While others view the MLB All-Star game as a meaningless exhibition with the capability of ending in a tie, I really enjoy sitting down on a warm July night to watch the best baseball has to offer on one field. The Homerun Derby is sheer entertainment, and even the Futures game is fun to follow, but the All-Star game is the real centerpiece of the break. And rightfully so. There are many reasons to enjoy the Game- the multi-colored uniforms represented on the field, smiling when a player from your favorite team rips a hit, seeing who is used to close the game, or pinch hit in a big situation- this stuff is entertaining. And this year, we?ll find out which White Sox play all nine innings!
Unfortunately, with everything these days, something is flawed. The fan voting, the ?every team represented? rule, and the manager choosing the subs. The fan voting is quite obvious. Big-city clubs like the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox dominate the voting because of their vast fan base, as this is the first time that both right-side infields are from the same club. Jason Bay does not deserve to start in right field, but because I found out my hero Eddie Vedder told the crowd at a Pittsburgh concert to vote for Jason, I?ll give him a free pass. I could go over countless mistakes the fans make (like Pudge over Mauer). As for the ?every team represented? rule, there?s the reason Curt Schilling will not be in Pittsburgh next week.
We all know Ozzie Guillen is an idiot. I probably would have done the same as Evan, though, and shook his hand in the hotel?.then spit on him and kick him in the groin. Okay, yes, we hate Jay Mariotti too, but calling him ?that name? was inappropriate, just like everything else you do Ozzie. Like pick the subs for the 2006 American League All-Stars. You idiot.
Jason Giambi over Paul Konerko
Ozzie Guillen?s choice to come off the bench and play first base?Paul Konerko! No way! Now we have two Chicago White Sox coming off the bench to play first base. Sweet! No, I?m not bitter. Anyway, Giambi is putting up much more impressive numbers than the aforementioned Konerko. Giambi is getting on-base at his usual .435 rate with a .626 slugging and a SecA of .609. Want more? Giambi has an IsoP of better than 100 points of Konerko’s, and four more dingers. And don?t give me the argument that because Giambi doesn?t regularly play first base that he shouldn?t be playing. First of all, Selig should make every All-Star game feature a DH and that will solve this problem quickly. Second, Giambi has played first base enough with the Yankees that this shouldn?t be an issue. You could make a definite argument for Travis Hafner over Konerko, too.
Curt Schilling over Mark Buehrle
Not only am I angry Guillen chose Buehrle because he didn?t deserve it, but finding out he would be the pitcher STARTING for the American League is awful. Come on, he started the game last year, too. So now we have Mark Buehrle, he and his 9-5 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 125 H in 116 IP and .275 BAA, trying to shore up home field in the World Series for our Red Sox. How crappy. Meanwhile, Schilling has been a friggin savior for Boston this year, sporting a 10-2 record, 3.54 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 110 H in 114 IP and .253 BAA. Buehrle has a 4.76 DIPS, worse than Schilling (3.43) and Mussina (3.50), another deserving candidate. Oh yeah, they don’t play in Chicago. Never mind then.
(By the way, Buehrle gave up 13 hits and 10 runs, including 3 HR, in 5 innings today. Against the Chicago Cubs. Those Chicago Cubs. Folks, your 2006 All-Star game starting pitcher! And what about Tigers like Robertson, Bonderman and Verlander? Who is first in the standings, Ozzie?)
Joe Nathan over Bobby Jenks
Saves are a stupid statistic, let?s just get that out of the way. It?s pretty much pure and total luck. Entering a 9-6 game, giving up five hits, two runs, but winning 9-8 would earn you a save. Dumb stat. This is also the stat Ozzie Guillen looked at when choosing the All-Star team (scratch that, he didn?t look at any stats). Joe Nathan has a 0.79 WHIP, a BIG statistic for a closer. Opponents are hitting .187 off Nathan. He has 47 strikeouts. Or there?s Bobby Jenks, who has a less impressive 1.04 WHIP, .209 BAA and 43 strikeouts in more innings. Sure I?m nitpicking, but if I was the man chosen to select an All-Star team, I would do it the right way. Nathan deserves to go.
So Ozzie, please stop the madness. Don?t bring Paul Konerko along when Jim Thome is already backing up at first base and Giambi/Hafner deserve to go, don?t start Mark Buehrle when his numbers are worse than every other starter on the team, and for the love of God Bobby Jenks isn?t that good. But really, what else can we expect from Ozzie Guillen?
