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2012
All-Star Game Shocker! Pablo Sandoval Beats Out David Wright At Third Base
An article by XtreemIcon
In a shocking development, San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval has beaten out David Wright to start at third base for the National League at this year’s All-Star Game in Kansas City.
Sandoval has hit .307 with a .366 on-base percentage, .482 slugging percentage, and .848 OPS with six home runs and 25 RBI in 166 at-bats over 44 games for the Giants this season.
Wright is second in the Major Leagues with a .355 batting average, second with a .449 on-base percentage, and third in OPS at 1.013. Wright has nine home runs and 50 RBI in 273 at-bats this season.
If you didn’t cast your 25 votes for Wright, then don’t complain…
Original Post 9:00 AM
Later today, Major League Baseball’s All Stars will be announced. Just under the gun, I’ll regale you with my personal selections (starters in bold).
National League
Catcher – Carlos Ruiz, Yadier Molina, Buster Posey. This is an easy one. Catching across baseball is pretty thin, so when you look up and see three catchers with batting averages north of .300 and on-base percentages north of .360, there’s not much debate. Carlos Ruiz is having a ridiculous year and you have to wonder where the Phillies, who already sit dead last in the NL East, would be without his contributions. Yadier Molina is living up to the rich deal he inked a few months ago, putting up Bengie-like offensive numbers. Buster Posey is having a great bounce-back year after missing most of 2011 with a gruesome ankle injury. Posey will probably get better as the ankle gets stronger. The best part about these three offensive catchers is that they’re three of the best defensive catchers, as well.
First Base – Joey Votto, Paul Goldschmidt. It’s Joey Votto’s world; we just live in it. Goldschmidt is quietly having a great season in Arizona. A very highly touted rookie, Goldschmidt showed flashes last season as a rookie, but seems to have put most of it together so far this season. He’ll get better, too. Bryan LaHair of the Chicago Cubs has had a real good season so far, and might have gotten the attention of Tony LaRussa as a reserve if the Cubs hadn’t benched him recently in favor of prospect-extraordinaire Anthony Rizzo.
Second Base – Aaron Hill, Brandon Phillips, Jose Altuve. Hill is lighting it up in Arizona. Among NL second basemen, he’s second in batting average, one measly percentage point behind the OBP leader and leads slugging percentage by a wide margin. He’s tied for the most home runs, has seven stolen bases to his credit, and is a solid defender. Phillips is second behind Hill in home runs, third in runs scored and leads in RBI. He’s also by far the best defensive second baseman in the league. Altuve leads in batting average and is third in both OBP and SLG%. He’s second in runs scored and has stolen the most bases. I wrestled with Dan Uggla, too, despite his .235 average. His plate discipline is off the charts, so his OBP actually leads all NL second baseman, and so do his runs scored. His power is unmatched at the position and believe it or not, he’s actually played a good second base. Altuve’s defense reminds me of…well…Dan Uggla. Altuve gets the nod, though, because given another viable option, I don’t think the NL wants Uggla anywhere near an All-Star team.
Third Base – David Wright, David Wright, David Wright.
Just kidding, but not really. Wright’s had a Votto-esque season thus far, and due to the injury to stalwart Ryan Zimmerman earlier in the year, there’s just not much competition. I’m going to go Chase Headley as my backup, for two reasons. I actually like Headley a lot as a ballplayer. He’s a very solid hitter and possibly the best defensive third baseman in the game. In a weak season for third basemen, he’s actually very deserving as the second-best in the league. He plays in San Diego, though, so no one’s ever heard of him. The second reason I’m picking him is that the Padres are worse than the Astros. If not for Headley, the Padres should just fold.
Shortstop – Jed Lowrie, Starlin Castro. Lowrie is realizing the potential he showed as the Red Sox hot prospect a couple of years ago. Riddled with injuries, the Sox moved on and dumped him for a AAA reliever. Suckers. Lowire is mashing, leading all NL shortstops in home runs, OBP and SLG%. Castro is as fun a player to watch in baseball. He’s a terrific fielder, though mental lapses sometimes get the better of him. He is only 22-years-old, however. He leads all shortstops in hits, is tied for first in batting average and stolen bases and is even third in SLG%
Outfield – Carlos Beltran (RF), Jason Heyward, Giancarlo Stanton, Andrew McCutchen (CF), Michael Bourn, Ryan Braun (LF), Carlos Gonzalez, Melky Cabrera. I won’t detail each player here much. Beltran is having a resurgent season, Braun is showing no ill-effects of his offseason drama and McCutchen is perhaps the most exciting young player in the game. Heyward’s defense is criminally underrated because of his offensive prowess and Stanton has as much raw power as anyone in the game. Bourn is second among NL outfielders in hits, has the most stolen bases and plays centerfield like Mays. Carlos Gonzalez is a Rockie. So he’s in. The .338/.396/.609 slash line helps a bit. Cabrera was statistically one of the worst hitters in all of baseball as a Brave in 2010, so what he’s doing now is literally a minor miracle.
Pitchers – R.A. Dickey, Zack Greinke, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Cain, Johnny Cueto, Clayton Kershaw, Craig Kimbrel (CL), Aroldis Chapman, Matt Belisle, Tyler Clippard. Dickey’s having a magical season. There’s some debate over who should start, with both Strasburg and Gonzalez getting some love, and I cannot argue their merits. However, both pitchers have so many years ahead of them. Dickey literally reinvented himself in his mid-30’s and may never again have an opportunity to add All-Star Gamer starter to his résumé. Kimbrel is light’s out in the bullpen and is one of the more reliable relievers in the game, and there’s not many. Should any of the starters not be able to pitch due to his team’s rotation, James McDonald, Madison Bumgarner and Wade Miley are all worthy replacements.
American League
Catcher – Joe Mauer, AJ Pierzynski. Like the NL, there’s not a lot of debate here. Welcome back, Joe. Mauer’s comeback is in full force, although the power’s not quite there. Pierzynski’s power surge is a little surprising but it’s accompanied with a respectable batting average and OBP.
First Base – Paul Konerko, Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn. I had to. I didn’t really want to, but I had to. No Prince Albert. You can argue that Dunn’s .215 average doesn’t deserve it, but his OBP and SLG% are All-Star worthy, as is his home run and RBI total. Albert just doesn’t match up there. What’s not arguable is that Konerko is the right choice. The ageless slugger never stops hitting and Fielder, while seeing the effects of the more pitcher friendly Comerica Park, is still raking.
Second Base – Robinson Cano, Jason Kipnis. Cano is up there on the short list of best players in the game outright. His numbers dwarf everyone else’s, and Kipnis and Kinsler are really good players. Kipnis is second behind Cano in home runs and pairs that with more stolen bases than any other second baseman in the league. Kinsler has the sexy power/speed combo I love so much. Ben Zobrist held me up a little, but I stuck with Kinsler due to the speed. Zobrist is no slouch though, with seven stolen bases. Zobrst is also more of an outfielder.
Third Base – Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Beltre, Mike Moustakas, Edwin Encarnacion. Cabrera is one of the best pure hitters in the game and the move back into the field hasn’t been as adventurous as expected. Sure, he’s no gold glover, but he hasn’t been terrible, and most thought he would be. Beltre is possibly the best all-around third baseman in baseball. I shouldn’t have to sell him. Mike Moustakas gets the nod over Brett Lawrie because he’s a Royal. That rule again. To be honest and fair, though, Moustakas is every bit as deserving and Lawrie. Statistically, it’s a toss-up. Each deserves and one isn’t more deserving than the other. But the Blue Jays will be well-represented and the Royals, after Moustakas, has Alex Gordon. A fine player, but not quite Edwin Encarnacion, who I think will start at DH.
Shortstop – Elvis Andrus, Asdrubal Cabrera, Derek Jeter. I’m not foolish enough to think Jeter isn’t getting voted in to start, but I wanted to recognize that Andrus and Cabrera are better players right now, especially Andrus. I think he’s vastly underrated. Besides leading all AL shortstops in on-base percentage and stolen bases (a deadly combination in front of the Rangers sluggers), he’s neck and neck with Jeter in batting average and has more runs scored by a wide margin. He’s also notched merely seven fewer RBI than Cabrera, despite ten fewer home runs.
Outfield – Jose Bautista (LF), Josh Reddick (RF), Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton (CF), Adam Jones. A smaller pool than the NL outfield, but there’s a lot of versatility here. Trout, Hamilton and Jones are three solid centerfielders, and the corners can rotate. I want to note than Reddick isn’t a “rule” pick, because he plays for a miserable Oakland team. Among right fielders, he’s as good as Torii Hunter out there and is third in home runs and slugging. For good measure, he’s got eight stolen bases. Trumbo and Trout forced themselves into the Angels’ lineup, and Trout is actually a legitimate MVP candidate right now if he can maintain his pace. Adam Jones, albeit a little late, is finally playing like the kid Seattle coveted, and then traded away for Erik Bedard’s elbow surgeon.
Pitchers – Chris Sale, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, Jered Weaver, David Price, Yu Darvish, CJ Wilson, Jake Peavy, Joe Nathan (CL), Fernando Rodney, Scott Atchison, Chris Perez. I’m giving Sale the start. He’s third in wins, but only two off the pace, and leads the league in ERA. His peripherals suggest his numbers are legit. Case in point, he actually has a better strikeout-per-nine ratio than Justin Verlander. Joe Nathan has been a revelation in the Rangers bullpen, pitching better now than in his best years in Minnesota.
