I don't usually get fired up about an All-Star Game but...

Scott Rolen over Aramis Ramirez????????

Are you kidding me? His OPS is .682! His OBP is below .280!? Who in the world picks these things? Do they throw darts at names?

11 months ago Unique 51 comments 0 recs |

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Heh.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 9, 2011 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

I don't know what "heh" means in response to this, but...

… the selection of Rolen is a joke. They might as well have taken Blake DeWitt — his OPS is almost as high as Rolen’s.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 9, 2011 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

The Franchise belongs there.....

by ClarkFan on Jul 9, 2011 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions

"Heh" is a snickering laugh.

Aramis is on the third-worst team in MLB. Granted that doesn’t always matter, but it could. I chalk this one up to a default selection because of Rolen’s career.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 9, 2011 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess.

Still, Rolen is having a bad year. Ramirez is having a good one, and has also had a good career. This was a really bad choice.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 9, 2011 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions

What the hell does that have to do with anything?

It’s an All-Star game — nothing about this should be team affliated. If a guy has better numbers than the competition, then he should go. It’s as simplistic as that. And also by it being an All-Star game it should not coincide with a lifetime achievement award – nothing about Scott Rolen is an All-star for his position.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 9, 2011 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Alright.

Try to justify Jeter’s pick or McCutchen’s selection to me then. You can’t. The All-Star Game is a load of shit.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 9, 2011 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I won't justify those picks.

I don’t agree with those either.

While McCutchen wasn’t on the orginial team, he is on the team. I’m assuming you are saying the non-selection of McCutchen was a problem.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 9, 2011 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Listen, I agree this Rolen-over-Aramis is a joke.

But to ignore that the quality of the team matters for all-star game selections, just like it does for MVP candidates is ignorant. I found it laughable that the 2008 Cubs had 8 selections. Why did they get 8? Because we were killing the division. I can’t believe Fukudome started that game and Zambrano made the team. The all-star game doesn’t make any sense because its’ rules are contrived by Bud Selig and Bud Selig is an idiot.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 9, 2011 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Ok, the Reds are in 4th place and, like, 3 games below...

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 9, 2011 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions

And we're the 3rd worst team in baseball and 8 games behind the Reds.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 9, 2011 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I know, but it's not like the Reds deserve to have like 5 guys on the team.

The Rolen pick makes no sense.

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 10, 2011 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

ARam has gotten left off the AS team too many times

because of a bad voted 3B or a glut of high-performing 3B’s in a particular season. Frankly, he’s owed this one based on this season’s performance, but making up for his other snubs would be nice, too.

"The cheaper the hood, the gaudier the talk" - Philip Marlowe

by ForTheLoveOfBiitner on Jul 10, 2011 3:59 AM CDT up reply actions

the Reds are a sub.500 team

so your theory does not hold much water

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 10, 2011 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions

DeWitt

is an OF. j/k. I think.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 10, 2011 7:00 AM CDT up reply actions

You forgot the whiskey and the blindfold

You just can’t make the selections in true All-Star Game style without them.

Maybe the NL manager owes Dusty some favor.

by ClarkFan on Jul 9, 2011 9:23 PM CDT reply actions

That must be one serious favor.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 9, 2011 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

You really don't know the background

This was a short notice call and A-Ram and other possible guys might simply have made other plans. This is how Girardi ended up in AS game. He was the first available catcher who answered the phone.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jul 9, 2011 9:51 PM CDT reply actions

I hope that's the case.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 9, 2011 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions

And it wasn't the case...

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen already is taking the place of the Atlanta Braves’ Chipper Jones (knee). Rolen had finished second to Jones in players’ voting.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 9, 2011 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions

That doesn't make this the right choice.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 10, 2011 7:27 AM CDT up reply actions

this theory makes a lot more sense

than Rolen got in because the Reds are better than the Cubs

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 10, 2011 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Bud Selig approves

…says his wallet.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 9, 2011 9:57 PM CDT reply actions

His numbers say he should be there...But is it because his numbers are recent and the fact that the Cubs suck have something to do with it?

by TJ11 on Jul 9, 2011 10:22 PM CDT reply actions

He's added some SLG recently, but even his singles-heavy

OPS was about .100 higher than Rolen’s.

"The cheaper the hood, the gaudier the talk" - Philip Marlowe

by ForTheLoveOfBiitner on Jul 10, 2011 4:01 AM CDT up reply actions

i wish i cared enough about the ASG to get angry over this

Blake "The Franchise" DeWitt will lead us to the promised land

by jesus christos on Jul 9, 2011 10:59 PM CDT reply actions

LOL

by Clark Addison on Jul 10, 2011 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions

You know what bitching about the All-Star Game is like?

