Roy Halladay and Shea Hillenbrand will represent the Blue Jays at the All Star game next week.
Complete rosters can be found here.
If Doc's named the starter of the all-star game, Gibby said he would probably juggle the rotation.
You might see Doc only get 3 days rest and pitch against the A's instead of the Rangers. That would leave him 4 days rest for the all-star game. I hope Gibby keeps things the way they are because facing the Rangers on the road is a tougher task than the A's at home. That would leave Doc with 3 days rest for the all-star game. Pitching 2 innings shouldn't be that big of a deal.
You might see Doc only get 3 days rest and pitch against the A's instead of the Rangers. That would leave him 4 days rest for the all-star game. I hope Gibby keeps things the way they are because facing the Rangers on the road is a tougher task than the A's at home. That would leave Doc with 3 days rest for the all-star game. Pitching 2 innings shouldn't be that big of a deal.
Canadian Jason Bay also made it just one year after his rookie season.
The AL All Star Final Vote players are:
Carl Crawford, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Torii Hunter, Scott Podsednik.
It will definitly be a Yankee, but which one? I'd bet Matsui.
The NL 5 players are:
Trevor Hoffman, Brett Myers, Roy Oswalt, Brandon Webb, Billy Wagner.
I'd say Oswalt or Wagner will make it out of that group.
The AL All Star Final Vote players are:
Carl Crawford, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Torii Hunter, Scott Podsednik.
It will definitly be a Yankee, but which one? I'd bet Matsui.
The NL 5 players are:
Trevor Hoffman, Brett Myers, Roy Oswalt, Brandon Webb, Billy Wagner.
I'd say Oswalt or Wagner will make it out of that group.
As for snubs, Francona was just interviewed and said his last man out was his own, Matt Clement in favor of Bartolo Colon. So Clement goes if any AL pitcher gets hurt or decides he wants a rest.
NL Snub? Morgan Ensberg.
NL Snub? Morgan Ensberg.
Those lists look wrong, as the AL is all position players -- and you're right about Matsui, with the international online vote behind him -- and the NL 5 shown all pitchers.
Terrific All-Star Announcement headline in The Dallas Morning News: "The Gambler, He Broke Even." (Kenny "The Gambler" Rogers, fined $50K this week, will get a $50K bonus for being named to the All-Star team.)
Mick, those lists are right. They are deliberately like that because Francona left the empty spot on his roster as a position player spot and LaRussa left his in the pitching staff. Therefore, they named five position players and five pitchers respectively. I know you may argue that they don't need X number of position players specifically, but when the managers arranged their rosters I bet that's how they did it.
And Jeter makes the last AL spot.
And Jeter makes the last AL spot.
I had 4 NL snubs, but you'll have to wait for the NL East Update tomorrow for who the three in that division are (Ensberg in for Rolen is the 4th).
Fan voting sucks.
Fan voting sucks.
It'd be nice to see some kind of effort to combat the international vote and have the fans actually pick someone deserving. I personally think Torii Hunter is the best of that bunch.
Shea Hillenbrand vs. the Red Sox:
AVG OBP OPS
.455 .513 .968
<p>
In 39 at bats. One possible reason for Shea's inclusion.
AVG OBP OPS
.455 .513 .968
<p>
In 39 at bats. One possible reason for Shea's inclusion.
I can't believe how many people are crying about Ensberg not making it. Seriously, he hits 10 homers one month and suddenly he's an all-star? Come on, Rolen's way better than this guy.
Hafner should have been in over Hillenbrand, though.
Hafner should have been in over Hillenbrand, though.
Hillenbrand making the team was a surprise to me. Really didn't see that coming as he is having a good year but not an All-Star year imo. Won't complain though. I suspect he is there as a 3B more than a 1B even though he is listed as a 1B on the MLB site.
How about the ex-Jay shortstops in the NL? Cesar Izturis made it with his glove, and Felipe Lopez with his bat. Izturis is hitting 275/322/338 at the moment. Sadly that is his 2nd best OBP and 2nd best Slg (not counting his year in TO with 134 AB's). Don't know who was snubbed at SS in the NL though in favour of him going. Lopez on the other hand has become what we all dreamed he might before he was traded (321/366/562). And he just turned 25 this season so odds are decent this is a real improvement and not just a career year.
