All-Star Voting has started

[snuffbox 0]

Carlos Lee and Brady Clark are both having All-Star seasons in Milwaukee...its too bad Milwaukee doesnt actually exist in MLB.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

So much for "Watch...Griffey will start."

[KingPK 0]

Here's my ballot:

 

AL

C- J. Varitek, BOS

1B - M. Teixeira, TEX

2B - A. Soriano, TEX

3B - B. Mueller, BOS

SS - M. Tejada, BAL

OF - J. Damon, BOS

OF - T. Nixon, BOS

OF - M. Ramirez, BOS

DH - D. Ortiz, BOS

 

NL

C - R. Hernandez, SD

1B - A. Pujols, STL

2B - C. Utley, PHI

3B - D. Wright, NYM

SS - C. Izturis, LAD

OF - B. Abreu, PHI

OF - P. Burrell, PHI

OF - C. Lee, MIL

 

Ok, ok, so it's Homerpalooza on the AL side (at least I didn't vote for Millar and Bellhorn, unlike some people I saw at Fenway last Sunday), but hey, Nixon's playing well.

[Brett Favre 0]

Not better than Sheff. Mueller over A-Rod!? I know it's homerpalooza but PLEASE!

[KingPK 0]

I've got 24 more votes, so I'll throw 4 over to A-Rod to make you happy.

[Brett Favre 0]

It's all I ask.

 

It looks like no AL Central player will start.

[Guest Brian]

Garland or Buehrle might get the nod to pitch.

[snuffbox 0]

Carlos Lee - 66 RBI, leads the NL... 20 HR, 3rd in the NL

 

Carlos Lee's position in All-Star outfield voting - 15th.

 

Baseball fans sure are an educated lot

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Carlos Lee - 66 RBI, leads the NL... 20 HR, 3rd in the NL

 

Carlos Lee's position in All-Star outfield voting - 15th.

 

Baseball fans sure are an educated lot

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah, because all baseball fans filled out their All-Star ballots at the exact moment Carlos Lee led the league in home runs (while playing in a favorable hitting park of course). Carlos Lee ranks about 14th in eligible outfielders in on base percentage. I haven't voted for him, since he is not a top three outfielder. And if I haven't voted for him, having read the statistics and understood them, what makes it such a travesty that no one else has?

[Bored 0]

Top 10 N.L. Outfielders

 

VORP

1. Bobby Abreu

2. Miguel Cabrera

3. Jason Bay

4. Brian Giles

5. Adam Dunn

6. Carlos Lee

7. Brady Clark

8. Andruw Jones

9. Pat Burrell

10. Jim Edmonds

 

OPS

1. Bobby Abreu

2. Adam Dunn

3. Miguel Cabrera

4. Jim Edmonds

5. Jason Bay

6. Brian Giles

7. Moises Alou

8. Pat Burrell

9. Carlos Lee

10. Andruw Jones

 

Win Shares

1. Bobby Abreu

2. Brian Giles

3. Luis Gonzalez

4. Brad Wilkerson

5. Adam Dunn

6. Jim Edmonds

7. Carlos Lee

8. Brady Clark

9. Jason Bay

10. Cliff Floyd

[snuffbox 0]

Anybody who leads the league in RBI (an important stat, imo) should be on an All-Star team.

[Precious Roy 0]

I've been voting Abreu, Cabrera, Lee on all my ballots. The only other guy I considered was Bay.

[Guest]

Anybody who leads the league in RBI (an important stat, imo) should be on an All-Star team.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, he's going to be on the NL All Star team, but he's not going to start.

[snuffbox 0]

If Carlos Lee played for NY/LA/Chicago he'd start...to me, that just takes away from the All-Star game. The league RBI leader doesnt start because he happens to play in a smaller market.

 

Oh well, Im sure the All-Star game will contiue to bring in huge ratings...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If Carlos Lee played for NY/LA/Chicago he'd start...to me, that just takes away from the All-Star game. The league RBI leader doesnt start because he happens to play in a smaller market.

