Thread: Twins All-Star(s)

Is it Mauer or Willingham or do both make it?

Blackburn?

Gotta think Mauer is a given. Willingham is facing tougher competition at his position, but I think he (or Plouffe with a couple good weeks) will get in.

Don't the announce the teams this Sunday?

Originally Posted by Pius Jefferson

Don't the announce the teams this Sunday?

Ah yeah, I suppose you're right. I keep forgetting how close the break is already.

Mauer will likely get voted in. For as much disapproval he has gotten from fans (including myself), he is actually having a fairly good season. I don't think Willingham will make it unless he puts in some good work in the next few weeks. He's borderline and I'm not sure that he is the best choice as of now. I did vote for him when he was 5th in AL OPS, but since then he sunk a little. Plouffe is very doubtful.

The all star game is a joke. The fans from a couple of cities end up dominating the voting and you end up seeing a Yank/Sox matchup against whatever teh NL throws out there. Then the manager goes with bias and selects a half dozen guys from their own team who kind of sort of might deserve it while plenty of deserving folks get left out... Not sure Willingham should be on that list (because he is borderline), but I just about guarantee you that guys will make it there who have no business being there.

Derek Jeter, starting shortstop for the American League.

Good thing the All-Star game doesn't impact home field advantage in the World Series or anything.

As much as they are both deserving, a team this bad probably won't get two All-Star reps. I kinda hope it's Willingham over Mauer, but Mauer is probably more deserving at his position.

I kind of hope Mauer doesn't make it. Let him use the time off to refresh and stay useful.

It will be Mauer as the back-up catcher for the AL

What he said ^^^^^^

At least it will not be Cuddyer

Originally Posted by jctwins

Blackburn?

The only way Blackburn makes it to KC is if he is asked to pitch in the home run derby.

I think it'll be harder for Willingham (or Span) to make it than Mauer. Looks like Napoli will be the starting catcher but Mauer should be the backup. If they only take 2 catchers, he might miss out - Weiters or AJ could go instead - but I think he's as close to a lock as a Twin can be.

Than again, if it's like last years All-star game where everyone dropped out and there were like 60 all-stars, Willingham will be just fine.

Anyone vote?

I voted for everyone I saw on the ballot who was no longer with their listed team

Originally Posted by Curt

Anyone vote?

I vote about once every third year... Then I realize that I'm on the internet and I could be doing more important and relevant things like searching for donkey porn.

I wish MLB would just do away with the fan vote and leave choices to the players, managers, and writers. The fan vote was fine when the game was an exhibition but you can't have it both ways by letting the fans vote when home field for the WS is decided on the game. The game either plays an important role in the postseason or it's a fun fan-based free-for-all. Not both.

Originally Posted by rocketpig

The fan vote was fine when the game was an exhibition but you can't have it both ways by letting the fans vote when home field for the WS is decided on the game.

I wonder if it's even occured to "them" that the smart strategy for a person who is a fan of a team (isn't that most everyone?) would be to vote for the very worst players he could find from the opposite league.

Originally Posted by CDog

I wonder if it's even occured to "them" that the smart strategy for a person who is a fan of a team (isn't that most everyone?) would be to vote for the very worst players he could find from the opposite league.

I've been known to do it across the board. If I see Nick Punto on an All-Star ballot, it is damned hard for me to resist voting for him out of spite.

Originally Posted by rocketpig

I've been known to do it across the board. If I see Nick Punto on an All-Star ballot, it is damned hard for me to resist voting for him out of spite.

Oh, I'm quite certain many fans have done it. I do wonder if the powers that be have even considered that people would. Because it's completely illogical that they've tied the exhibition game to the most important actual games that get played, so at least some reasoning power seems to have been left on the table.