Sigh... Current ASG Starters

by Chris McKeown on Jun 15, 2011 12:06 PM EDT

This isn't important enough to put on the front page and there are already a lot of stories scheduled to publish today. If you follow this link to MLB.com, they have a breakdown of the current results. It's a little difficult to read, so let me list it out for you by the numbers.

Catcher
Russell Martin NYY, 1,712,156
Alex Avila DET, 1,093,070
Joe Mauer MIN, 1,041,798

First base
Adrian Gonazalez BOS, 2,027,537
Mark Teixeira NYY, 1,774,024
Miguel Cabrera DET, 1,295,547

Second base
Robinson Cano NYY, 2,649,737
Dustin Pedroia BOS, 1,518,231
Ian Kinsler TEX, 1,129,023

Third base
Alex Rodriguez NYY, 2,063,520
Adrian Beltre TEX, 1,752,729
Kevin Youkilis BOS, 1,381,381

Shortstop
Derek Jeter NYY, 1,931,670
Asdrubal Cabrera CLE, 1,647,802
Elvis Andrus TEX, 1,180,962

Outfield
Jose Bautista TOR, 3,042,091
Curtis Granderson NYY, 2,406,946
Josh Hamilton TEX, 1,799,339
Jacoby Ellsbury BOS, 1,447,715
Ichiro Suzuki SEA, 1,231,035
Carl Crawford BOS, 1,222,687
Nelson Cruz TEX, 1,123,608
Nick Swisher NYY, 937,365
Brett Gardner NYY, 796,905
J.D. Drew BOS, 778,871

Designated hitter
David Ortiz BOS, 1,974,918
Michael Young TEX, 1,428,833
Jorge Posada NYY, 810,672

It seems like Boston, New York and Texas fans are in a cut-throat race to see who can get more players to the ASG. If this current voting doesn't prove that the system is a complete joke, nothing else will. Let's break this down a bit.

Catcher - Russell Martin?! Please. A fantastic April, but he's been nothing short of mediocre ever since (.183/.309/.301). Joe Mauer? He's played nine games this season...

First base - Voters finally get it right with Gonzalez.

Second base - No love for Howie Kendrick or Ben Zobrist? Come on now.

Third base - Alex or Youkilis deserves it here. I have no problem with either starting.

Shortstop - Ok, enough already with Jeter. Asdrubal Cabrera deserves it much more. And what about Alexei Ramirez?

Outfield - Voters get Bautista and Granderson correct, but where is Matt Joyce? I guess an OPS of .960 through 60+ games is alright? The vast majority of names on this list are a joke for a starting position.

Designated hitter - Voters get it right with Ortiz.

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Comments

Home Field Advantage

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

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by Andrew GM on Jun 15, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Name recognition when voting! Team pride!

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

by Chris McKeown on Jun 15, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Awful

I don’t see Jesus Montero anywhere on here.

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by Brandon C. on Jun 15, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

How will Russell Martin do behind the plate in his full body cast?

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 15, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Rec’d

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

by Chris McKeown on Jun 15, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I know these guys aren't all playing their best right now.

But I don’t have a problem with much outside of Jeter at SS. Cano,Pedroia, Kinsler can all be AS caliber at times. I know Kendrick is playing great though, you’re right there. Catcher is eh. Who would you put there? I know Mauer hasn’t even been in 10 games this year. But Martin/Avila is okay I guess.

(I’ve been totally out of the league so far this season. School wrapping up and I’m ready to be back.)

"I'm coming after whoever who has it."

by Jeterian 2 on Jun 15, 2011 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

Avila deserves it most of anyone as far as catching.

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

by Chris McKeown on Jun 15, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Martin deserved it if the ASG was held in April.

Avila deserves it now.

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 15, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Kinsler and Pedroia don’t belong anywhere near the ASG this year.

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Jedi Master A-Rod is a poster on Pinstripe Alley. He can be reached by clicking the "Reply" button below his comments.

by Jedi Master A-Rod on Jun 15, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree

Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but milleniums in a place with no doors.

by YankeesJets on Jun 15, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

How the hell is Crawford 6th among outfielders? Do these people even watch the games?