 

Oh well, Im sure the All-Star game will contiue to bring in huge ratings...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You are ten years behind in your statistics. There are several reasons the league RBI leader should not start in the All-Star game...

 

1. There is no guarantee Carlos Lee will be the league RBI leader by the time the All-Star game rolls around.

 

2. RBIs are a situation-dependant statistic. Carlos Lee hits behind two batters (Brady Clark and Lyle Overbay) sporting .390 OBPs. That amounts to MANY RBI opportunities. How many batters enjoy the same number of baserunners?

 

3. RBIs are not a direct indication of hitting skill. Batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, runs created, win shares, etc. are all better statistics for judging a player's overall ability.

 

4. Carlos Lee benefits from hitting in a good hitters' environment.

 

Among NL outfielders, Lee is 19th in batting average, 20th in OBP, 4th in slugging percentage, 10th in OPS, 7th in hits, 13th in runs scored, 10th in RC/27 (runs created per 27 outs), and 7th in Win Shares. On top of that, he enjoys an average defensive reputation. But because he's first in RBIs, he's an All-Star? That's stupid. I'm sorry, but there's no other way of saying it. RBIs are a virtually worthless statistic. It is bad enough players win MVP awards because of them.

[UZI Suicide 0]

I wouldn't say RBI's are useless. It's not like any Joe Schmoe can hit 3rd in a lineup and drive in 120 runs. There's a reason nearly the same guys are at the top of the RBI statistics each year, despite changing teams or the players hitting in front of them changing. Lee this year is hitting .309 with a 1.020 OPS with RISP, with 8 HR's. That's the name of the game, scoring runs.

 

I don't think RBI is the be all end of all of stats and I don't think it is among the most important things to consider for a player, but it should definitely be a factor.

[snuffbox 0]

RBI is a worthless stat...I guess the OBP players can just find their own way home.

[Bored 0]

I wouldn't say RBI's are useless. It's not like any Joe Schmoe can hit 3rd in a lineup and drive in 120 runs.

Vinny Castilla led the N.L. in RBI last year with 131. He's fairly Schmoey.

[UZI Suicide 0]

I wouldn't say RBI's are useless. It's not like any Joe Schmoe can hit 3rd in a lineup and drive in 120 runs.

Vinny Castilla led the N.L. in RBI last year with 131. He's fairly Schmoey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

He also played in Coors Field last year.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

RBI is a worthless stat...I guess the OBP players can just find their own way home. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

There is nothing in RBIs that I can not learn from reading more relevant statistics. And they're particularly bothersome when someone who wishes to hype an undeserving candidate hides behind them yelling "RBIs! RBIs!". Especially when there are NINE outfielders hitting better. Brian Giles has a better OPS while hitting in the worst hitters' park in the majors. He's more deserving. Jim Edmonds has a better OPS while playing excellent defense in center field.

 

Carlos Lee probably deserves an All-Star slot. He's not a deserving starter. And on top of that, I would be surprised if he actually leads the league in RBIs at the All-Star break. And then his presence in the lineup would look quite awful.

[Bored 0]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article..._id=mlb#results

 

Mark Teixeira has blown past Tino Martinez.

[snuffbox 0]

I agree that Carlos Lee shouldnt be a starter...but he clearly deserves to be on the team. And the homerun derby.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I agree that Carlos Lee shouldnt be a starter...but he clearly deserves to be on the team. And the homerun derby.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Lee will doubtless be the Brewers' representative, and I have no problem seeing him in the Derby.

[snuffbox 0]

Whats your take on Brady Clark? Hes been slumping a bit of late, and if Lee cant get voted in, Im sure Brady has no chance.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Whats your take on Brady Clark? Hes been slumping a bit of late, and if Lee cant get voted in, Im sure Brady has no chance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've liked Clark for awhile. His skills tend to be underrated so he has no realistic shot at the All-Star game. He'd be a borderline choice, but it is such a crowded group that I couldn't see giving him the nod for the first time.