How about the ex-Jay shortstops in the NL? Cesar Izturis made it with his glove, and Felipe Lopez with his bat. Izturis is hitting 275/322/338 at the moment. Sadly that is his 2nd best OBP and 2nd best Slg (not counting his year in TO with 134 AB's). Don't know who was snubbed at SS in the NL though in favour of him going. Lopez on the other hand has become what we all dreamed he might before he was traded (321/366/562). And he just turned 25 this season so odds are decent this is a real improvement and not just a career year.
Other than Beltran over Andruw Jones and Rolen over Ramirez, the fans actually didn't do a half bad job of voting in the starters. There were some young guys that could have been starters like Felipe Lopez but most of the names who got named actually deserve it this year. Now if only Doc and Willis get the start I will have nothing "All Star" to complain about till next year ;)
Considering Hillenbrand was voted to the team by the players I'd have to say that's a pretty good gauge of how he's done this year.
If you replaced Izturis and Alou with Vizquel and Delgado, you'd have a much better team and still have a member of the Giants on the roster. Plus when I see an All-Star team, I want to see stars, not just guys putting up a couple decent months worth of stats (which Izturis isn't even doing) - Vizquel and Delgado fit the bill much better.
Hillenbrand over Chavez and Hafner? I suspect that Shea realizes that that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. All right, Hillenbrand and Frasor for Alex Romero and Jesse Crain. He's an All-Star, after all.:)
I didn't mean to suggest that Alou isn't a star (I meant more Izturis), but at this point in their careers, Delgado is a much better player.
Would it be horrible of me to ask Robert to purchase the Hillenbrand All-Star jersey and wear it instead of a regular Jays jersey? That seems almost cruel.
And along those lines, I wonder what last year's All-Star jerseys cost? Say, a Ted Lilly one for my bet with Gitz? Nah, they're probably twice what that sweatshirt is worth. But maybe if New Era's website still has team caps with the 2004 All-Star logo on them, I could get him to buy me an '04 All-Star Jays cap -- since the only guy who wore that cap was Lilly, right? That can't be more than $39.
Size 7 3/4, Gitz. They're going to win 85+ games.
And along those lines, I wonder what last year's All-Star jerseys cost? Say, a Ted Lilly one for my bet with Gitz? Nah, they're probably twice what that sweatshirt is worth. But maybe if New Era's website still has team caps with the 2004 All-Star logo on them, I could get him to buy me an '04 All-Star Jays cap -- since the only guy who wore that cap was Lilly, right? That can't be more than $39.
Size 7 3/4, Gitz. They're going to win 85+ games.
Anyone with a list that tells you whether the player was picked by the manager or the players?
ESPN.com included that with its rosters.
Francona made the wise decision by including Rogers.... it would be unfair and unreasonable (under the CBA) to bar him from the All-Star Game before a final decision was made on his suspension.
It'll be left up to Rogers whether he wants the heat next week.
Francona made the wise decision by including Rogers.... it would be unfair and unreasonable (under the CBA) to bar him from the All-Star Game before a final decision was made on his suspension.
It'll be left up to Rogers whether he wants the heat next week.
King Ryan, I think that if you're to say that Ensberg shouldn't be on the team because of a hot month, then you could make the same argument for for Andruw Jones. Although, Jones is a perennial all-star their numbers are very similar. Season: Ensberg: Hr:21, RBI:58, AVG: .286, OBP .382. Jones: HR: 26, RBI: 59 AVG: .280 OBP: .357. Jones has been even hottter over the past month with 14 homes in his last 21 games. Of course, Jones and Ensberg don't play the same position so they aren't in direct competition but their numbers are comparable. I would say that there is a very strong case for Ensberg to be on the team although Ramirez and Rolen are both having excellent seasons.
Sorry I didn't mean to include Rolen as having an excellent season.
It'd be nice to see some kind of effort to combat the international vote and have the fans actually pick someone deserving. I personally think Torii Hunter is the best of that bunch.
The deserving player is the one the fans want to see. That's what the spot is for!
At any rate, Matsui has been one of the very best hitters in the AL for two years now, and he's consistently treated as if he can't play. I find it bizarre.
At any rate, Derek Jeter is clearly the class of that AL field. Odd to use "Jeter" and "class" in the same sentence without using the phrase "has no", but there it is. I can't fathom why he was left off, either. Not only is he a consistently excellent player and a major star, the AL took *four* first basemen and Jeter's a better player this year than any of them - would taking three first basemen and three shortstops have been so bad?
Maybe it's retribution for the year Torre took 19 shortstops.
