Loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Let us know what is on your mind. Today is a great day for the Pine!
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bill ribassays
Well if last night’s game is any indication of how the Stanley Cup Finals are going to go, it should be a wild ride. Pretty much neck and neck until the last 20 seconds, and it was pretty much prison rules up to that point too.
Mike Mowrysays
Mark Teixeira or Adrian Gonzalez? I ask because the Yankees currently hold the entire infield for the AL in the all-star game. I feel Tex should certainly get the nod, I will state my case why if someone refutes, I think it’s really funny that Tex, Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Martin, and even Granderson are the starters if the voting ended today.
Wallysays
All Star 1B? It should be Paul Konerko of the ChiSox. Texeira and all the Yankmees benefit purely from the huge NY fan base. To be honest, several players are deserving, including AGonz.
Yankmees getting the fan vote … So what else is new? Best be careful not to include “All Star starter” with “most deserving”.
Dansays
All of those All-Star starters???
Shouldn’t they be undefeated or dominating their division???
They have the players, obviously. Is it something else?
The interesting thing is you could make a case for all six of those Yankees starters, except Derek Jeter, although I would take Adrian Gonzalez or Miguel Cabrera over Teixeira, and Howie Kendrick over Robinson Cano. The other three (Russell Martin, Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson) are probably the best players at their positions so far this year.
The other interesting thing is that the worst pick among those leading the voting so far is Josh Hamilton, although Jeter is a close second.
But, we all know that the fan voting for the all-star game has always been a joke, so why is anyone up in arms over this. Besides, for all the Yankees fans out there, there are even more who absolutely hate them, so go out and vote for their closest rivals and stop complaining people. That’s people in general, not necessarily you guys. 🙂
You know what annoys me the most about the all-star voting? The fact that they treat all three outfield positions as if they’re one position. When you end up with a corner outfielder starting in center, that player is playing out of position…as an all-star starter.
Corner outfielders can be blended together, but they need to make center field its own separate position.
On another topic – note to Scottie Pippen: Michael Jordan would NEVER let his team lose that large of a lead in the fourth quarter of a NBA finals game.
Scottie, if you like, I will pen your thank-you note to MJ. Without him, you would not have made the all-time top 50 team.
bill ribassays
You know what? Let all the Yankees start the All Star game. Go ahead. Let that knucklehead Joe Buck wax poetic about the Bronx with that obnoxious pontificating voice of his. Let the Yankees rake in more money, because those Steinbrenner kids have to eat after all. Let the Yankees players go all 9 innings too, heck, make it the Yankees versus the rest of the league teams. It will save everyone who is not a Yankee fan the trouble of watching a game that doesn’t matter, and we can instead focus on that home run contest where some poor slob wins a house.
What did Scottie Pippen say to warrant that backlash, Casey? Did he compare LeBron James to Jordan?
bill ribassays
“Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game, but I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will but he keeps everybody involved,” he said.
Thanks Bill. I think LeBron James needs to prove he’s as good as Kobe Bryant before anyone starts comparing him to MJ.
Mike Mowrysays
The main reason the Yankees players are receiving backlash is due to the fact that the game decides home field advantage for the WS. Yankees tend to be in the Fall Classic anyways, whats the big deal? In a equal playing park without the 314 RF line at Yankee stadium, or the 300 feet that surround Fenway all the way around the OF I would personally still take Tex. Mark’s glove is light years ahead of Adrian too in terms of covering the bag.
Uhhhh…the Yankees have only reached the World Series once in the last seven years, Mike. Also, don’t sell Adrian Gonzalez’s defensive abilities short. He’s just as good as Teixeira.
Light years??? I am with Chas – I think you might be selling Adrian Gonzalez very short.
Chas – I agree with you completely about the All-Star voting. Why is every All-Star starter specific to their position except for the OFs. If you are the starting CF in the All-Star game, you should be a CF during the season.
Let’s change the vote to infielders and outfielders. You could end up having a Prince Fielder playing shortstop. That should make the All-Star game more interesting.. 🙂
Ginosays
Light years is a lot of time for a guy with 2 gold gloves. Not saying Teixeira isn’t better, just saying light years is a lot of time.
If the Allstar game is such a joke, which it is, why does it matter who plays centerfield? The whole “this one matters” idea is still a joke since the game more than likely gets decided by players who wont smell the playoffs anyway.
Even better if the whole selection process is a joke, which it is, why does a small part of that process matter? The damn thing needs a complete overhaul not just a small fix.
Never said the all-star game itself was a joke, Gino. Even if it’s just an exhibition game, which it probably should be, it should be a showcase of the best players in the game at their respective positions. Andre Ethier making his first ever appearance in center field in the all-star game is ridiculous. What part of that is so hard to understand?
Yeah, you’re right…the thing needs a complete overhaul. So how does that invalidate an idea regarding one small piece of that overhaul?
Ginosays
Out of curiosity:
What if a Centerfielder got a start in the all star game on either corner?
What if a Corner outfielder got some time in Centerfield (<10 games) and than got a start in Centerfield in the All Star Game or vice versa?
I'm saying the all star game is a joke!! In my lifetime I haven't seen another baseball game end all tied up after 11 innings.
Invalidation is a strong word. Lets say I rather talk about the whole process, as an example fan voting does not guarantee that you'll get the best players. So that's all I'm saying.
Loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Let us know what is on your mind. Today is a great day for the Pine!