So there is it. Two 32-man rosters, every team represented and accounted for, and legitimately, too. There’s not one undeserving name in the bunch. Later today, we’ll see just how far off I am. Who did you pick?
About the Author: Jesse Elgarten
61 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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‘X’ AS A MET FAN I ASSUME U ARE ACTUALLY ROOTING FOR THEM TO MIRACULOUSLY GET TO THE ULTIMATE PRIZE OF THE FALL CLASSIC.
IF CORRECT, I MUST CHALLENGE THE SANITY OF YOUR CHOOSING SUCH A STRONG REPRESENTED OPONENT FOR THE AL.
PERHAPS, I SHOULD SHARE MY PERSONAL WISDOM I’VE RELIED ON SINCE SELIG CHOSE TO ALLOW A COMMUNICATIONS VENUE TO DETERMINE THE VERY IMPORTANT HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE FOR THE “CLASSIC”
IF, THAT NONSENSE CAN BE TOLERATED AS JUSTIFIED, THAN MY CHOICE IS TO COUNTER THAT LUNACY WITH MY OWN METHOD OF STACKING THE ODDS IN FAVOR OF THE OFF CHANCE THE METS REACH THE WS, INASMUCH AS FOR YEARS NOW I’VE, AS USUAL CHOSEN THOSE PLAYERS IN THE NL TO BE ALLSTAR REPRESENTITIVES THAT ARE AT THE PINNACLE OF PERFORMANCE.
WHILE, AS THEIR OPONENTS, I CHOOSE TO VOTE FOR THE LESS DESERVING CANDIDATES I CAN FEIGN INTEREST IN.
USING THE RATIONALE THAT ONE GOOD FARCE DESERVES ANOTHER;
DETERMINING WS HOME TEAM BY ASG LEAGUE VICTOR DESERVES MY CHOOSING TO STACK “THE DECK” WITH PLAYERS FAVORING THE OUTCOME THEY ARE PLACING IN MY HANDS SIMPLY BECAUSE FOX CRAVES RATINGS & SELIG CRAVES MORE BASEBALL INCOME.. I CRAVE HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE FOR MY TEAM IF/WHEN THEY GET THERE.
TO THAT END, THE LIKES OF MAUER,CANO, CABRERA, BAUTISTA, HAMILTON NEVER GET THE OPORTUNITY TO ADVERSLY EFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE FALL CLASSIC UNLESS THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON THAT FIELD COME OCTOBER.
MY APOLOGY TO PURISTS.
THE PURITY OF THE ASG, IF IT EVER EXISTED, WAS VIOLATED WHEN RUPPERT MURDOCH’S LEGION WAS ALLOWED TO BUY IT OUT FROM UNDER THE FANBASE
YOU WANT A RETURN TO PURE SPORTSMANSHIP?
LET THE GAME CONTINUE AS IT WAS, AN EXHIBITION OF THE SPORTS’ BEST AVAILABLES; BUT WITH ALL REVENUE GENERATED TO BENEFIT THE RETIRED PLAYERS BEFORE FREE AGENCY CREATED MILLIONAIRES. THOSE, POOR SOULS, WHO PLAYED FOR THE PURITY OF THE GAME FIRST & FOREMOST SPECIALLY THOSE WITH A MINIMUM OF 10 YRS PLAYING OR COACHING AS PROFESSIONALS BE IT MLB OR MiLB.THE MYRIAN CRAS DAVISES WE NEVER, EVER HEAR OF. THE TOMMY LASORDAS & TERRY COLLINSES THAT DIDN’T GET MLB GIGS
HOWEVER, FOR AS LONG AS IT IS A VEHICLE CONTRIVED BY MLB/FOX’s AVARICE; THEN I WILL DAMNED WELL SEE TO SKEWING IT TO FAVOR MY INTERESTS, A NY METS’ FAVORABLE OUTCOME, AT THE VERY LEAST A NATIONAL LEAGUE DOMINANCE IN WS HOME ADVANTAGES.
I don’t think there is much to debate here to be honest.
I personally like Bumgarner and McDonald over Greinke and Cueto though. Based on the fact LaRussa is picking, I kind of expect Lance Lynn to be named to the team as well. I’m not sure who would get the boot though.
I personally hope McDonald makes it.
I am curious about your Belisle pick… Jason Grilli to me is a much better “non closer” pick
I think Belisle has had a better year than Grilli. Better ERA and FIP, better K/BB, never gives up home runs (in Colorado no less). Grilli has his merits, but I like Belisle. Most likely, neither makes the team.
32G 30.2IP 17H 7ER 15BB 48K 1.04WHIP 2.05ERA
39G 42.0IP 42H 9ER 7BB 34K 1.17WHIP 1.93ERA
For me, I’m taking the reliever who doesn’t give up hits and strikes guys out.
