NL All-Star Ballot Help

[SuperTrooper]

Help me out NL Fans!

As a myopic AL fan I have no idea who to vote for in the NL for postions other than 1B (Pujols) and SS (H. Ramirez). So, who's on your All-Star ballot? I'm hoping to find out who really DESERVES to go, without too much homerism, based on their performance this year.

C
2B
3B
OF 1
OF 2
OF 3

[CaptainP]

As good as Pujols and Ramirez are, don't discount Adrian Gonzalez and Miguel Tejada...both having fantastic years...

[CaptainP]

Otherwise....off the top of my head (sure I'll miss some!!!)

C (can't think of anyone having an all-star type of year)
2B Orlando Hudson
3B David Wright
OF Raul Ibanez
OF Ryan Braun
OF Brad Hawpe

[Bicycle Bill]

You could just write in the entire "Brew Crew" lineup but, staying within the parameters of being truly deserving, I would recommend Ryan Braun as one of the outfielders, and Prince Fielder as your first baseman.

I also think you should look at more than just the current year's performance. One hot season does not an All-Star make; consistency does.

-"BB"-

[Hockey Mon]

I also think you should look at more than just the current year's performance. One hot season does not an All-Star make; consistency does.

Now there is an interesting question, is the All-Star game for players having a great year or for players who have had many great years? Personally, I view an All-Star game (for any sport) as a reward for a player who is having a really good year. I view the Hall of Fame as a reward for a player who has had alot of really good years. Now, if a player is just having a hot season, well, they won't be at the All-Star game next year or in the HOF; they are just having a good year. As I think about this, it's sort of tough to get a read on a player if you are just looking at his April-July numbers. I can see why you say you should look at more than this years performance. But I think it's a mistake to reward a player with an All-Star appearance based on what he did 2/3/4/5 years ago.

To answer your question ST, don't vote for anyone from the Nationals. We aren't too good.

[ragtopW]

no dodgers..

[Bicycle Bill]

I also think you should look at more than just the current year's performance. One hot season does not an All-Star make; consistency does.

Now there is an interesting question, is the All-Star game for players having a great year or for players who have had many great years? Personally, I view an All-Star game (for any sport) as a reward for a player who is having a really good year. I view the Hall of Fame as a reward for a player who has had alot of really good years. .... As I think about this, it's sort of tough to get a read on a player if you are just looking at his April-July numbers. I can see why you say you should look at more than this years performance.

You've got a point, Hockey Mon, but the Baseball Register is full of players who were consistent but never made the HoF. As for checking the April-July numbers, it would be great if we could; but there is so much emphasis on getting "YOUR Milwaukee Brewers" (or "YOUR Cubs" or "YOUR Twins") into the All-Star game that fan balloting now takes on a "stuff the ballot box" mindset that puts to shame anything the late Mayor Daley and the Chicago "machine" were ever accused of!!! I offer the following as an example:

I attended a Milwaukee Brewer game at Miller Park back on May 2nd. We were already being urged via PA announcements and various other means (DiamondVision; message boards; ushers handing out ballots) to "vote early and often" for every Brewer listed. Never mind that the Brewers had (at that point) played a grand total of only 23 games out of a 162-game season...... So you do need to look back over at least the previous season, anyway.

Another thought would be is that the fans deserve to see All-Star players, even if they're having a so-so season or in their twilight years. Back in the day when Hank Aaron was finishing up his career as a DH in Milwaukee (when they were in the AL), would you have been willing to tell him, "Sorry, Hank, you're a great guy and all that, and you're a lock for Cooperstown, but you're only a DH so you're not going to the All-Star Game this year"?

Maybe they should have the All-Star Game later in the year, or even at the end of the season, like the NFL does. Then the players who truly did have an All-Star year will have had adequate time to display it and stake their claim to a spot in the game.

-"BB"-

[Hockey Mon]

Another thought would be is that the fans deserve to see All-Star players, even if they're having a so-so season or in their twilight years. Back in the day when Hank Aaron was finishing up his career as a DH in Milwaukee (when they were in the AL), would you have been willing to tell him, "Sorry, Hank, you're a great guy and all that, and you're a lock for Cooperstown, but you're only a DH so you're not going to the All-Star Game this year"?

Maybe they should have the All-Star Game later in the year, or even at the end of the season, like the NFL does. Then the players who truly did have an All-Star year will have had adequate time to display it and stake their claim to a spot in the game.

Hmm, that's true also. I sort of think back to Cal Ripken at the end of his career. This is mostly from memory so I could be completely wrong. Like his last year, his numbers weren't great but he was an All-Star. And they could put the All-Star game at the end of the season to get an accurate reflection of who is an "All Star" but then you run into the NFL problem where the game is an after thought. Plus, you need the game in the middle of the season to determine who is home team for the World Series. I really don't like that.

