Comments on: All-Star Ballots: Utley Leads All NL Players

By: bob lindsay

bob lindsay — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:51:58 +0000

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By: bob lindsay

bob lindsay — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:39:34 +0000

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By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:36:01 +0000

My take: Fans should be able to vote for one player at each position, but these players don’t necessarily have to be starters. Fans vote 9 guys (include the pitcher and get rid of the DH for fan voting) and managers/players vote another 11 (including a couple pitchers). No more 32-man rosters or whatever. I don’t care if no Padres make the team.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:27:09 +0000

I’m not saying let the sports writers or anyone else decide. I’m saying the players’ performances should be the deciding factor. Baseball is a game of numbers. Let’s use them for once for something other than records.

I’m saying it should be decided statistically. You can get 1-10 points (this would be done for each position in each league) over a range of stats including AVG, OPS, HR, Doubles, Triples, etc. The person who has the best number for each stat gets 1 point, 2nd best gets 2 points, etc. The player at each position with the least amount of points get the starting nod. The player with 2nd most get the backup nod at each position.

Whoever has played the best and accumulated the best statistics to that point in the season would be the all-star. This wouldn’t be limited to hitting, but should also include fielding stats too. It would eliminate the popularity contest and guarantee the player with the best performance to that point would (deservingly) be the all star.

By: Kwasi

Kwasi — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:31:05 +0000

Leave the voting as it is! Yes, every year in every sport some athletes get screwed when it comes to All-Star games but this is the only thing that is purely decided by the fans. We don’t get to vote for any in-season awards, so let us have this game! If the fans want to see 8 Red Sox in the starting lineup, then that is what it should be. There is also no rule that the manager has to play those players a minimum amount of time.

Let them have their one AB and then put in the more deserving guys at that point. It is an All-Star game and we should see who we want to play. Let us keep all the power for once and not share it with the sportswriters, fans, etc.

It isn’t like those sportswriters take a poll from the fans on who to vote for MVP or the HOF, they make the decision themselves. So, let us have this one game every year!

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:08:57 +0000

I agree that the fan voting is lame. Especially since the All-star game outcome now dictates which league gets the home field advantage in the world series.

The best players to that point in each league according to stats based on a points system (e.g. – Utley has most HRs in NL, he gets 1 point at 2nd (low=good)) should hands down get the starting nod.

And no more of this crap where each pitcher throws 1 inning. Let the best pitcher pitch…period. When he needs help, bring in a reliever. I’m so tired of the coddling. If it’s called an all-star game, force it to BE one!

By: Don M

Don M — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:52:58 +0000

I’m talking more about a guy like A-rod…. who has been injured most of the season…. but will probably start the All-Star game…

34 hits… 7 HR… 17 RBIs… his numbers are low because he was injured. Maybe he shouldn’t be punished because of his injury, but for a deserving player to be left off because A-rod gets the automatic bid is part of why the All-Star voting sucks. Leave it all up to the players and managers… then let the fans decide the final 5 players or so…

In the NL… Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth both deserve to be in the game… but because Carlos Beltran (.259, 4 HR, 29 RBI) gets to start…one of them might be left off…

If Rollins stays healthy and keeps producing, it will be him, Ramirez, and probably Miguel Tejada at SS…..

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:31:25 +0000

Don M~

If the All-Star game is scheduled for this weekend, then I can see your point about Rollins and his DL period. However, with a month and a half to go before the July 15th event, Rollins can have enough at bats for an accumulation of impressive MVP type stats. Let’s face it, with fans voting, popularity will always be a part of the equation to go with past and present accomplishments of players listed on the ballot.

By: Don M

Don M — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:25:17 +0000

If you miss significant time, you should not make the All-Star team…. the fact that the entire Red Sox team is going to start for the AL is a joke… except of course for A-Rod and Jeter…. who are good, but thats the problem with the fan-vote.

Josh Hamilton of the Rangers is tearing the cover off the ball, but he was like 7th in the vote for all stars behind, Manny, Ichiro, Vlad, Magglio, Abreu…???…… its a joke.

At least in the NL they are getting it right (except for OF) leaders right now are: 1b Berkman, 2b Utley, SS- Ramirez, 3b Chipper, C- Soto…. the OF is Soriano, Fukudome, and Griffey JR…. MAYBE Fukudome deserves to get in… but the other two don’t

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:46:22 +0000

What about Jimmy? 5th? That’s ridiculous for the reigning NL MVP???? Even though he has missed time, he’s back and hitting well. I just don’t see how he’s behind Ryan Theriot??? WTH?

Thoughts?

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:42:57 +0000

I agree, Pat needs to make it! I’ll do my duty.

By: BillyPenn

BillyPenn — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:42:28 +0000

Pat the Bat needs a vacation to the Bronx in mid July

By: Mike W.

Mike W. — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:19:19 +0000

Kinda funny/pathetic, on phillies.com they have the article about Utley leading the 2b voting….yet mistakenly show a picture of Werth.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:55:58 +0000

Alright Brian! i casted my 25 votes. we all need to vote to get Pat into the all-star game. Cmon guys!

By: Brian Michael

Brian Michael — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:50:32 +0000

Let’s go people – get Burrell in the All-Star Game!

Everyone vote 25 times here:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2008/ballot_reg.html