The 42 hits per 42 innings versus 17 hits per 30 innings is what does it for me. Then add on the impressive 48k per 30 IP versus 34K per 42 IP and my mind is made up.
That’s cool. I’m taking the guy who doesn’t give up runs.
I agree with your choice of shortstop Elvis Andrus over Asdrubal Cabrera and Derek Jeter. All are fine players but Andrus is exceptional. He has great natural tools.
Kind of like Ruben Tejada. While Elvis has been in the majors longer and Ruben is still developing Ruben has hit higher than Andrus the last 2 seasons and has a higher batting average now. Not as fast as Andrus but that’s not his game.
I guess you get to see Elvis Andrus playing in Texas on a daily basis huh?
Elvis Andrus has not hit as good as Ruben Tejada the last 2 years, his prior numbers are not impressive and Ruben Tejada will be BETTER than Elvis Andrus.
But why am i responding to this moron since this guy is biased and has no clue about talent whatsoever.
I never vote AL players. I’m always rooting for the NL to win, can’t be a hypocrite, won’t vote for the worst. So I just vote NL players.
I voted:
1st – Votto
2nd – Phillips
SS – Reyes (yes, I voted for Jose)
3rd – Wright
Catcher – Molina
OFs – Beltran, McCutchin, Braun
It will be an injustice if LaRusso does not select RA Dickey to start for the NL.
SRT, indulge us. Since this isn’t official or anything, pick an AL team.
O.K. here goes.
1st – Konerko
2nd – Cano (and it pains me to type that)
SS – Andrus (and what has to happen where Jeter is not selected: retirement?)
3rd – Beltre
Catcher – Mauer
OFs – Hamilton, Bautista, Trout
I would pick Sale as SP too, but I’ll be they go with Verlander
Wright was robbed. I can only assume Met fan voting was lethargic.
AL: Starting line-up
C Napoli
1st Fielder
2nd Cano
3rd Beltre
SS Jeter
OFs Hamilton, Granderson, Bautista
DH Ortiz
NL:
C Posey
1st Votto
2nd Uggla
3rd Sandoval
SS Furcal
OFs: Kemp, Beltran, Cabrera
SRT, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF VOTES NOT ONLY TO CLOSWE THE DEFECIT; BUT TO ALSO BLOW DAVID’S DOORS OFF IN JUST ONE WEEK, FROM A FANBASE THAT WAS HISTORICALLY LETHARGIC UNTIL A COUPLE OF YRS AGO; I’D WANT AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER THE SOFTWARE RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING PARAMETERS WAS STILL INTACT; BECAUSE I DOUBT THERE ARE ANT SOFTWARE CONSTRAINTS THAT CAN WITHSTAND A FULLCOURT PRESS FROM THE SILICON VALLEY FAITHFUL
I TRULY CAN UNDERSTAND NY LETHARGY AS IT’S BEEN OBVIOUS TO ANY KNOWLEDGEABLE FAN WITH INTEGRITY THAT THIS YR’S NYM ROSTER HELD ONLY ONE, DESERVING ALLSTAR, WRIGHT, BASED UPON HIS CURRENT STATISTICS ONCE HE’D ESTABLISHED A LEAD OF OVER 400,000 VOTES WITH A WEEK TO GO, THE URGENCY TO FILL UP THE 25 TIMES VOTER COUNT WAS VASTLY LESSENED
Actually 62 the problem was not in their security…The problem is two fold, one they released the vote tally’s before voting had ended which gave the SF fans a heads up that they needed to make up ground and change the voting.
Imagine if in our presidential election they posted the ACTUAL tallies of who was ahead and by how much and you could vote up to 25 times what would happen if you heard your candiate was going to be short by half a mil in vote?
You would get as many people as you could and tell them to go back and make all thier extra votes where any normal person had previously made just one!
They should only allow ONE vote, Not release any tally of who has what until the voting has closed and the truth of the matter is the fan voting should only apply to who is ON the team and the manager or player voting should determine who gets the start!
Cause the players and managers will go by who is actually playing the best!
The fans will always vote based on the Jersey they root for the most.
METSIE, I MAY BE WRONG; BUT I BELIEVE EARLY TALLY RELEASES ARE NORMAL; BUT CONSIDERING THE GENERAL POPULATION MAKEUP OF SF & VICINITY IS THER CONCEPT OF AN AVID SPORTS FANBASE SUPPORTABLE BY LOGICAL THOUGHT?
MORE TO THE POINT I’D UNDERSTAND A BASE OF INTELLECTUAL EGOTISTS DECIDING THEY COULD FLEX THEIR MUSCLES BY VIRTUE OF UNDERMINING THE SOFTWARE MORE THAN CARING WHO PLAYED THE INITIAL 2,3 INNINGS @ 3B FOR THE NL.