So now the guys in the subway are saying Jesus is coming on October 21, 2011, but that would mean he wouldn't be on the playoff roster, let alone be eligible for it. I really don't know where these guys are getting their information from...

by Wraithpk on Jun 15, 2011 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

No.

Vote for your players and only your players like a real fan. It’s the New York/Boston/Texas way.

by Briceratops on Jun 15, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Apparently fans are watching Joe Mauer rake the ball. Wait… he’s rehabbing and has only played NINE GAMES.

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

by Chris McKeown on Jun 15, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

It's always been a little like this

but it seems to me to be a lot worse this year. Is it because baseball is losing some fans? Because looking at the current voting one would think only Yankees and Red Sox fans are paying any attention.

I bet it's good to be playing again, huh?

by david d on Jun 15, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

Not too bad

Jeter in no way deserves to even sniff the All-Star game, but his popularity will get him a start in every ASG for the rest of his career. However, A-Rod and Granderson both deserve starts, and Cano is the best second baseman in the league even though the numbers don’t show it yet. I have no problem with that. Tex, I think deserves to go as a backup, and the voters are getting it right so far with A-Gonz.

As for the catcher situation, Joe Mauer is by far the best catcher in the American League. But seeing as he’s played 9 games and is still hurt, the job should go to Avila. Martin had one good month and has sucked since then, and is now hurt (and still taking a roster spot).

Screw Youkilis- anyone who has seen his defense this year will know that he in no way deserves to start the All-Star game over A-Rod.

CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!

by nyyrocks29 on Jun 15, 2011 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

MOAR YANKEEZ AND SAWX

Status quo.

by nyynygnjd on Jun 15, 2011 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

DJ has no business being over asdrubal Cabrera

but I’m glad he is anyway

by WE ARE L4SERS on Jun 15, 2011 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

When the game actually counts for something important, I'm not sure anyone should be happy that he is.

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 15, 2011 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

This.

World Series home field.

They really should make it the best overall record like in the NBA Finals.

"I'm coming after whoever who has it."

by Jeterian 2 on Jun 16, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Selig fumbled the ball on that so bad

its laughable how stupid it sounds if you really think about it. Considering you have guys that won’t even make the playoffs playing for “league pride”, if that even exists anymore in the sport. Total panic move on his part.

by total hermination on Jun 16, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

The ASG is won or lost in the last three innings when each league's third stringers are in the game.

So it makes sense to hold back votes for the actual best players so that they don’t start. That way, you have them on the bench, available for that big spot in the 7th inning against the Cubs’ token representative player with the 4.75 ERA.

by designatedquitter on Jun 16, 2011 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

That actually makes some sense. How about this… the all-star game shouldn’t count for anything. There!

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

by Chris McKeown on Jun 16, 2011 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

It really shouldn't.

"I'm coming after whoever who has it."

by Jeterian 2 on Jun 16, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Revolutionary!

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

Here's how to post pictures in threads

by Andrew GM on Jun 16, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Stop talking crazy talk

by waw on Jun 16, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

but...but

that one game ended in a tie!!!

by total hermination on Jun 16, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Avila for catcher.

"I'm coming after whoever who has it."

by Jeterian 2 on Jun 16, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

No, Martin 4eva

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

Here's how to post pictures in threads

by Andrew GM on Jun 16, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I really hope the 800,000 votes for Posada at DH

were intended as a joke, like the campaign PSA did last year to get Cervelli on the ballot. Gotta love democracy.

by total hermination on Jun 16, 2011 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going to have to agree with the sentiment here that the game should be meaningless

…As long as fans contribute a large part to the roster. At least in real life democracy we have the electoral college, so if the idiots have a strong write in campaign for Kermit the Frog, the votes can go to a real candidate.

Martin, Crawford, Jeter, Drew, Posada and Mauer stand out as players that should be no where near the ASG this season. Mauer, really?

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jun 18, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions