More Mailbag Beefs

Dave Paisley

Well, once again, the mailman has been burning extra electrons to bring your Strikethree.com pundit more reader comments, and I thought I'd share a couple more on some All-Star controversies.

First, we have Peter, an Angel fan:

Hey Dave,

I know you guys at Strikethree love to rip into Paul O'Neill,

Oh yes we do! And we love every minute of it. Every Gatorade bucket smacked, every petulant twirl of the batting helmet, we love them all.

and I certainly can't blame you.

And who could?

However, I have one small request... Can the writers of Strikethree bash on Juan Gonzalez. I don't want him to feel left out. Here's a player who complains and whines about his RBI chances. He cried foul at almost losing RBIs on a Knoblauch error last year, bitches about the fences at home "not being close enough", thinks that a two-time "AL MVP" is more valuable than Kevin Brown, and now this "I'm going to boycott the All-Star game if I can't start. Wah."

You know, Peter, I believe you've captured the very essence of Juan Gonzalez. Never once did he give credit to McLemore, Greer and Goodwin last year when he went on that RBI tear in the first half, which was 90% of the reason for his MVP award. And who can forget his intimidation of official scorers? As for his '96 MVP, you may remember he stole that one from Seattle's Alex Rodriguez, a little something we haven't forgotten here in the Northwest corner, nor ever will.

Obviously, all those RBIs have gotten into his head.

Well, Juan is a legend in his own mind.

He's the main reason I dislike the Rangers, and that's not considering that I'm an Angels fan (feel sorry for us).

Hmmm, the same Angels who singled the Mariners to death in two games this week? I'm not gonna feel sorry for you too much. Although it is tough to have any hope for a team with an entire pitching rotation on the DL, so I do sympathize with you there. Of course, there are times when I wish we could put the entire Seattle bullpen on the DL and just get anybody else to pitch.

Anyways, I'm hoping that Strikethree shares the wealth.

Well, I think you've done as fine a job as I ever could, and so I feel I'm doing the world a service simply by giving you center stage to vent here for a while.

Thanks,
Peter

You're welcome. And now on to another favorite topic of ours -- All-Star ballot box stuffing in Cleveland. Shawn writes:

I live in NW Ohio, surrounded by millions of Indians fans that suddenly and miraculously appeared on the face of the earth during the 1995 season.

Strangely enough, we had something like the same thing happen here in Seattle about the same time. It's a pity neither team won the Series that year, isn't it?

Each and every one of them claims to be a life-long supporter of the Indians. Since nine-tenths of them are wearing brand new caps, shirts and coats (not to mention those annoying car window flags), I rather doubt it.

Cynicism? From a Strikethree.com reader? How unusual! I think I see a good economic reason to lose Chief Wahoo -- think of the cash all that new logo merchandise would rake in!

Anyhow, I've been complaining about this for years. I work with 2 Tribe fans (who really are lifers) and they make no apologies for their corruption of the All-Star system via ballot box stuffing. To my way of thinking, it would be poetic justice if 2 or 3 of those Indians players are injured at the All-Star game.

Especially when you consider Joe Torre doing his own extra selections. I think he's more concerned about wearing out the Indians so they'll be softened up for the post-season. It's at least as viable a theory as any other I've heard. It still doesn't explain Ron Coomer, though.

Also, how can you not argue with Thome being the A.L. first baseman? Thome is having the worst year of his young career and there are more deserving candidates out there (heck, even Mike Stanley's numbers are better). The sad fact is that the All-Star game will always be a complete joke until such time as the fans' voting privileges are taken away.

While I understand your indignation, I think it's instructive that Torre and Bochy both made some awful picks that make the fans look like Bill James by comparison. (I'd also like to point out that Shawn wrote this before the managers' picks were announced.) In all honesty, I think we'd see some horrendous choices if we let the players and coaches pick the starters. Gee, I'm sure we'd have Mike Bordick, Eric Karros and numerous other stiffs with "great intangibles" showing up at the All-Star game. Even worse, imagine an All-Star team picked by Peter Gammons. Or maybe that's a thought best left alone.

There would, however, still be problems with the sports writers voting in their stead (remember Mo Vaughn winning the MVP over Albert "Joey" Belle? Juan Gonzalez over A Rod was at least arguable). That's my 2 cents worth.

Juan Gonzalez over Alex Rodriguez arguable? Hmm, I'm not sure you want to go there, Shawn.

Shawn
Owner: St. Elms Locomotives (Fantasy League of American Baseball)
"Proving just how bad pitching can get!"
1998 Fantasy League of American Baseball Champions

Thanks for the thoughts, Shawn. It won't be the last you hear of the All-Star selection shambles this week, I'm sure.

And thanks, guys, for reopening those '96 MVP vote wounds. I really appreciate it.

about the author

Dave Paisley has never figured out why in "Reality Bites" Winona Ryder throws over Ben Stiller for the guy whose hair sticks to the wall. Explain that it's a Jack McDowell kind of thing at drdjp@strikethree.com.