All-Star Update
by jameslcrockett on May 19, 2008 7:07 PM CDT
38 comments
No... i don't know what the voting is... but mlb.com put up a story that seemed to say that Brian McCann was the favorite as far as numbers go and Russell Martin would win the popularity contest.
Now... come on Cubs fans... we know different. We have the best catcher in baseball and as good as McCann has been this year, it's not even close.
Therefore... it better be a landslide getting Soto in as the National League's starting catcher. They rest of the National League electorate will catch on soon enough... but let's make sure we're doing our part and leading the charge.
There's absolutely no reason why the Cubs should have fewer than 4 starters on the National League All-Star team... Soto, Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Theriot, even Soriano with his recent hot streak all have good chances to represent us at the game as starters.
Our boys have the best record in baseball... we need to give them this reward... and reward ourselves in the process. I won't enjoy seeing Albert Pujols, Pat Burrell or Chipper Jones as all-stars over our guys.
Let's not let it happen and get out and vote! Sorry, Al... but get off BCB right now... go to MLB.COM and fill out your ballots.. and then come back :)
Go Cubbies!!!
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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hate to say it, but
pujols and chipper OBVIOUSLY very obviously have been way better than lee and aram
"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto
by CubbyBlues on May 19, 2008 7:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No way on Pujols
Derrek Lee has been golden, minus the last week or so. Derrek Lee is the best 1B all around in the game.
"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...
by LPLancer23 on May 19, 2008 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry to burst your bubble
but the NL First Base All Star should be Lance Berkman. The guy has a .399 BA, 16HR’s, 48 Runs and 44 RBI’s, 8 SB’s with close to a 1.300 OPS.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
by DTJchris on May 19, 2008 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Berkman's a lock
he’s got the stats and the superstar status to get it. Lee, unfortunately, is having a pretty average year for Derek Lee.
by Petrie000 on May 19, 2008 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not Chipper ...
But definitely Pujols, especially now that D-Lee has gone into a mini-slump and that batting average is below .300 for the first time in forever.
GEAUX FONTENOT!
by Little Rock Ryno Fan on May 19, 2008 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not Chipper?
Dude, it takes some serious homerism to say Chipper Jones isn’t outplaying Ramirez this year. Jones has been a monster so far this year, OBPing .475, 11HR, batting over .400. For some reason he doesn’t seem to get the national attention that a lot of other top hitters do, but he’s been one of the very best for his whole career.
by aldimond on May 20, 2008 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry ...
I tend to pay no attention to Las Braves-my mean in-laws are big fans-so I don’t know what’s doing with Chipper. As far as I knew, he was treading in Andruw Jones water-old and washed up. If he’s having a late career banner year, then I guess I’m all for it, but the All Star voting is still a popularity contest-so some crazy Met will probably make the starting team. But apart from injuries which seem to have increased with time, Chipper is an exemplary player, on that I can agree!
And where are they going to stick Prince Fielder? Ryan Braun? Surely those two are deserving of a nod.
Besides, I’m just a dumb girl. Whadda I know?
GEAUX FONTENOT!
by Little Rock Ryno Fan on May 20, 2008 12:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fielder is off to a slow start...
...and given the Brewers’ treading in last place, it’s hard to imagine them working up a lot of All-Star ballots. Braun will probably make the outfield as the obligatory representative for the Brewers.
Chipper Jones is having an amazing season so far, and people are seriously asking if he can be the first baseball player to bat over .400 for a season since Ted Williams. That sort of press really helps a player get All-Star ballots.
by cwyers on May 20, 2008 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope so.
Chipper deserves it. But LRRF is probably right—David Wright will likely be elected, because he’s a Met, and the Mets are outdrawing everyone else in the NL so far this year (thus, more ballots filled out).
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on May 20, 2008 4:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously, I've been asleep at the wheel ....
Been spending too much time recovering from surgeries and too little time paying attentions to Teams Other Than My Beloved Cubbies! But once again, this all being a popularity contest, I still wouldn’t be surprised if Fielder made the team as a back-up—he’s got a big presence, that 260 pound vegetarian (weight approximate, don’t want to freeze pc on Brewers’ site). What the hell does he eat? Jars of mayonnaise?
Yeah, Al … David Wright. That’s who I was thinking of ….
GEAUX FONTENOT!
by Little Rock Ryno Fan on May 20, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chipper Jones
are you f’in serious? No way A-Ram deserves it over him.
Then Theriot? Yes, hes putting together a great season, but the only way he could start if if the like entire NL East switched leagues. Cant beat out Ramirez, Reyes, and Rollins. Its a shame that one of those guys might not make it.
