THE MIDSUMMER LIST OF GRIEVANCES: The 2010 MLB All Star Game lineups have been announced. Not only is Stephen Strasburg not on the team, but nor is he on the NL ballot for the final slot (while other NL pitchers are. Seriously, just as an email list-building exercise, how can you not have Strasburg on that fan ballot? But I still expect him to be a replacement for one of the Sunday starters.)
But other people did make the team, and we can discuss what a lousy job the selectors did again. Below the fold, from July 4, 1939, when one of the greatest stars of all said farewell.
With 34 players per team (more, actually, when you include the eligible pitchers selected for the non-playing roster because they're on the mound today), there aren't any really serious injustices -- is it so horrific if the 28th best National League player isn't selected for the All-Star Game?
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, it's not such a terrible thing that Strasburg isn't in the All-Star Game 36 innings into his career. If he ever learns to pitch from the stretch and doesn't blow his arm out, he's got a dozen-plus such games in the tank.
ReplyDeleteIt's the people pitching *next* Sunday who are ineligible.
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised Joey Votto didn't make the squad (yet).
No White Sox players?!? That's...wait, that's exactly right.
ReplyDeleteSorry, that was me.
ReplyDeleteMatt Thornton is in, with Konerko on the extra ballot.
ReplyDeleteI was referring to position players, but thanks.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Thornton, and Evan Meek and Arthur Rhodes, is this the first year we're seeing three setup guys get nods?
ReplyDeleteSeems like the last spot on the AL roster is a tough choice, though Votto is pretty clearly the most deserving on the NL final ballot. I am fine with Strasburg not being selected to the team on the strength of five starts, but not putting him on the final ballot undermines the entire point behind the final ballot gimmick.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet Nationals management keeps Strasburg away from any All-Star activity.
ReplyDeleteEvan Meek has been ridiculous this year, although I wish Andrew McCutchen would have gotten the nod. He's really slumped these last couple weeks after a blistering first two and a half months to the season.
ReplyDeleteIs Charlie Manuel trying to destroy the All-Star Game as we know it by selecting Omar Infante over Joey Votto? Crafty.
2001 -- Mike Stanton, Jeff Nelson, Paul Quantrill (weirdly, I remembered that Stanton and Quantrill were on that team, but had to look up to be reminded of Jeff Nelson, the Mariner).
ReplyDeleteIt probably should be obvious, but for the record, it was I who remembered Stanton and Quantrill, not Spacewoman.
ReplyDelete<span>Is Charlie Manuel trying to destroy the All-Star Game as we know it by selecting Omar Infante over Joey Votto? </span>
ReplyDeleteNo, no. Infante was wrongly selected over Ryan Zimmerman; it was Ryan Howard that was unjustly selected over Joey Votto.
Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard over Joey Votto (who hit two more homers last night) = baseball injustice.
ReplyDelete