Every year, MLB.com makes a big production "The Final Vote", letting the fans pick the 32nd man on the All-Star team in each league. But arguing about who got snubbed is really only half the fun of All-Star debates. With that in mind, I thought BBTF commenter "DKDC" had a great idea when he suggested that we vote one player off each team, too. You can now do just that in All Star '08: The Final Recall.
Below I've listed the six eligible players in each league, along with a brief summary of their candidacies. Unlike The Final Vote, you may only vote once in The Final Recall. Unless you can get past the cookies, in which case you can vote as many time as you please.
Joe Crede, CHW: On-base percentage of only .333. Zero triples. Has grounded into nine double plays. 0/3 in stolen base attempts.
Dustin Pedroia, BOS: OBP down 25 points from last year; also not as gritty. Zero intentional walks. Has grounded into eight double plays.
Joe Saunders, LAA: Not actually good; mostly a product of good defense and luck. 63 Ks in 120.3 IP. Zero shutouts.
George Sherrill, BAL: Was the third best player traded for Erik Bedard. 22 walks in 38.2 innings. Five Six blown saves.
Ichiro Suzuki, SEA: .068 ISO. Plays for the Mariners. May be drunk during game.
Jason Varitek, BOS: See here. Has grounded into 10 double plays. Having caught four no-hitters does not make you an All-Star.
Aaron Cook, COL: Has allowed 141 hits and struck out only 64 in 132.2 innings. Plays in a division which is the rough equivalent of AA.
Kosuke Fukudome, CHC: 65 strikeouts, only seven home runs. Has not actually caused his teammates to walk more, despite what you may read.
Cristian Guzman, WAS: 15:7 GIDP:BB ratio, which is not good. 3/6 in SB attempts. Team is rapidly approaching having a 0% chance of reaching postseason.
Alfonso Soriano, CHC: Has played in 51 games. OBP of only .332. Has 191 fewer PAs than Jose Reyes.
Miguel Tejada, HOU: Hitting .207/.262/.333 in last 45 games. Grounded into 11 double plays. Unsure of his actual age. Hitting .243/.294/.378 on the road.
Brian Wilson, SF: 16 walks in 35 innings. 97 ERA+. 131st among NL pitchers in VORP.
Voting will be open until Monday at 4pm EST.
10 comments:
AL: Varitek. Obviously.
NL: While I don't think any of them should be going, two of those fucksticks are starting and the fans have no excuse in this millennium and universe to not make an informed vote. So I'll stick it to them with my vote. And that's a vote for Alf.
0 triples? Really?
In fact, he hasn't tripled since 2003.
Is the league leader in triples even on the all-star team? Who cares about triples.
Has it not occurred to you people that each player comment is not entirely serious?
Can I have a write-in vote for Ryan Braun? Seriously, a .320 OBP from a corner outfielder?
Yeah, and it's not like he makes up for it in any other important categories, right?
NL Outfielders I'd put on the All-Star team before Ryan Braun, based on 2008 production:
Matt Holliday
Pat Burrell
Jason Bay
Carlos Beltran
Brian Giles
Ryan Ludwick
Nate McLouth
Rick Ankiel
Xavier Nady
Carlos Lee
Aaron Rowand
Cody Ross
Holliday, Burrell, Bay, Ludwick, McLouth, and Nady all have significantly better OPS+ than Braun. McLouth's a lousy center fielder, which is a wash with Braun's mediocre left field skills. The corner outfielders are all no worse than Braun, except maybe Ludwick and Burrell by a little bit, but are well ahead offensively.
Rick Ankiel's right with Braun offensively, but plays center field.
Carlos Beltran's lagging on offense, but is one of the best center fielders in the game. Clearly ahead.
Giles' power is definitely lacking, but when you give him credit for his huge OBP, major disadvantage of hitting in PETCO, and phenomenal fielding, he's clearly ahead of Braun.
Ross and Rowand are pretty close to Braun overall, thanks to their position. Lee is pretty much a clone of Braun in left. Not sure any of these three have been more valuable than Braun, but it's close.
*** ***
Not that I really think Brian Wilson deserves a spot over Braun.
Oh, and I love this line: "Cristian Guzman, WAS: 15:7 GIDP:BB ratio" -- when you start talking GIDP:BB ratio, the discussion's over.
"Not that I really think Brian Wilson deserves a spot over Braun."
Which is exactly the point. Neither does Soriano, and they're very similar players.
Post a Comment