Then finally Soriano. If he wasnt a Cub, I wouldnt vote for him. 1.5 weeks doesnt make an All-Star. Im sorry.
The Cubs should get these boys out in NY- Zambrano, Dempster, Soto (starter), Lee (starter), Ramirez, Fukudome (starter), and MArmol. Soriano could get in, or could not. He has to get to about .310 and stay there with 15 HR IMO.
"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...
by LPLancer23 on May 19, 2008 7:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Soto...
better get the starting job. Except nobody really knows him.
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 19, 2008 7:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Remember in 1984,
Nobody had heard of one Ryne Sandberg until The Game … it took a ton of effort to get him on that year’s All-Star team! As I recall, Soto gets positive nods from even the gang on ESPN, but I bet Molina will get the job—it’s just a popularity contest. A massive voting from Cub fans is needed. Besides, that deadbird is a damn girl!
Absolutely right about Zambrano. He’s having a helluva season!
GEAUX FONTENOT!
by Little Rock Ryno Fan on May 19, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We can argue about the other positions
but like jamesl says-Soto should absolutely be the starting catcher-let’s start loading the ballot boxes and taking full advantage of internet voting and get Geo in!!
by bluekoolaide on May 19, 2008 9:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ok...
Did I at any point say that there aren’t worthier players at first, third, short, etc?
Should that matter? Hell no!
This is a popularity contest and a test of our fervence as fans. Are Chipper Jones, David Wright, Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman, etc., that much better than our candidates? No way…
And as far as short and second goes… Utley, Rollins, Ramirez are much better players… that’s no debate… but two of them haven’t played a good chunk of the season… and the other isn’t winning the vote no matter how good he is… So why shouldn’t our guy win?
We have the best team, our guys are performing… it’s up to us to get them what they’re deserving and earning.
All i’m hearing is a bunch of cynical bs and over-analyzing of an exhibition game… it’s not about who’s the best player… never has been and never will be. There’s only whose fans are better.
I really don’t understand it… A first-place team that is out-scoring and out-pitching it’s competition isn’t good enough for you to drop the drama?
They’ve been playing their asses off for us… suck it up and start punching out some Cubs on your ballots.
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by jameslcrockett on May 19, 2008 9:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Its a good thought
but if (fingers crossed) the Cubs make it to the WS, I sure would like it if they had Home Field advantage. I voted for the best players in the NL, which far out-seed that of the AL if you look at the ballots.
Plus, I hate the popularity contest of the All-Star game, it should be for the best players in baseball, not the most popular."Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
by DTJchris on May 19, 2008 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that last part is weird
Plus, I hate the popularity contest of the All-Star game, it should be for the best players in baseball, not the most popular.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
by DTJchris on May 19, 2008 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right...
but is that going to happen? No… it’s a popularity contest… The most popular players are going to get in for the most part. Would anybody in here rather see Ken Griffey get in because he’s on the chase for 600, than Soriano? I’m not a Soriano fan, but we’ve seen that happen enough.
We finally have a team where we deserve to have many, many Cubs representing us in the All-Star game.
And it shouldn’t be for just the best players… it’s for the players having the best seasons. Is Ryan Dempster better than Jake Peavy, better than 40% of the starters in the NL… not by his track record… but he’s earned the right to be there this year… earned it more than Carlos Zambrano even.
But we don’t have a vote on who gets there from the pitching staff… we can decide whether the third best shortstop in the NL gets in… or our guy. Whether Aramis finally gets his due, or Chipper’s lead glove and the jerk it’s attached to gets in. And I’m plenty happy if no player from STL ever gets in again. They really don’t deserve it.
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by jameslcrockett on May 19, 2008 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For those that think TheRiot should start...
HanRam has been mentioned, but have you looked at Furcal’s numbers? TheRiot has been good, no doubt, but he’s not an All Star starter.
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on May 19, 2008 9:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Furcal
He’s been hurt from what I’ve seen… but his numbers have been otherwise outstanding…
Again, if I was even considering for a second who deserved it more… then this would be a different discussion.
Our guys do deserve it… they’ve played like all-stars, players of the week, etc… let the other fans worry about themselves and let’s do our part to get them there… all of them if we can.
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Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on May 19, 2008 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry to disagree, poster...
But if it were today… starters would probably be:
1B – L. Berkman (nice whifs today!)