IF ALDERSON’S 800,000 POPULATION FIGURE IS ACCURATELY CLOSE IT WOULD TAKE 80,000 VOTERS USING ALL 25 POORTUNITIES TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE SAME WEEK, AS A SINGULAR ENTITY THAT’S CLEARLY 10% OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION IN A CITY NOT KNOWN FOR IT’S BASEBALL ENTHUSIASM SINCE THE DOUBLEKNIT TIGHT, CLINGING UNIFORMS PASSED INTO HISTORY LOL
ALL I’M SAYING IS IT DEFIES LOGIC AS WELL AS CONVENTIONAL MATH CONCEPTS.
OH I wasn’t meaning to suggest something out of place happened…
Just that they should not release tally until the voting has stopped to get rid of the practice where ballclubs say Our guy is Behind vote early and often which is how many Chicago politicians have been elected!
lol
Remember there are still many Giant fans living in NY and I’m sure in other places.
Just as there are Met fans in many other cities. So it didn’t have to be just people in SF that skewed the vote.
I’m not sure if they still do the paper ballot thing at the stadiums like they used to but I would bet that was key in the voting if they did!
Easy to stuff those bins for anyone and who would investigate it?
The entire system is flawed and needs to be changed.
1 – Get rid of internet voting as it is easy to hack 10000 votes into that system and nothing they could do to stop you except one thing (more on that later). Make the vote a Stadium attendee only vote where ID is produced and everyone gets one vote.
2 – Allow only one vote! They give you 25 to help small market teams get thier guys in but it’s dumb and if everyone did thier full 25 wouldn’t really solve the small market problem anyway!
3 – Stop telling everyone who is in the lead and by how much, No one would know who was behind to pump up thier numbers until it was too late to vote.
Thats what they need to do if the insist on the fans voting people in.
If they want to keep internet voting it has to be a signup and email a ballot (1 Ballot per email) operation. Then there would be no 25 votes per person and no one could stuff the ballots because an internet “Same Person” security check coyuld not be fooled so easily you need to give a REAL email address or you don’t get the Ballot!
But I would reform the system much differently!
1 – Fans only vote for the guy who get on the Player’s Ballot not the Starters or the team itself. 2 – Players would then vote on who should go to the game based on a ballot the Fans voted to create and most likely would not vote in the guys that really don’t deserve it.
3 – Expand the Rosters to 40 and give the extra spots to the Manager to pick reserves with.
4 – The manager would pick the starters (as he does with the Pitchers) where he would be asked why he started one guy over another to keep him honest.
5 – I would get rid of the HFA aspect to it because it’s obvious that the game is managed to get everyone in not towards winning the game! Go back to the alternating HFA system or if you want let reg season record determine who plays home the way they do it in Football!
Thats what I would do but I doubt they will ever go that route.
METSIE, SIMPLY DO THE MATH…HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SIT IN FRONT OF THEIR INPUT DEVICE, RETYPING TE NEW “SECURITY” CODE 25 TIMES EACH TO REALIZE THE 2,000,000 ADDITIONAL VOTES SANDOVAL RECEIVED IN THOSE LAST 4 DAYS. OUT OF THAT 800,000 CITY POPULATION THE CORRECT ANSWER IS 80,000 SEPARATE VOTERS A FULL 10% OF THE GENERAL POPULATION THAT INCLUDES WOMEN & CHILDREN. FROM A CITY MORE RENOWNED FOR IT’S GAY PRIDE THAN IT’S GIANT’S PRIDE THAT TALLY IS BEYONF FEASIBILITY OR A LOGIC SMELL TEST!
THIS HAS THE MAKINGS OF A BRAND NEW JOKE: HOW MANY SILICON VALLEY PROGRAMMERS DOES IT TAKE TO HACK INTO MLB’s ALLSTAR BALLOT COUNTER?
BTW, IT’S NOT HUST SANDOVAL; BUT MELKY & POSEY AS WELL MUCH MORE DESERVING STARTERS WOULD BE PITT’S McCUTCHEN & PHILLIES’ RUIZ. NO?
80,000 VOTERS GOING THE MAX? R U KIDDING? MUCH MORE SECURE SITES HAVE BEEN HACKED BY DETERMINED SOFTWARE GENIUSES. WHERE, IN THIS COUNTRY IS THE DENSIST POPULATION OF QUALIFIED HACKERS?
THIS SCREAMS OUT FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE COUNTING MECHANUISM AS IT APPEARS SOMEONE HAS MUCKED AROUND WITH THE 1s & 0s!
