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Take Your Stars and Shove 'em
Jason Michael Barker
Today's column is brought to you by Baseballhead, John Burkett and Rob Dibble.
Baseballhead, since Michael Cox couldn't be with you this week due to circumstances beyond his control. Rest assured, the Strikethree.com medical staff is working 'round the clock to get him back to writing condition. Last I checked they had already gone through three rolls of duct tape and six pieces of plywood, so you know things are going well.
John Burkett, because it's always easy to talk big when you've got nothing on the line. Burkett, in case you missed it, promised to boycott the All-Star Game this year if selected because he's unhappy with Bud Selig. It's not that I don't appreciate the sentiment -- who is happy with Selig? -- it's that this might mean more coming from a guy with an actual shot at making the roster.
Rob Dibble, because he's the same loud-mouthed buffoon he was during his playing days -- only now he's got ESPN fooled into thinking he provides worthwhile commentary. At this point, even the Mets are sick of the Roger Clemens situation. Shawn Estes threw behind Clemens Saturday, then let his arm (and bat) do the talking. Dibble apparently would have preferred Estes hit Clemens even though it would have meant being tossed from the game.
Moving on...
Every year, people get all worked up over the All Star Game, or rather fan balloting for the All Star Game. You know the drill. "How can you keep voting for Cal Ripken Jr. when he's no good?" "Why is anyone voting for Ken Griffey Jr. -- he's been hurt all year!" "Look at the great year Mike Lieberthal is having, and he's in seventh place!"
I know, because I've written columns on this very site saying essentially the same thing. For years my All Star ballot was made up of the players with the best numbers over the first two-plus months of the season, even if the guy had come out of nowhere and was just as likely to be back there by season's end. After all, you gotta reward the guys having the big years, right?
Last year a funny thing happened -- I actually attended the All Star Game, as it was held in Seattle. Knowing months in advance that I'd be there got me thinking about the players I'd like to see, which naturally got me thinking about my All Star ballot. And guess what? I found I was no longer interested in rewarding the guys who'd had two good months.
As a result, the National League side of my ballot went something like this: Mike Piazza, with an infield of Mark McGwire, Craig Biggio, Barry Larkin and Scott Rolen, plus Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa in the outfield. Some of those players "deserved" to be there using the usual standard, while others did not. Does it matter, really? No, it doesn't. Those were the players I wanted to see, several of them because I've never seen them in person.
In fact, this is exactly what Major League Baseball wants you to do. Surf on over to MLB.com and check out the ballot for yourself. "You are the key to help your favorite players get to Milwaukee!" Notice that says your favorite players, not the players with the best numbers.
Of course, this being a free country, you're allowed to determine what makes a player your favorite and what does not. If you want to go by the numbers, be my guest. If you want to choose players with last names you have a hard time spelling, go for it. Maybe you'd like to choose players who do great things for the community. It's up to you!
I haven't filled out an All Star ballot this year, but if I did, here's what it would look like.
National League
First -- A fairly thin field in terms of interesting players, but in
the end Jeff Bagwell gets the nod. The guy has been a very good player
for years and only has four All Star appearances to show for it. That and the
only other viable candidate plays half his games at Coors Field.
Second -- This one's a toss-up between Roberto Alomar and Craig Biggio. I voted for Biggio last year because I really wanted to see him in person, but if you're a Milwaukee fan attending the game you've probably already seen him. On the other hand, you might not have seen Alomar unless you caught him a few years back while the Brewers were in the American League. I'll flip a coin... Biggio.
Shortstop -- Barry Larkin vs. Jimmy Rollins. Larkin was the best at his position for years in the NL, while Rollins looks like he'll be the best for years to come. I think they're pretty similar players, too. Here I have to go with the new guard, as Larkin really has fallen off the last couple of seasons due to age and injuries, not that he didn't have a good run in his day. Jimmy Rollins it is, then.
Third -- Like first, another thin position. Edgardo Alfonzo may have lost his power, but he's doing a nice job getting on base and coming back from a horrid 2001. It's unfortunate injuries have taken such a toll on his career.
Catcher -- As long as Mike Piazza's here, this one's easy. If the best hitting catcher in baseball history isn't a star, who is? He's always been one of my favorites.
Outfield -- Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa in the corners are easy, but who should play between them? I'll go the unconventional route and take Lance Berkman, who is playing center for the Astros most of the time even if he shouldn't be. Kudos to them for realizing his bat more than makes up for it. That and he seems like a pretty cool, down to earth guy.
American League
First -- I have to go with Jason Giambi here, in a landslide of
Piazza-like proportions. Carlos Delgado can mash and John Olerud is as smooth
as they come, but Giambi's like a big kid out there having fun. And hitting
the ball 500 feet.
Second -- With one exception, none of the guys on the ballot have done much of anything this season. The one exception, while I despise his hacking, anti-walking ways, is having a pretty darned good season and it's hard to make a case for anybody else. So Alfonso Soriano, take your ha--er, I mean, cuts.
Shortstop -- Again, we're talking Piazza and Giambi here. You know him, you love/hate him, he's the best player in the game today... ladies and gentleman, the $252M man, Alex Rodriguez. Hands down, no contest, with apologies to Nomar Garciaparra.
Third -- Troy Glaus bores me, I'm still not quite sold on Shea Hillenbrand, and Tony Batista has that weird batting stance working against him. Instead I'll go with Eric Chavez, the man destined to win an MVP award or three in the next five seasons. Give him a little time, and he'll be able to carry the A's the way Giambi did last season. Honorable mention to Eric Hinske, the forgotten rookie who's putting together a very nice year so far in Toronto. Side note: he's four months older than Chavez.
Catcher -- If Pudge could ever get healthy and stay healthy, he'd be an obvious pick. His combination of offense and defense is rather rare in today's game, particularly at his position. Instead I'll go with Jorge Posada, who doesn't get enough recognition for being a very solid player. That seems strange since he plays for the Yankees, but he seems to get overshadowed by all the big names on his team.
Outfield -- As with the NL, two of the three spots are easy to fill with Ichiro and Manny Ramirez (I know he's missed a ton of time, but he's still who I'd want to see hit). The third spot is quite a bit tougher, particularly if you want someone who can actually handle center. I'll go with a bit of an upset and take Tampa Bay's Randy Winn, who is probably having a better year than you realized (.311/.361/.479 with 14 steals). Hey, I never said I wouldn't reward guys having good years, just that it wouldn't be my only reason.
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