Pathetic Part I

by Brandon C. on Jul 3, 2011 2:01 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

This is not an open thread. Please continue other comments in the game thread.

Definition of the word pathetic is "miserably inadequate." This word seems to perfectly sum up how well the managers, players, and fans did in selecting this years All Star Game participants, and how the Yankees management has handled transactions this season.

These are two completely different topics, so I have split my original one post into two separate posts. First, the All Star Game selections.

Bruce Bochy admitted during the show that he was very biased when selecting the All-Star Game participants. Players tend to select the players that have the flashiest names, and fans are generally moronic.

Andrew McCutchen, CC Sabathia, Craig Kimbrel, Paul Konerko, Mark Teixeira, Danny Espinosa, David Robertson, etc. Take your pick, all of these players are more deserving than players selected to make their respective All-Star teams. Heck, even Jhonny Peralta deserves to make it over our captain Derek Jeter.

The silver lining is that CC Sabathia isn't able to pitch in the All Star Game anyway. He is likely pitching Sunday, so he would have to be replaced. As for the others, they have reasons to play with chips on their shoulders.

Russell Martin making the team may have caused Ron Washington to not pick Robertson or Teixeira, but it's more likely that Washington chose C.J. Wilson over Robertson in his final decision making.

For the NL, it was completely necessary for Chipper Jones to make the team. His knees haven't imploded, so he deserves an All-Star Game selection according to the players. The second highest WAR in the national league belongs to Andrew McCutchen, who did not make the team. Fair.

I would not be surprised to see a few of the above listed players make the team as replacements, but both teams are certainly not put together to the highest ability possible. How would you fix it? Explain in the comments.

Oh, and vote Ian Kennedy.

Tweet Comment 36 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I see not one mention of Jeter not be deserving!

Half the league is more deserving than him

by michael28102 on Jul 3, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

He’s definitely not deserving. I can add that in if you would like.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Writer for Pinstripe Alley

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

If you don't love David Robertson and Brett Gardner I don't love you.

by Brandon C. on Jul 3, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Plenty of people have said it already, and it’s obviously true. No need to pander to a butthurt Mets fan. You have no obligation to appease him by being contrite about Jeter making the team when most of us didn’t want it to begin with.

He made it. He didn’t deserve it. Oh well, the All Star Game is a joke and there’s always going to be whining about it.

Baseball Statistics and Acronyms Explained

Follow me on the tweetbox - @LordDuggan12

by Lord Duggan on Jul 3, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Added.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Writer for Pinstripe Alley

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

If you don't love David Robertson and Brett Gardner I don't love you.

by Brandon C. on Jul 3, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Cause it's already been said here 1000 times.

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

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jul 3, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

take jeter and martin off and get cc and tex in

by jadedeed2327 on Jul 3, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Tell us something we don’t already know and haven’t mentioned numerous times. We know.

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

Follow me @csm5206

by Chris McKeown on Jul 3, 2011 2:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Testicles

by Yankees10 on Jul 3, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

lulz

"That took some ovaries to do" ~ Danica Patrick

by Cup Noodles on Jul 3, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

You entirely miss the point

For while the game itself is important, the entire premise behind it is a joke. A popularity contest “voted upon” by the largest markets, most biased and un-schooled. As if every team’s website doesn’t sport a headline that says "Make (team player)_ an All-Star! Fill out your ballot today!

Yet you want to grind your teeth and clench your fists in indignance.

Puh-leeeze.

Let it go. We all have… a time long ago.

by rosebud on Jul 3, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

The All Star Game has been pathetic ever since it was decided that it actually matters

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
"FUCK INTERLEAGUE" -I'mGivingYouARaise

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jul 3, 2011 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

McCutchen DIDN’T make the team??

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

Follow me @csm5206

by Chris McKeown on Jul 3, 2011 2:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

pathetic AND embarassing

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jul 3, 2011 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

balls

"That took some ovaries to do" ~ Danica Patrick

by Cup Noodles on Jul 3, 2011 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

CC not on the All Star team is a joke. He’s second in the AL in WAR for pitchers. Even if Washington thought he probably wouldn’t pitch, just make him an all star and then replace him with someone who doesn’t pitch Sunday.

David Robertson didn’t make the team because of Aaron Crow, not C.J. Wilson.

For whatever reason they only went with 2 1B, so that is why Tex isn’t an all star.

Still, if this game is going to mean something, MLB needs to do away with this “every team needs a representative” thing. Take a look at the rosters and they’d be better and deeper if teams didn’t need a representative.

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jul 3, 2011 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Im thinking Ron Washington might be using again

All kinds of snubs on this roster. Konerko, who should be in the MVP discussion, deserved to go. Instead of Crow, Gordon should have been the Royals rep. Michael Young doesnt belong on the team, neither does Martin. Perralta and Zobrist also belong. Not sure why CC wasnt part of the team and then just announce a replacement.

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 Jul 3, 2011 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

Konerko isn’t a top 3 first baseman in the AL.

