CENTER FIELD :: Obligatory All-Star Post

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Obligatory All-Star Post

Congratulations to all seven Red Sox players who made the 2008 All-Star team - either by fan vote or player vote:

Kevin Youkilis - 1B
Dustin Pedroia - 2B
Manny Ramirez - OF
J.D. Drew - OF
Jason Varitek - C
David Ortiz - DH
Jonathan Papelbon - RP

Despite my well-documented love/hate relationship with the All-Star voting process, it's still an honor to be selected to the team - popularity contest or not.

With those (heartfelt) congrats out of the way, I can now get to the serious business. Namely:

(1) Chuckling at the fact that there are only three Yankees on the roster in their own stadium (and, more importantly, that Girardi's begging didn't land Mike Mussina a roster spot). This is petty and juvenile and slightly ridiculous of me, but I cannot help it. It's funny. Also: four Texas Rangers on the roster! And, again, only three Yankees! Still funny!

(2) Pissing off all of my readers who are Varitek fans... because I flat out don't believe he has played All-Star caliber baseball this year. He is a fantastic leader, a great game caller, and a pretty amazing dude. He's been an integral part of the Sox championships, and absolutely deserves the "C" on his chest. But so long as All-Star Team selection is still (wrongly) used by HOF voters when deciding whether to put a player in Cooperstown, a .218/.300/.358 stat line should not earn you a spot in the ASG. That's a .658 OPS! No, just... no.

If, however, the All-Star selections were treated by voters (and sportswriters and commentators) like the popularity contest/career reward they actually are, I would have absolutely no problem with the public and the players voting Wally, Raymond, the Phanatic and Mr. Met onto the All-Star Team. Sadly, with the likes of Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver around, I have a feeling it will be awhile before that happens.

Comments (13)

[ Hurricane ] says:
on July 7, 2008 4:32 PM

On a tangental note...What the hell is raymond? A furry stingray, a poached elephant, a horrible monster?

I go to the games and only know that its more than a little creepy

[ jennifer ] says:
on July 7, 2008 4:43 PM

As one of your Varitek fan readers, I totally agree with point #2. Tek's been, well--what's the word for "even worse than horrible"?--at the plate for way too much of this season for his selection to make any sense (except, as Peter Abraham suggested, to point out how hated Pierzynski is by his peers). I mean, I love the guy, but an All-Star? With that line? Um, no.

[ Liza ] says:
on July 7, 2008 4:58 PM

I do not at all understand why Tek was picked at all, but I'm almost equally surprised as to why Derek Jeter is starting. I mean, he's not having as disappointing a season as Tek, but you cannot tell me a guy with a .343 OBP is the very best shortstop in the AL.

[ Melissa ] says:
on July 7, 2008 6:14 PM

Now, I'm as big a home-team girl as anyone, and I *love* Tek, but...I absolutely agree. His value to the Red Sox is not defined by stats (thank God), but there is no way he ought to have been selected for a game that "supposedly" showcases baseball's best.

And Liza, Jeter is starting because the NYY fanbase voted him in. Plain and simple. He's having an extremely mediocre year at the plate so far (but from what I saw last night, is still pretty clutch in the field). I suppose it doesn't hurt that he's one of the few Skanks that I hate simply *because* he's a Skank. If he were on any other team, I'd probably be an unabashed huge fan.

And ah, Jennifer? I believe one of the words that would fit would be abysmal. Because that's the only one I can think of.

[ anne ] says:
on July 7, 2008 8:20 PM

um, okay, if the Phanatic, Wally, Mr. Met and Raymond got voted in, I might actually *watch* the ASG! At least it would be entertaining.

[ Rachel O ] says:
on July 8, 2008 1:33 AM

I think the espn guys broke down the Tek situatin pretty good when they said he's probably on the club because of his peer's ultimate respect for the way he plays the game and how he handles the pitching staff as well as their hatred for Pierzynski as jennifer said earlier.

they also looked at it as a sort of "career" all star game for the captain, which I can defintely understand.

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on July 8, 2008 6:39 AM

Yeah, I know. That is exactly what I talked about in the post - those reasons would be good and fine, if it was the "Guys We Like And Who Also At Some Point Played Baseball Really Well Game" and had no bearing on who got into Cooperstown.

[ Kat ] says:
on July 8, 2008 8:53 AM

As she said, Tek has lots of peer respect players. Thats partly how he got voted in. His batting is almost the status of Dougie M. His defense is wicked good and peeps are always saying hes the most prepare man in baseball.

So happy Petie my man got voted in. I heart that dude.

[ Kaitlyn ] says:
on July 8, 2008 9:38 AM

I'm a big Tek fan just as much as the next one, and I hate to say it, but agree with everyone else. He's been playing craptastically. But it almost seems that he's on the All Star team for the same reason that Millar was on the Sox longer than he should have been - these guys make their teammates feel good. Millar was a goofball that made people laugh. While Tek is play crappy ball, he's respected and calls good games...so maybe it's more, the underlying reasons (the good of the team) more so than his personal game.

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on July 8, 2008 10:33 AM

I don't think there's any question, argument, or wondering about the reason Tek got on the team from anyone, including me and this post and the other commenters.

My point is: that's a dumb reason.

[ Lori ] says:
on July 8, 2008 10:36 AM

As a Red Sox fan this is going to sound bad, but I don't know why Tek made the team and Mike Mussina didn't. I think Mussina deserves to be on the team, Yankee or not.
Plus, he does crossword puzzles, which is awesome :)

[ fc ] says:
on July 9, 2008 12:04 AM

I am as big a supporter and admirer of Tek as you'll ever find, but he's been sub-par this year, to be very kind - and I think he'd agree.

Given his performannce, I take the players' vote to be a HUGE statement of respect. That's seriosuly cool but easily arguably not all-star-worthy.

See all the hedge words? I'm torn over this one.

and Youk RAWKS and you go on with your bad self, JD.

[ james ] says:
on July 11, 2008 3:04 PM

not that i think tek deserves to be an all star this year, but in his defense, someonthing noone else mentioned was that Tek has called the last 2 no hitters in baseball (yes 1 was last year i know but still) with rookie starters. That has to count for something i would think.

Be that as it may i still dont think he deserved the slot. just something to think about.

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