could make a case for Braun and against Braun for a lot of the players.

Those are fantasy rankings. You actually used their fantasy player rater as good statical model for a player? Really? That is like saying USAToday is best newspaper. Wow is that dumb to even bring into a discussion. That is as bad as Ari Gold talking about Hard Cider in a beer thread.

[GGGG]

Statically, the outfielders rank as:

Crawford
Ibanez
Hunter
Cruz
Bay
Jones
Upton
Kemp
Damon
Beltran
Braun

These are ESPN's rankings. Not mine. I could make a case for Braun and against Braun for a lot of the players.

Nelson Cruz?  C'mon...

[DJO's Pump Fake]

I am just so happy it has gotten to the point where cubby fans are complaining about brewer all-star selections......how sweet is that!

Choke cubs choke!

[NavinRJohnson]

I am just so happy it has gotten to the point where cubby fans are complaining about brewer all-star selections.

Agreed. Trying to argue Ryan Braun out of the All Star game was clearly the motivation of the initial post, but repackaged to try to create the illusion of objectivity.

Ryan Braun not a Top 10 OF in the league. Yeah, ok!

So the fans should not have input, but fantasy rankings are a legitimate criteria. Yeah, I guess that works.

Sorry to hear you don't think Braun belongs ptm. I can't imagine how you are going to react when Prince Fielder, Trevor Hoffman, Yovanni Gallardo, and possibly Mike Cameron make it also.

[Mayor McCheese]

I think I made it clear that the deserving players should be there. The fan input becomes even more pathetic when teams drape their stadium with banners and announce that the fans need to go vote. This isn't the high school prom, it's the MLB All-Star Game. I don't want some 17 year old girl voting for JJ Hardy because he's cute. It's just stupid.

Hards, put Gonzo in a Pujols lineup and the runs, OBP & RBIs would be identical.

Braun on the other hand, statistically isn't even a top 10 OF in the league right now.

Its the All-Star game... let the fans have their fun, it is what the game is for.  An All-Star game and the Prom are pretty similar in what it's worth.

And your answer.... but the world series depends on this game... thats the real joke of the whole hoopla around this game.  Why does it even matter?

[BrewCity83]

An All-Star game and the Prom are pretty similar in what it's worth.

If it's like the Prom, I gotta find a way in to the Post-Game party...

[🏀]

Agreed. Trying to argue Ryan Braun out of the All Star game was clearly the motivation of the initial post, but repackaged to try to create the illusion of objectivity.

Ryan Braun not a Top 10 OF in the league. Yeah, ok!

So the fans should not have input, but fantasy rankings are a legitimate criteria. Yeah, I guess that works.

Sorry to hear you don't think Braun belongs ptm. I can't imagine how you are going to react when Prince Fielder, Trevor Hoffman, Yovanni Gallardo, and possibly Mike Cameron make it also.

I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't bring up Braun. I think Braun should be in the game. I've voted for Braun for the All-Star Game. That being said, is it possible to have a legitmate debate about other players with Brewer Fans? Of course not. The same run around.

I do think Yovanni and Hoffman are also locks. I think if Prince makes it, Gonzo and Pujols better be there as well.

Can you tell me how Fantasy Rankings aren't a good judge of a player? Why shouldn't we be looking at an aggregate of H, R, HR, RBI, SB & AVG when evaluating an offensive player? Who on that list is Braun better than right now?

I knew. KNEW that the sheer ignorance, jealously & crybaby attitude of the Brewer fans would poke through in this thread. Try putting it aside and have a logical baseball discussion. Please.

[🏀]

Nelson Cruz?  C'mon...

Braun and Cruz have nearly identical numbers, +/- a few. Braun has a better average. Cruz steals more bags. Cruz is playing his first full season.

[Chili]

I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't bring up Braun. I think Braun should be in the game. I've voted for Braun for the All-Star Game. That being said, is it possible to have a legitmate debate about other players with Brewer Fans? Of course not. The same run around.

I do think Yovanni and Hoffman are also locks. I think if Prince makes it, Gonzo and Pujols better be there as well.

Can you tell me how Fantasy Rankings aren't a good judge of a player? Why shouldn't we be looking at an aggregate of H, R, HR, RBI, SB & AVG when evaluating an offensive player? Who on that list is Braun better than right now?

I knew. KNEW that the sheer ignorance, jealously & crybaby attitude of the Brewer fans would poke through in this thread. Try putting it aside and have a logical baseball discussion. Please.

Fantasy rankings overvalue certain statistics like SB. They also do not take into account OPS - at all!

[🏀]

That's both leagues...where does Braun stand among the NL'ers? (I can't identify a couple of these names...)

Braun would be forth.

Fantasy rankings overvalue certain statistics like SB. They also do not take into account OPS - at all!

I think if we are talking OF, which should be faster players, SB definitely has to be taken into consideration. All the stats are valued the same, do you disagree with looking at SB?

I agree with you on OPS. Fantasy could make the point that it's account for in the individual stats, but I agree.

[Mayor McCheese]

I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't bring up Braun. I think Braun should be in the game. I've voted for Braun for the All-Star Game. That being said, is it possible to have a legitmate debate about other players with Brewer Fans? Of course not. The same run around.

I do think Yovanni and Hoffman are also locks. I think if Prince makes it, Gonzo and Pujols better be there as well.

Can you tell me how Fantasy Rankings aren't a good judge of a player? Why shouldn't we be looking at an aggregate of H, R, HR, RBI, SB & AVG when evaluating an offensive player? Who on that list is Braun better than right now?

I knew. KNEW that the sheer ignorance, jealously & crybaby attitude of the Brewer fans would poke through in this thread. Try putting it aside and have a logical baseball discussion. Please.

You didn't bring up Braun, you just left him off the list.  And I am really confused on when you say you voted for him, but yet you left him off your list of who should start.  So then you vote differently than you talk?  Confused.