WHILE, I’M JUST A SIMPLE MINDED FAN WITH PLENTY OF TIME ON HIS HANDS, EVEN I’VE VOTED A FEW HYUNDRED TIMES IN MOST ASG BALLOTS SINCE THISC CURRENT SYSTEM IS IN PLACE. HOW? IT’S EASY PRINT OFF YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS BOOK & ESLECT TYHOSE ADDRESSES OF PEOPLE U KNOW MOST UNLIKELY TO CAST A BALLOT, FOR ME, MY WIFE, MOTHER IN LAW, BROTHERS IN LAW, SISTERS IN LAW AS I’M THE SOLE BASEBALL FANATIC IN THE ENTIRE BUNCH.
IN THE GRANDEST CHICAGO TRADITION DECEASED FORMER MAIL CORRESPONDENTS MAKE THE BEST VOTERS. LOL
EVEN DESPITE ALL THAT I CAN’T FATHOM A CITY LIKE SAN FRANCISCO DRUMMING UP ENOUGH BASEBALL ENTHUSIASM TO INTEREST THE REQUIRED # OF ACTUAL VOTERS TO ALLOCATE THEIR TIME & EFFORTS. NOT TO AMASS 2,000,000 VOTES IN 4 DAYS!
THIS ILLOGICAL OVERKILL IS DESTINCTLY EVIDENCE OF ROTTEN FISH ON FISHERMAN’S WHARF & THERE’S SOMETHING A LOT MORE CROOKED IN SF THAN LOMBARD ST.
METSIE? IF THE GIANT’S ACTUALLY HAVE THE STEALTH FANBASE SPREAD NATIONALLY AS U CONJUCTURED, WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK & ORANGE COLORS @ VISITING GAMES OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES? EAST DIVISION TEAM FANS FROM BOTH LEAGUES TEND TO TRAVEL WELL; BUT WESTCOASTALS? NOT SO MUCH! SOMEONE HAS FIURED A METHOD OF GETTING THE BALLOT COUNTER TO HYPERCALCULATE. NOT TO THE 2-STEP; BUT MORE LIKE JAZZERCISE. THEIR BIGGESTR MISTAKE WAS MAKING IT OBVIOUS BY BEATING WRIGHT BT SUCH A HUGE MARGIN INSTEAD OF MERELY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND VIOTES; BUT MAKING UP A 400,000 VOTE STAGGER & WINNING BY A MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND WAS MORE FISHY THAN THAT MARATHONER WHO HAILED THE TAXI!
62 I hear what your sayng bu you also have to remember that the Giants have a much larger fan base than just what resides in SF Proper. He could also get Oakland fans to vote for him since he would not be knocking out one of thiers.
But most of northern Cali are all Giant fans.
I’m sure there was a concerted effort to stuff the votes no one is denying that and I’m not sure but if they still have paper ballots at the stadium that is way more likely to be the thing that got stuffed to the degree that it did.
the what and how really doesn’t matter because the proccess itself is the cause here.
What is surprising here is that he was the only Giant who leapfrogged into the ASG.So we could be totally off base on thinking this was a San Fran thing at all and maybe it was just Sandoval who got the extra votes.
Also remember that many AL fans will do like some NL fans do and vote for the worse guy to play the other side.
Lots of reasons why it happened but the bottomline is it happened because of the way they do the voting that allows such things.
METSIE, YOU’RE MISSING MY POINT. THE MATH DOES NOT ADD UP LOGICALLY OR LOGISTICALLY AS THE LIKLIHOOD OF 80,000 INDEPENDENT FANS FROM ANYWHERE EACH TAKING THE TIME TO CAST THEIR MAXIMUM ALLOWANCE OF 25 BALLOTS IN JUST 4 DAYS IS SO AMAZING AS TO DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION OF THE
CONTINUED EFFECTIVNESS OF THE CURRENT COUNTER SAFEGUARDS.
IT’S JUST AS IF THIS WAS A BANANA REPUBLIC ELECTION WHERE TOTAL VOTES CAST EXCEED THE POPULATION OF THE LIVING VOTERS.
Well think about who lives in San Francisco….
People think the Giants Organization setup the rigging but I say it was done by some fanatic who works in Silicon Valley!
Yes the numbers don’t add up in any way shape or form unless it was done by pushing counts to the server directly or via a Paper ballot that someone dumped into a bin at the last minute.
I suspect one of those computer genius’ from Silicon Valley bypassed the security of the submit form (it’s all done via cookies and Captcha) and sent a Post Bomb to the server that collects the results. It’s call SQL Injection and it happens on a daily basis usually for things much more damaging than who starts the ASG.
Absolutely goddamn ridiculous. There is literally no possible justification to choose Sandoval over Wright. The MLB has got to put an end to fan voting if they’re going to insist on making the game decide home field advantage.
This.
Wright is going though b/c he’s on the reserve list.
