by Wally
While Mark Buehrle supports teammate Paul Konerko’s candidacy for All-Star selection by wearing his “Paul-Star” tee-shirt, Konerko’s only chance to make it will be by winning the fans’ “Final vote.” We’ll know late Thursday whether or not the campaign is successful. Regardless, Konerko’s snub by the league’s brass, namely Ron Washington the AL Manager, really burns my butt. Konerko has a .954 OPS (fourth in the AL) and also resides among league leaders in RBI (62, third), home runs (21, fourth) and batting average (.317, fifth). All this for a very weak offensive team in Chicago. Konerko has kept the Sox afloat all season almost by himself (okay, the starting pitchers are pretty good too). As a ChiSox fan, I love Konerko … one of the best White Sox of ALL-TIME … a really productive throwback player who does it the right way … and a total class act. When a player has these numbers, plus a great track record, it just shouldn’t come to this.
So you’ve seen my pet peeve all-star snub … who’s yours? C.C. Sabathia? Andrew McCutcheon?
So, your All-Snub Team consists of the 4th best first-baseman in the American League and no one else?
Andrew McCutchen didn’t make it? I didn’t even notice. That’s ridiculous. Are the managers any better at this than the fans?
You know, I don’t get too worried about the All Star game, or who gets picked, since the fans vote, and most people are, let’s face it, just plain stupid (and include me in that pool, I have no qualms being called an idiot). If they restructured the selection more like the House/Senate voting scheme, it would make more sense. Give the popular vote to fans, but also include 1 or 2 players from every team, selected by the managers, or the players, or whatever, then you’d see a more balanced group. Of course, you’d also have too many players, so you’d have to have a few games, or more activities, or whatever, like who can sign the most autographs in 10 minutes, stuff like that.
As for the game itself, I really started losing interest a while ago. The one all star celebration that is fun to watch is hockey, with the speed races, shooting contests, and the game itself is a loose and fun event. But baseball, eh, no loss if I don’t see it.
Chas … I was hoping others might announce the snubs that really ticked them off. Obviously, that didn’t work.
Anyway, with regard to Konerko, I’m not saying he’s the best first baseman, but he’s one of THE most productive offensive players in the AL while carrying a weak hitting team on his back. Make him the 6th outfielder or something … he’s much more deserving than his teammate Carlos Quentin. Half the season is left, but I bet Konerko might place 4th-5th if an MVP vote were held today … he’s unquestionably an “All-Star”.
OK, I’ll play along. I think McCutchen is the biggest oversight. I can’t believe he didn’t even make it to the final vote thing.
Other all-snubs, for me, include Alexei Ramirez, Brett Gardner, Ben Zobrist, Chase Headley. Sabathia is an odd omission as well, but I’m not going to sing the blues for him.
That is a cool shirt that Buehrle’s wearing, BTW.
Agree with Chas and say McCutchen was an oversight. Would also go with Tommy Hanson as well.
But for Konerko – he is having a great year, but who do you take off? Remember the players voted Quentin in and if you remove an outfielder – what happens if this game goes extra innings? You suddenly have a first basemen playing in the outfield and pulls a hammy – the manager is getting a world of hurt for the decision. If the game ends in a time, then MLB is blasted for the game being a joke. A no win situation.
Sabathia will be in now that Lester will probably be out of the game.
Hanson’s a good one too.
I don’t think Lester made the team either, Smitty. Now if Josh Beckett were to get hurt, that would be awesome…because it would create an all-star spot for Sabathia, of course. 😉
Justice is served! Konerko is in.