It’s like going to the movies and saying, “If a spider REALLY bit a kid, the kid would just get an infected spider bite and not get super powers. This movie is stupid!”

You either buy into the fantasy or you don’t. Stop whining.

"It's all in the game, yo"

by Worf on Jul 10, 2011 8:50 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

It's hardly a "fantasy" when players opt out left & right and the best replacements aren't chosen.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 10, 2011 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Its pretty simple,

if you don’t like the fact I mentioned this then disregard my post. This was Cub relevant and relevant news, and I .. have an opinion about the news. It’s a blog.

Don’t like it? Oh well. But don’t tell me what to have an opinion on, and then proceed to tell me I’m whining about it.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 10, 2011 9:22 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Making the All Star game count is fantasy

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 10, 2011 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

It's actually nothing like that.

I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers

by Nunyabidness on Jul 11, 2011 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope Ramirez

has a nice 3 day vacation and comes back raking like he’s been the past month.

He’s too good to be playing in this farce of an exhibition game.

by Clark Addison on Jul 10, 2011 11:13 AM CDT reply actions

And of course Rami gets a call to be an injury replacement..

but doesn’t want to change his travel plans at the last minute, turns it down.

And they say this is the All-Star game that means something.

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Jul 10, 2011 2:17 PM CDT reply actions

What? No, he was never offered the spot on the team.

by bdlugz on Jul 10, 2011 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes he was, and he declined.

by Dcr18 on Jul 10, 2011 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Fair enough, thanks for the link.

I’d heard Rolen went because he was the 2nd in player voting. Never heard Ramirez mentioned before.

by bdlugz on Jul 10, 2011 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Rolen replaced Chipper Jones.

Ramirez was offered the slot to replace Placido Polanco.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 11, 2011 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/5393/reports-ramirez-turns-down-all-star-spot

by Dcr18 on Jul 10, 2011 7:51 PM CDT reply actions

It seems like a chump move not to go

1st of all Ramirez decides not to show up until half the season is gone.

After the terrible season the Cubs had, partly because of Ramirez I am sure die hard cubs fans would of enjoyed seeing Ramirez playing 3rd at the All Star game, it would bring back 2008 memories.

Ramirez just don’t seem to care about anything. He doesn’t want to be traded and going to the All Star game would grant him a bonus. His disinterest tells me he doesn’t care if his option is picked up.

by Mitchener on Jul 10, 2011 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Screw that

They waited too long to invite him. Ramirez made plans with his family and they had already left for the DR.

Maybe if they had asked him on Saturday, he would have changed his plans. But Sunday morning is too late.

"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver

by RiskyBusiness on Jul 11, 2011 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

He already had plans to go home with his family.

If you really have a problem with this than your just looking for things to complain about.

by Dcr18 on Jul 11, 2011 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I am sure a lot of all star replacements had plans and wanted to spend time at home with family.

And some of them did, but they should know it’s a honor to play and if everyone decides to opt out because they have to fly home or play it safe then it wouldn’t be a All Star game it would just be a bunch of Replacement nobodies. Ramirez knew a week ago that there was a good chance he would be selected to play.

Baseball players have to make sacrifices he could easily fly his family to the game with the 75,000 dollar bonus he would of got.

by Mitchener on Jul 11, 2011 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Ramirez didn't know a week ago that Chipper was going to have surgery.

It was very short notice.

by Dcr18 on Jul 12, 2011 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Even on short notice a lot of us would of took the opportunity.

Like i said it is a honor to play in the game and it’s not like he’s some Soldier who has been fighting for his country and hasn’t seen his family for months.

His family has been up in Chicago, and he gets to spend 5 months in Dominican Republic with his family more than most dads get too.

I would be on Ramirez’s side if he was a regular joe, but he’s not. I would of took my family to the All Star game.

by Mitchener on Jul 12, 2011 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Also this statement say it all from Ramirez

“At this point, I don’t think (I’ll be picked) if they named Rolen,” Ramirez said. “I don’t care. I’d rather take the three days off. I’m going to the Dominican (Sunday).”

Rather take three days… Lazy Ramirez.

by Mitchener on Jul 12, 2011 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I've complained about athletes who seem to be willing to move to get an extra dollar.

So I’ll give Aramis some credit for turning down the AS game and bonus to spend some time with his family.

by BVictor on Jul 11, 2011 5:48 AM CDT reply actions

Look, the ASG has become a farce

The current version was developed by a bad clown (Frown Face Bud), and making it “count” is just the ulitmate hoax. Inter-league play eliminated the special nature of the ASG, and no game by MLB management will change that. At this point, they should just replace it with a 2-day home run contest, a softball game, or a celebrity gold tournament.

by ClarkFan on Jul 11, 2011 9:28 AM CDT reply actions