Castro
Lahair
Bruce
Gonzalex
Altuve
Stanton
Braun
Wright
Other than hearing the starters announced as they take the field I don’t care much for the ASG. Not hearing Wright’s name announced as this year’s NL starting 3rd baseman disappoints me. This though can be remedied by having Dickey be the starting pitcher at this year’s ASG.
Not surprised at all. At one point, RYAN HOWARD was 5th in the votes at 1st base. Absolutely ridiculous that Sandoval gets the nod over Wright.
Pablo Sandovol? Really? What a joke…
I am shocked about that. I’m no Wright fan by any stretch of the imagination but what’s fair is fair and Wright should be the starting 3Bman in the All Star game.
I’m also surprised that San Francisco fans are outvoting Wright fans. I was never a fan of the voting process to begin with anyway because it makes it more of a popularity contest than doing the proper thing and that’s a fan using his/her BRAINS and voting for the right guy. No such luck
*that should read – San Francisco fans outvoting New York fans
It’s a joke. Sandovol has been out half the season.
*Sandoval
Absolute disgrace that Pablo Sandoval is starting over David Wright. I cannot believe this. Wright is in the running for MVP.
This is why the fans shouldn’t get as much of a say. Because crap like this happens.
I submitted my 25 votes for Wright but I can’t agree that if you didn’t you have no right to complain. I think we’re entitled to demand at least a *little* intelligence from fans who vote. In my view, Giants’ fans ballot-box stuffing merits not admiration but contempt. It doesn’t speak too well for their acumen as baseball fans.
I call this an absolute garbage voting system, It’s a bunch of ****ing BS!
Take the vote away from the fans and let the players vote. This is proof that this current selection process is terribly flawed. I feel awful for Wright, but I’m certain Tony LaRussa will do the right thing..
Wright is on the list of reserves so he’s going.
Agree about fans voting, especially since this game does mean something. Would be different if it was just a mid season showcase for the best talent from both leagues.
I like the idea that the fans get to vote, just not for the starters. The fans should vote. It’s an exhibition of the top players in the league. I say keep the voting as it is, but instead of naming the top vote-getters starters, just add them to the team. Let the managers round out the rosters and choose his starting nine.
Honestly if Mets fans are mad about this, they only have themselves to be mad at. I don’t wanna hear about the process… the process gives an advantage to loyal fan bases.
The Mets best player was on the ballot and the fans couldn’t back him enough to beat out a fan favorite from a smaller market.
At some point, our fans need to start waking up and realize that the Wilpon’s and Sandy Alderson, Omar Minaya do not play for the Mets and this team is worth the price of admission and worth supporting unconditionally.
Jessup -
I don’t buy it. Ballot-stuffing should neither be a barometer of fan-base loyalty or appreciation nor the sole determining factor as to who starts for their respective league. If the All Star game is to determine World Series home field advantage, then a more legitimate selection of All Star starters is in order. Sandoval is a very good ball player and is beloved in San Francisco, but he does not merit the honor of starting at 3rd base for the National League over David Wright.
As to getting out there and supporting the team, the Mets need to drop ticket prices and abandon the strategies that milk every cent from a fan that just wants to see his or her team play… prices that fluctuate according to the opponent, “convenience fees” for internet orders, ungodly concession costs, limitations on what fans can bring in, etc…
The entire industry is skewed, for that matter, and has driven this former season ticket holder out of the ball park in lieu of alternate forms of fan entertainment.
Its both a problem of perception in the wake of the Madoff affair, coupled with a very real dollar and cent impact on the fan that supports a family of five.
I don’t look at it as Wright getting robbed…
I look at it as one less game he can get hurt in and ruin our season.
I’m sure he will go and play in it anyway.
But I can’t seem to get any enjoyment over watching a Met in the All star game because it all gets offset by the fear that I could lose a player for the season I need to get into the playoffs!
Which is what I want to see WAY more than a Met in the All Star Game!
If you didn’t vote then you can’t complain, I spent a lot of time voting and saw that David had a big lead last week but I guess Mets being on the road while Giants were at home and fans being told to vote in Panda just shows that Met fans are not that involved when they allow a lesser mkt team to vote in a non starter like Sandoval over a MVP candidate like David.
Of course he deserves it but Met fans did not do their job so they can’t complain.
Sarge69 — I spent time voting for the All Star game players. Wright got my 25 votes at 3B.
Normally I don’t believe is conspiracies, but Joseph Stalin is reputed to have said:
“It not the people who vote that matter….it’s the people who count the votes that matter.”
Something is fishy.
Though I would have loved to see any Met get the starting role, I have very little interest in the All-Star game at all and usually watch the news or an old movie when it’s played.
