- Normally, I think I'm being more sensitive to the Yankees than people who are fans of other teams. That's just natural, right? But yesterday my husband, who provides the barometer for my crazy fandom, said to me, "Why is it that Posada just doesn't call a good game for Chamberlain?" Now, I don't dislike Jorge. But, I think some people mesh better with others, especially in the pitcher-catcher relationship. So, it might not be all Jorge, but for some reason these two just do not agree with/understand one another.
- Seriously? Ian Kinsler has to rely on the final fan vote to get into the All-Star Game? To that I say, in 90s Clueless fashion, whatevah!
- Dare I say it? I kind of like the idea of keeping Phil Hughes in the pen. Aside from his success there, I like the confidence he's gaining in that role. He's also sporting the rock-star shades and the longer hair. Good times all around.
More to come...
I like Hughes in the pen. It's working, so why mess up a good thing? Girardi seems to feel the same as we do. I think the Jorge/Joba problem was disproved in the start when Cervelli caught him and he was crappy then too. This is all on Joba. He needs to pitch better, plain and simple. But I can certainly see where some combos are better than others.
- http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
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Ian Kinsler should be the starting second baseman in the all star game in front of Pedroia. No doubt about it.
-Dillon
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I will tell you why Ian Kinsler is not in the All-Star game and why he should not start. Kinsler snub from the All-Star game is a result of two factors: a better second baseman and Red Sox nation. Dustin Pedroia, the 2B starter as voted by the fans, is batting .300 with 4 HRs. The only reason he's starting is because he has the Red Sox fan base behind him and they remember the Pedroia of last year who batted .326 with 17 HRs. Now, the other reason why Kinsler issan't an All-Star this year is because there is a better second baseman in the American League and his name is Aaron Hill and he plays for the Blue Jays, a small market team. Hill has been the best second baseman in the American League this season by a mile. So far this season, Hill is batting .298 (.002 less than Pedroia and .040 more than Kinsler), he's hit 20 HRs (same as Kinsler and 16 more than Pedroia); he has a higher OPS than bother Pedroia and Kinsler and is second in the AL in hits to Ichiro. In addition, and I know Boston fans will disagree with me but, he defence is comparable to Pedroia's and much better than Kinsler's. Altogether, Kinsler is a great player but Joe Maddon could not take 3 second baseman on his roster and seeing as Pedroia got voted in, Kinsler is the odd man out.
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I agree that the numbers on Aaron Hill bear out his being chosen for the All-Star team, and that Red Sox Nation is just big enough and dumb enough to think Pedroia is an All-Star this year. My problem with all of this is that the All-Star Game has become "Who Do You Want to See Play?" Unfortunately, that's not Aaron Hill.
For months and months I've been listening to small-market team's announcers moan about how their players get no attention. The problem with that line of thinking is that none of those teams markets their stars effectively. I bet a lot of people would say this is about money, but I don't think so. Small market teams get a certain amount of revenue sharing, and some of them have done a decent job of marketing their stars (Nick Markakis in Baltimore and the M&Ms in Minnesota).
I guess what I'm saying is that we should decide what we want the All-Star Game to be. If it's supposed to be a stat-driven meritocracy then the fans should not get a vote. If it's supposed to be a (mostly) laid-back exhibition of talent from players you don't get to see your team play all that often, then a fan vote is fine. But in that situation, I'd rather watch Kinsler.
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