[mason]

I also think you should look at more than just the current year's performance. One hot season does not an All-Star make; consistency does.

Now there is an interesting question, is the All-Star game for players having a great year or for players who have had many great years? Personally, I view an All-Star game (for any sport) as a reward for a player who is having a really good year. I view the Hall of Fame as a reward for a player who has had alot of really good years. Now, if a player is just having a hot season, well, they won't be at the All-Star game next year or in the HOF; they are just having a good year. As I think about this, it's sort of tough to get a read on a player if you are just looking at his April-July numbers. I can see why you say you should look at more than this years performance. But I think it's a mistake to reward a player with an All-Star appearance based on what he did 2/3/4/5 years ago.

To answer your question ST, don't vote for anyone from the Nationals. We aren't too good.

not even nick johnson? or is he hurt....again?

"yes we have been here before"

member of the parrothead nation

[Elrod]

As much as I'd like to see Yadier Molina make the team, I would pick his brother Bengie. He's been in a slump lately, but he's first among NL catchers in hits, HR, total bases, RBIs.

[ragtopW]

no dodgers..

I'll be fair.. last I heard the guy who is subbin for Manny
is hitting like .520 he you can vote for

[Hockey Mon]

I also think you should look at more than just the current year's performance. One hot season does not an All-Star make; consistency does.

Now there is an interesting question, is the All-Star game for players having a great year or for players who have had many great years? Personally, I view an All-Star game (for any sport) as a reward for a player who is having a really good year. I view the Hall of Fame as a reward for a player who has had alot of really good years. Now, if a player is just having a hot season, well, they won't be at the All-Star game next year or in the HOF; they are just having a good year. As I think about this, it's sort of tough to get a read on a player if you are just looking at his April-July numbers. I can see why you say you should look at more than this years performance. But I think it's a mistake to reward a player with an All-Star appearance based on what he did 2/3/4/5 years ago.

To answer your question ST, don't vote for anyone from the Nationals. We aren't too good.

not even nick johnson? or is he hurt....again?

"yes we have been here before"

member of the parrothead nation

Well, actually Ryan Zimmmerman is having a good year (30+ game hit streak). Johnson has been swinging the bat well too. The Nationals actually have had some really good offense; it's just the pitching which sticks out in my mind because it's been bad. They had some streak in May where they lost like 5 or 10 straight due to blown saves.
I'm a casual baseball fan, once hockey season ends I'll probably get more into it but it's hard when your team is like 161 games out of first.

[SuperTrooper]

I also think you should look at more than just the current year's performance. One hot season does not an All-Star make; consistency does.

Now there is an interesting question, is the All-Star game for players having a great year or for players who have had many great years? Personally, I view an All-Star game (for any sport) as a reward for a player who is having a really good year. I view the Hall of Fame as a reward for a player who has had alot of really good years. Now, if a player is just having a hot season, well, they won't be at the All-Star game next year or in the HOF; they are just having a good year. As I think about this, it's sort of tough to get a read on a player if you are just looking at his April-July numbers. I can see why you say you should look at more than this years performance. But I think it's a mistake to reward a player with an All-Star appearance based on what he did 2/3/4/5 years ago.

To answer your question ST, don't vote for anyone from the Nationals. We aren't too good.

not even nick johnson? or is he hurt....again?

"yes we have been here before"

member of the parrothead nation

Well, actually Ryan Zimmmerman is having a good year (30+ game hit streak). Johnson has been swinging the bat well too. The Nationals actually have had some really good offense; it's just the pitching which sticks out in my mind because it's been bad. They had some streak in May where they lost like 5 or 10 straight due to blown saves.
I'm a casual baseball fan, once hockey season ends I'll probably get more into it but it's hard when your team is like 161 games out of first.

The other day I heard on the radio that the Nationals are on pace to equal the '62 Mets record of 40-120. There are some AAA teams that are probably better than the Nationals. Sad.

[Bob Roberts]

Help me out NL Fans!

As a myopic AL fan I have no idea who to vote for in the NL for postions other than 1B (Pujols) and SS (H. Ramirez). So, who's on your All-Star ballot? I'm hoping to find out who really DESERVES to go, without too much homerism, based on their performance this year.

Well, I have to disagree with you my friend. Pujols is going to get the vote because of name recognition, but he's not been the player that Joey Votto at Cincinnati has been this year. A very young exciting player!

I'm a little partial as a Reds fan, but I believe Brandon Phillips deserves the vote for 2nd base!

[TheSecretsInTheCrust]

Sez me;
C - Russell Martin (LA)
1B - Adrian Gonzalez (SD) easily the toughest spot
2B - Chase Utley (PHI)
SS - Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3B - Ryan Zimmerman (WAS)
OF - Raul Ibañez (PHI)
OF - Justin Upton (AZ)
OF - Matt Kemp (LA)