Probably because I remember when the game was played for pride and it meant something to the leagues, players and fans. When the NL had that big run of victories in the sixties the AL players wanted so much to beat them while the NL players wanted to continue proving that their league was superior beyond the all-star game but in the league itself (the AL was considered vastly inferior to the NL those years with most all the superstars being in the senior circuit).
It was only an exhibition game even then but the players wanted to be there. I remember how much we waited in anticipation both in 1964 for Hunt to be selected but also in 1968 with Grote. At that time, it was the players who made the selection and it wasn’t a popularity contest.
The FOX advertisement about players saying how it counts is insulting. How many of them take their one or two at bats then take their shower and head for the airport instead of sticking around? Or Derek Jeter taking his $500K bonus for being selected as the starter and then not showing up due to the mental exhaustion of going for hit 3,000? And what was funny was on the YES pre-game show, one said Jeter didn’t show up last year and then a few minutes later suddenly added that it was due to injury. Am sure his producer whispered in his earphone to cover up for Jeter.
Derek, as I said, is not alone. There are many who truly consider it an honor to play in the all-star game and many who just consider it just part of the job. Few of them consider it anything worth winning.
It should be one vote per fan. This ballot stuffing ends up with Sandoval over Wright. Anyone who knows baseball knows that Sandoval can not hold Wright’s jockstrap.
I not a Wright lover but I gotta say he got screwed by his fans….
I’m surprised at this, a popular star player from a New York team whom has outperformed everyone else at the position in the NL loses out to a Panda from San Fran smh….Jeter fans will definitely get there guy in Wright should make up an excuse not to go and take a Vacation
His fans didn’t come up big in a big spot for him. They failed in the clutch, lol
Lmao
LMAO!!!!!!!!
The larceny in my soul appreciates a good stolen election. Giant fans stole it fair and square. Reminds me that Braves fans, with the support of the organization, did it a long time ago.
In the internet age, it does not suprise me that a team with Silicon Valley in its fan base would benefit from a last minuet virtual ballot box stuffing. Perhaps some rabid fan (you know, the blogger type) who makes his living as a spammer decided to help out his favorite player. The votes flooded in before anyone could respond.
Give the vote back to the players. It will mean more to those who are chosen.
This baloney has been going on for decades. ASG is a popularity contest. I like democracy, but not in this instance. I”ve long advocated for the respective ASG managers and coaches to make selections, and the criteria must be based almost exclusively on top performances, not who like whom.
Oh, well. Too bad for David, but, yeah, it is all a matter of the voting 25x nonsense.
Stop letting fans vote on this game…since it’s supposed to matter now…and this problem will be rectified. OR, make this a meaningless scrimmage, for the fans, and continue to let fans vote wrongly for the starters. Problem solved.
From what I’m reading Wright had approx. a 440,000 lead going into the last day.
In the last 24 hours, Sandavol came up with 2 million extra votes – had 3.7 million going into the last 24 hours.
Something wrong with that……
Givemethelefty (Player) Little Jerry voted 483 times for David Wright! ask yourself people what did you do!
http://twitter.com/Givemethelefty/statuses/219523093054500865
I guess you can sign up for a bunch of bogus emails, bogus names,etc and vote as much as you want, something I’ve heard happens a lot in the West Coast, where illegalities is not un common.
Meh, in the long run, who cares?
If come October we are still complaining about this, I’ll be thrilled.
That said, yes, it is stupid to say “it counts” and then have rules like fan voting and every team has to send at least 1 player.
I say, let the coaches or someone qualified choose the rosters and then have the fans pick the starters from that pool or something
The Dr. Evil in me wants to elect the worst American League All Star team possible. Hence the National League Chanampion will have home field advantage in the World Series. My fellow Mets Fans let us sycronize our watches for June 28, 2014.
Look, he was robbed big time, BY THE FANS…. There’s noone to blame here, in 2005 Carlos Beltran was an ALL STAR Starter.. The fans wanted to see him, he clearly did not deserve to be there but the fans chose him. it said soemthing about the voting process or something is clearly wrong and it needs to be fixed.. It is what it is, he’d get his ONE AT BAT and move on, most players still get paid for being reserve in the all star games so i don’t get what the real problem is here, but with that being said, just by looking at the rosters, on paper, the AL should DEMOLISH the NL…
Let this all be a lesson for us come November 6, 2012
???? Huh…???
Election Day – every vote counts!
lol, oh that vote!
To be quite honest given the choices I would rather vote for Sandoval that day!
The reason voting was originally taken away by the fans in the early fifties was that Cincinnati Reds fans stuffed the ballot box and nearly the entire team consisted of Red Legs. Thus, a very small town area was able to outfox the big city guys from New York (ala Brooklyn).
So what happened to David is not so shocking. Give the vote back to the players and let the fans vote be counted only in regards to the player actually making the team – not necessarily having to be a starter.