EVIL~! alkeiper

I've taken up the suggestion. In researching this, its amazing how many bad catchers have made the All-Star team. Some of these guys make Joe Girardi look like a wise move.

If an individual team wants to lessen the gamble, by all means let them. It's smart. It really is. But players should have the OPPORTUNITY to enter the draft.

It happens. No pitcher is absolutely perfect. However, you can stack the odds, and not bringing in Roberto Hernandez is a good start.

Here's some numbers I find interesting. 3 Point Percentage (League Average)...... 1984 25.1% 1989 32.2% 1994 33.3% 1999 33.9% 2004 34.7% That's your own bias. I can hardly name any of the best NFL players. Does that mean football sucks? I'm not sure what you mean by that last statement. If you mean teams are using a losing draft strategy, then let one of them figure it out, and beat the pants off the competition. If the theory is true, it will fix itself.

That's the problem with the All-Star game. Mediocre players voted into the All-Star game because they caught fire for two months. What kind of system NEVER rewards players for what they do in the second half of the season?

We're assuming that Nomar is healthy in mid-July. If Jordan was healthy (and in his prime), I'd put him on the court. Nope. His "MVP" season trails Nomar's CAREER batting stats.

They're bitching about the Nomar vote on ATH. "Don't they know this game counts?" Now honestly, if you had to win one game, which player would you pick for your team? Career OPS.... Nomar 925 Young 750 Tejada 795 Guillen 738 Jeter 843 Valentin 777 Berroa 734 Its not even close. Garciaparra is the class of AL shortstops, and if the game truly counts, pick the BEST player. Michael Young needs more than 50 games to prove he supplants Nomar.

Sounds like Corey Patterson hasn't read Moneyball. Note how his philosophy contradicts Scott Hatteberg, and note how the 34 year old ex-catcher outhits the hot 24 year old prospect.

I haven't voted myself. If the All-Star game had 2nd or 3rd place selections, I would gladly chose Mora. But with one pick, its A-Rod all the way.

As always, the greatest news breaks are reported on messageboards by anonymous fans.

The rest of the teams are now selected by players. And I think they have every right to select Bagwell over Casey. HOFer > Above average hitter with hot start

Abreu pinch hits for Doug Glanville. I take everything back I've ever said about Larry Bowa. He rules it.

First off, more than this year should count when selecting all-stars. I am NOT advocating a career-achievement vote. Its just that less than 200 at bats is not a good enough piece of information to truly judge a player. Second, Abreu leads both players in Runs Created.

A-Rod hit .358 at the age of 20, in 1996. Should he have been forced to spend more time in AAA because he was too young?

I have no doubt that athletes bend the rules, particularly without inforcement mechanisms. But to completely discount accomplishments due to mere suspicion is a dangerous area to get into.

What problems? Miserable people play sports regardless of whether they attended college or not.

Shit. Damn you guys for actually finding a good pick.

Its simply that no Eastern team would easily fit within the Central.

The scheduling does suck this year. The Phillies get only six games against our cross-state rivals, the Pirates. Three are at home in April, and three in September in Pittsburgh. And that's IT.

I honestly looked for a right fielder other than Abreu. I really did.

Does it really matter? Its maybe another hour than usual on an airplane. Big series to start is Chicago-Houston. Those two teams are the big hitters in the Central.

No way. Abreu's got a MUCH better track record, and is 10 for 10 in steal attempts. I want to see Burrell do this over a full season before he gets an All-Star nod. Abreu's been screwed far too long.

1. That is not proof. For one, we do not know what those supplements from Balco were, or what sustances were in them. We do not know that Gary Sheffield actually took those supplements. 2. Who is to say that Manny Ramirez never took steroids, or corked his bat?

Proof?

Manny Ramirez career OPS+: 157 Albert Pujols: 167 Gary Sheffield has also been better two of the last three seasons.