Well if last night’s game is any indication of how the Stanley Cup Finals are going to go, it should be a wild ride. Pretty much neck and neck until the last 20 seconds, and it was pretty much prison rules up to that point too.
Mark Teixeira or Adrian Gonzalez? I ask because the Yankees currently hold the entire infield for the AL in the all-star game. I feel Tex should certainly get the nod, I will state my case why if someone refutes, I think it’s really funny that Tex, Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Martin, and even Granderson are the starters if the voting ended today.
All Star 1B? It should be Paul Konerko of the ChiSox. Texeira and all the Yankmees benefit purely from the huge NY fan base. To be honest, several players are deserving, including AGonz.
Yankmees getting the fan vote … So what else is new? Best be careful not to include “All Star starter” with “most deserving”.
All of those All-Star starters???
Shouldn’t they be undefeated or dominating their division???
They have the players, obviously. Is it something else?
The manager perhaps???
An article on this topic: https://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/110602_yankee_fans&sportCat=mlb
The interesting thing is you could make a case for all six of those Yankees starters, except Derek Jeter, although I would take Adrian Gonzalez or Miguel Cabrera over Teixeira, and Howie Kendrick over Robinson Cano. The other three (Russell Martin, Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson) are probably the best players at their positions so far this year.
The other interesting thing is that the worst pick among those leading the voting so far is Josh Hamilton, although Jeter is a close second.
But, we all know that the fan voting for the all-star game has always been a joke, so why is anyone up in arms over this. Besides, for all the Yankees fans out there, there are even more who absolutely hate them, so go out and vote for their closest rivals and stop complaining people. That’s people in general, not necessarily you guys. 🙂
You know what annoys me the most about the all-star voting? The fact that they treat all three outfield positions as if they’re one position. When you end up with a corner outfielder starting in center, that player is playing out of position…as an all-star starter.
Corner outfielders can be blended together, but they need to make center field its own separate position.
On another topic – note to Scottie Pippen: Michael Jordan would NEVER let his team lose that large of a lead in the fourth quarter of a NBA finals game.
Scottie, if you like, I will pen your thank-you note to MJ. Without him, you would not have made the all-time top 50 team.
You know what? Let all the Yankees start the All Star game. Go ahead. Let that knucklehead Joe Buck wax poetic about the Bronx with that obnoxious pontificating voice of his. Let the Yankees rake in more money, because those Steinbrenner kids have to eat after all. Let the Yankees players go all 9 innings too, heck, make it the Yankees versus the rest of the league teams. It will save everyone who is not a Yankee fan the trouble of watching a game that doesn’t matter, and we can instead focus on that home run contest where some poor slob wins a house.
What did Scottie Pippen say to warrant that backlash, Casey? Did he compare LeBron James to Jordan?
“Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game, but I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will but he keeps everybody involved,” he said.
and more, sorry for not putting the link – https://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/159847146
Thanks Bill. I think LeBron James needs to prove he’s as good as Kobe Bryant before anyone starts comparing him to MJ.
The main reason the Yankees players are receiving backlash is due to the fact that the game decides home field advantage for the WS. Yankees tend to be in the Fall Classic anyways, whats the big deal? In a equal playing park without the 314 RF line at Yankee stadium, or the 300 feet that surround Fenway all the way around the OF I would personally still take Tex. Mark’s glove is light years ahead of Adrian too in terms of covering the bag.
Uhhhh…the Yankees have only reached the World Series once in the last seven years, Mike. Also, don’t sell Adrian Gonzalez’s defensive abilities short. He’s just as good as Teixeira.
“LeBron James needs to prove he’s as good as Kobe Bryant before anyone starts comparing him to MJ.” Amen!
Well Casey, let’s hope that doesn’t hold true for off the court as well.
Light years??? I am with Chas – I think you might be selling Adrian Gonzalez very short.
Chas – I agree with you completely about the All-Star voting. Why is every All-Star starter specific to their position except for the OFs. If you are the starting CF in the All-Star game, you should be a CF during the season.
Let’s change the vote to infielders and outfielders. You could end up having a Prince Fielder playing shortstop. That should make the All-Star game more interesting.. 🙂
Light years is a lot of time for a guy with 2 gold gloves. Not saying Teixeira isn’t better, just saying light years is a lot of time.
If the Allstar game is such a joke, which it is, why does it matter who plays centerfield? The whole “this one matters” idea is still a joke since the game more than likely gets decided by players who wont smell the playoffs anyway.
Even better if the whole selection process is a joke, which it is, why does a small part of that process matter? The damn thing needs a complete overhaul not just a small fix.
Never said the all-star game itself was a joke, Gino. Even if it’s just an exhibition game, which it probably should be, it should be a showcase of the best players in the game at their respective positions. Andre Ethier making his first ever appearance in center field in the all-star game is ridiculous. What part of that is so hard to understand?
Yeah, you’re right…the thing needs a complete overhaul. So how does that invalidate an idea regarding one small piece of that overhaul?
Out of curiosity:
What if a Centerfielder got a start in the all star game on either corner?
What if a Corner outfielder got some time in Centerfield (<10 games) and than got a start in Centerfield in the All Star Game or vice versa?
I'm saying the all star game is a joke!! In my lifetime I haven't seen another baseball game end all tied up after 11 innings.
Invalidation is a strong word. Lets say I rather talk about the whole process, as an example fan voting does not guarantee that you'll get the best players. So that's all I'm saying.