2B – C. Utley
SS – R. Furcal
3B – C.Jones
C – G.Soto
RF – K. Fukudome
CF – R. Ankiel
LF – A.Soriano
by socalicubsfan on May 19, 2008 9:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
My team
Let me make this easier for you to understand…
This is the team I’d be voting for if I cared about any other team’s players getting in…
c Soto
1b Berkman
2b Utley
3b Ramirez
ss Ramirez
of Fukudome
of Holliday
of BeltranBut every ballot I fill out…
c Soto
1b Lee
2b DeRosa
3b Ramirez
ss Theriot
of Fukudome
of Soriano
of PieEverytime you don’t vote for Soriano AND Pie, it’s a vote against Fukudome… it gives votes to his competition and makes it that much harder for him to get in… not that he won’t anyway, but Ichiro barely got in last year… so it’s not the lock most people think it is.
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by jameslcrockett on May 19, 2008 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
this look screwy for anyone else?
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by jameslcrockett on May 19, 2008 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
YES!
Please don’t say you want Beltran on the All Star team (starting?!?)
by socalicubsfan on May 19, 2008 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, it does for me as well.
"It's good to be here at Wrigley Stadium!"
-Jeff Gordon
by Dave57 on May 20, 2008 1:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If there is justice....
Zambrano, Ramirez, Theriot, DeRosa and Soto all should make the All-Star team based on their performances at the positions they play.
I think it will be tough for Lee given that he plays 1st base and you have Pujols and Berkman doing the voodoo that they do. Also will be tough for Kosuke. Sometimes life is not fair, especially when you play 1st base and the outfield.
Adding knowledge and challenging the saber-magicians, one post at a time.
by MDBNIU on May 19, 2008 10:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not surprise me
Considering Cubs had a 10 game homestand that we are leading in many categories. While we might be a smaller ball park, we still get larger crowds and a 10 game homestand can make a difference.
*Yes I do realize a majority of voting takes place on the web too.
by ak123 on May 19, 2008 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Saber-magicians! I like it!
As far as your suggestion that essentially everyone in our lineup that isn’t our center fielder (oh, or Alfonso Soriano) should be an All-Star, well, my friggin’ sweet magic would beg to differ.
According to what my amazing eldritch powers of baseball divination tell me, plenty of established stars at shortstop – guys like Furcal, Tejada, Rollins, and HanRam – are all comfortably outproducing Theriot. I seriously doubt that Theriot has enough scrap to beat out those four for the All-Star team.
DeRosa’s got more of a case than Theriot, but even then Uggla and Utley are having amazing years. He’s a longshot at best.
Ramirez, again, is having a very good season currenly being outshined by even better seasons by others at his position. Chipper Jones is making a run at batting over .400 for an entire season, and David Wright is having a good year as well. He has name recognition that DeRosa lacks, so I wouldn’t call him a longshot. But he can’t be a favorite at this point.
Ironically, your favorite Guess Hack Hitter has a better shot at being an All-Star than any of those three at this point; his early-season struggles are likely to be forgotten soon, nobody’s running away with things in left field right now, and he’s got a lot of established star power.
by cwyers on May 20, 2008 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and just to reemphasize:
SABERMAGICIAN!
Damn this is cool. It’s like an early Christmas – sabermagician! Just rolls off the tounge.
by cwyers on May 20, 2008 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
All-Star team representation
This is obviously very academic (and probably would almost always be, as players that produce don’t tend to move teams early in the season), but Jim Edmonds is on the ballot for the Padres and Felix Pie is on it for the Cubs. If Edmonds was elected would he represent the Padres or the Cubs? If Felix was elected would he show up in an I-Cubs jersey?
If nobody knows the answers to these questions, who wants to start a nationwide campaign of misinformation leading to the election of Edmonds and Pie just so we can find out?
by aldimond on May 20, 2008 1:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Of course...
... the player would represent the team he is currently playing for. The ballots are printed very early.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on May 20, 2008 4:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
my ballot
First Base: Lee, D., CHCbe a homer for once you a-holes. everyone else does it, WTF
Second Base: DeRosa, M., CHC
Third Base: Ramirez, A., CHC
Shortstop: Theriot, R., CHC
Catcher: Soto, G., CHC
Outfielder: Edmonds, J., SD
Outfielder: Fukudome, K., CHC
Outfielder: Soriano, A., CHC
Before Edmonds: 24-16, (.600); With Edmonds: 4-1 (.800), DRS: 1
by joeschmitt on May 20, 2008 2:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You were doing okay ...
Until you mentioned that damn Edmonds!
GEAUX FONTENOT!
by Little Rock Ryno Fan on May 20, 2008 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Soto
A few years ago some Cubs online groups started a campaign for Lee. Not only did they post in their groups but they went to their other online groups and asked for anyone unless they were fans of another player to vote for Lee.
Any thoughts on doing this for Soto?
We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.
by cubstoseriesby100 on May 20, 2008 12:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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