[Bored 0]

Edited: I realized I didn't pick anyone for the Twins.

 

Bored's All-Star Predictions

 

This is not who I think should go to the All-Star Game, it's who I think will go to the All-Star Game. I'm sticking with the current vote leaders as the starters.

 

AMERICAN LEAUGE

 

C: JASON VARITEK, Boston; Jorge Posada, New York; Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit

1B: MARK TEIXEIRA, Texas; Mike Sweeney, Kansas City

2B: BRIAN ROBERTS, Baltimore; Alfonso Soriano, Texas

3B: ALEX RODRIGUEZ, New York; Melvin Mora, Baltimore; Eric Chavez, Oakland

SS: MIGUEL TEJADA, Baltimore; Derek Jeter, New York

OF: MANNY RAMIREZ, Boston; VLADIMIR GUERRERO, Los Angeles; ICHIRO SUZUKI, Seattle; Johnny Damon, Boston; Gary Sheffield, New York; Torii Hunter, Minnesota

DH: DAVID ORTIZ, Boston; Travis Hafner, Cleveland

 

SP: ROY HALLADAY, Toronto; Mark Buehrle, Chicago; Jon Garland, Chicago; Bartolo Colon, Los Angeles; Kenny Rogers*, Texas; Matt Clement, Boston; Freddy Garcia, Chicago

RP: Mariano Rivera, New York; B.J. Ryan, Blatimore; Dustin Hermanson, Chicago; Eddie Guardado, Seattle; Danys Baez, Tampa Bay

 

*Status obviously up in the air.

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

 

C: MIKE PIAZZA, New York; Paul Lo Duca, Florida

1B: ALBERT PUJOLS, St. Louis; Carlos Delgado, Florida

2B: JEFF KENT, Los Angeles; Craig Biggio, Houston

3B: SCOTT ROLEN, St. Louis; Aramis Ramirez, Chicago

SS: CESAR IZTURIS, Los Angeles; David Eckstein, St. Louis; Felipe Lopez, Cincinnati

OF: BOBBY ABREU, Philadelphia; JIM EDMONDS, St. Louis; CARLOS BELTRAN, New York; Carlos Lee, Milwaukee; Andruw Jones, Atlanta; Miguel Cabrera, Florida; Jason Bay, Pittsburgh; Moises Alou, San Francisco; Preston Wilson, Colorado

DH: DERREK LEE, Chicago

 

SP: DONTRELLE WILLIS, Florida; Roger Clemens, Houston; Pedro Martinez, New York; Chris Carpenter, St. Louis; Roy Oswalt, Houston; Livan Hernandez, Washington; Brandon Webb, Arizona; Jake Peavy, San Diego

RP: Chad Cordero, Washington; Billy Wagner, Philadelphia; Jason Isringhausen, St. Louis; Brad Lidge, Houston

 

The N.L. could go a million different ways so I'll probably be way off.

[MikeJordan23 0]

Updating

 

Lee has suprassed Pujols by 49, 110

Eckstein has surpassed Izturis by 337, 131 votes

Johnny Damon has surpassed by Ichiro Suzuki 126, 556 votes

[Vern Gagne 0]

Ramirez should of passed Rolen at third.

[Cuban Linx 0]

I'm glad Texeira is finally in first place, the prospect of him missing out to a guy who, outside of his one-week hotstreak isn't even hitting .200 on the season, would have been plain silly.

[Jericholic82 0]

I'm glad Texeira is finally in first place, the prospect of him missing out to a guy who, outside of his one-week hotstreak isn't even hitting .200 on the season, would have been plain silly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Even as a Yankee (and tino)fan I couldnt agree more. I mean we don't want this game to become even more of a joke do we? I mean the all star voting usually turns out to a popularity contest anyhow. I think the voting starts way too early. Well at least at looks like we have got it right for once, at least in the AL.