"Francona made the wise decision by including Rogers.... it would be unfair and unreasonable (under the CBA) to bar him from the All-Star Game before a final decision was made on his suspension."
Francona didn't select Rogers, his fellow players selected him.
Francona didn't select Rogers, his fellow players selected him.
The deserving player is the one the fans want to see. That's what the spot is for!
Sure.. but if the vote totals end up being released and Matsui laps the field because of the entire nation of Japan voting for him, it won't seem "right" to me. Although he has picked up his play since the end of May, at least. I'll concede that all 5 players are at least reasonable choices for the last spot.
The idea that someone's vote should be discounted because he lives in another country is one I don't have a lot of time for.
Anyway, to much more important news... Bret Boone is being let go by Seattle. The Jays can't use him, but I know two of our direct competitors who'd find him pretty useful right now...
Izturis is about as deserving of an All-Star selection as Kim Jong Il is of a Nobel Peace Prize. He's ranked 9th among NL shortstops in OPS, and his glove is nothing special. I'd replace him with Ensberg, and you'd still have a backup SS in Lopez.
If it's star-power you're interested in, I'm not sure Delgado is more known than Alou. He's certainly been a better hitter, but Alou's played on a couple larger-market teams. I, for one, am partial to stats, and I think Alou's having too good a year to take him off, despite Delgado's (and even Vizquel's) good numbers.
If it's star-power you're interested in, I'm not sure Delgado is more known than Alou. He's certainly been a better hitter, but Alou's played on a couple larger-market teams. I, for one, am partial to stats, and I think Alou's having too good a year to take him off, despite Delgado's (and even Vizquel's) good numbers.
Shea was apparently surprised by the announcement. He was looking forward to the 3 days at home.
That's it, I gotta get me a Hillenbrand All Star shirt.
Here is a player's player; for Francona it's a no-brainer, slam-dunk, Baby: Shea's on the Team. Anybody who wants to dis the Shea Hey Kid may now go to the back of the room.
Here is a player's player; for Francona it's a no-brainer, slam-dunk, Baby: Shea's on the Team. Anybody who wants to dis the Shea Hey Kid may now go to the back of the room.
The only player that Francona really picked was Bartolo Colon. (over Matt Clement no less). The other players he chose were the teams with no representation (like Sweeney and Baez). Everyone else made it through fan voting and player voting.
I was a little worried when I saw the title for this thread. It took me a full 3 seconds to go from WHAT WHAT WHAT??!?!? to oh yeah, the all star game is in detroit.
Does anyone know how this years home run derby is going to work? I know of the international angle but will it be one player from each county (seemingly snubbing alot of potential HR Derby candidates) or will it be small teams? And do the selections have to be made by those voted to the all star game or will other players be invited strictly for the HR derby?
And when will the pitching starters be announced?
And why do I have so many questions today?
Oh well... it's better than conspiracies I suppose.
And when will the pitching starters be announced?
And why do I have so many questions today?
Oh well... it's better than conspiracies I suppose.
The selection of Hillenbrand seems a little suspect to me. Does anyone know exactly how the "players" selection works?
I said nothing about discounting any Japanese votes at all. Just saying why not combine forces to elect the most deserving player, instead of the most Asian player.
The selection of Hillenbrand seems a little suspect to me. Does anyone know exactly how the "players" selection works?
I think they read all the prominent baseball websites and decide who's taken the most flack this season and then vote that player into the All-Star Game as a reward.
According to Richard Griffin (BBRRS=lox and cream cheese on a bagel), Hillenbrand was chosen as the 2nd player's choice at DH behind Papi. Why precisely there must be 2 DHs I do not know.
The funny thing is that Hillenbrand has had significant value this year because of his adequate defence at third, and particularly his fine defence at first. Not that his play has been that of an All-Star, but still...
The funny thing is that Hillenbrand has had significant value this year because of his adequate defence at third, and particularly his fine defence at first. Not that his play has been that of an All-Star, but still...
What, and ruin his future chances at receiving an Andujar?
(Well, maybe it'd be more like "letting the voters know who should win," given the Andujar winners' histories of being named to their first All-Star game the year of their glory. And yes, I know Hillenbrand isn't eligible on several fronts.)
In good news, Roy Oswalt and Scott "Hey, it's not a Yankee" Podsednik were voted on to the All-Star rosters by the fans.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar05/news/story?id=2101976
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar05/news/story?id=2101976