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jul 3, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe not on defense but he does have great numbers

Konerko deserves to be an all star

by YankeesJets on Jul 3, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course he has great numbers, but so do A-Gon, Miggy, and Tex. Konerko doesn’t get in before any of them.

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jul 3, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

From what i've read CC will end up replacing Verlander, Shields or Felix

and then he will be replaced

by Yankees10 on Jul 3, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

according to this

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4867210/why-wilson-price-were-picked-over-sabathia

by Yankees10 on Jul 3, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

My All-Star Roster (Keeping in mind each team needs a representative and the same fan vote starters)

33 Roster Spots

C – Avila, Wieters, Santana
1B – Gonzalez, Cabrera, Teixeira
2B – Cano, Kendrick
3B – Rodriguez, Youkilis
SS – Jeter, Peralta
OF – Bautista, Granderson, Hamilton, Ellsbury, Alex Gordon, Quentin
DH – Ortiz, Cuddyer
Utility – Zobrist

Starters
Weaver, CC, Verlander, Haren, Price, Felix, Shields, Gio
Relievers
Mo, Papelbon, Walden, Robertson

I’d rather have Zobrist who can play all over the field than a 5th bullpen arm. Each team has a representative and I kept the fan vote. Thoughts?

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jul 3, 2011 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

you wouldnt want to chance playing Youk at 3rd.

He still hasn’t figured out that not every play to 3rd is a force out.

by jimitre on Jul 3, 2011 3:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Its either him or Beltre and Beltre’s offensive numbers are not good

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jul 3, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

The All-Star game is like going on break at work when you've forgotten to bring a lunch.

If it was after the post-season it’d be great because all your favorite players would come back out to play one last game. It would be especially meaningful if a retiring vet on a team that didn’t make the playoffs got to play one last game. Imagine the ratings it would get.

Instead I just don’t care. Right now I’m more interested in the Yankees and can’t root for an All Star Team…even if a million Yankees have made it.

And I don’t care about homefield advantage. There is no park that the Yanks can’t hit the ball out of. We’ll just substitute Arod with Nunez if the Mets somehow make the series.

by jimitre on Jul 3, 2011 3:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I guess considering how the fans have gotten the shaft over the past 20 years

with a strike that cost the WS, the absurd increase in ticket prices, the seemingly thankless ballplayers who don’t realize that it’s the fans who pay for their ridiculous wages, it might seem like a bad gesture to take AS Game voting away from them, but in the late 70’s some players signed a petition to have the vote restored completely to the players. It wouldn’t look good if MLB did that but I certainly understand if there are players, and even lots of them, who’d like the players to vote for the All-Star team. I would be all for it.

by chambliss76 on Jul 3, 2011 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

The players had some misses too though, probably more than the fans

The only starter the fans voted in that doesnt belong is Jeter. When you look at the rest of the snubs, it wasnt by the fans, it was by the players.

by YankeesJets on Jul 3, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You're right, but it's still a privilege I would give back to the players.

by chambliss76 on Jul 3, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

The game is for the fans though

People forget the concept, its called the ALL STAR game, which means its suppose to be filled with the games stars, regardless of whether they have the best WAR or stats at their position. Jeter is a star, Peralta not so much. Many cry about the Yanks and Sox having so many guys make the team, but when you look at their rosters, of course its filled with stars.

by YankeesJets on Jul 3, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Then it shouldn't count for anything.

If it’s going to count, it needs to be the game’s best, not the game’s biggest names.

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

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jul 3, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Ive never been a fan of it determining home field

I cant understand why the team with the best record doesnt get homefield. I mean, the wild card team should never get homefield.

by YankeesJets on Jul 3, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

The All-Star Game voting is like American Idol

My suggestion is this… MLB players and coaches each get 1 vote to select the All-Stars. The fans can then vote for the starters. I would hope that under this scenario, players having sub-par years (like Jeter) would get passed over and those more deserving (take your pick) would get their chance. The extra $ means a lot more to a player like McCutchen then it does to those earning multi-million dollar salaries. Getting your first selection is more important than someone past their prime getting their 10th. When is Selig retiring?

by Jpyanks on Jul 3, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

As much as its fun to pile on Selig

the voting process isnt his fault and besides i think the manager/players did a worse job than the fans. The one mistake the fans made was Jeter and its not like its a NY thing either because Ripken and countless other non Yankees were picked by fans way past their primes when others deserved it.

by YankeesJets on Jul 3, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Andrus of Texas with 2 broken legs is a better SS than Jeter.

Robertson not making the All Star game is basically because
is ONLY 1.00 and there were at least 2 or three players at most
that he faced this season that he DIDN’t strike out.

by frankiec on Jul 3, 2011 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

remember the name of the game...

It’s the All-“Star” Game… not the All-“Best”… it IS a popularity contest, because when you’re talking about “stars”, you’re talking about the most popular and recognizable players in the league. The fan voting is about the guys that we want to see on the field together.

Now, I say this with the complete understanding that there are ridiculous choices… but that happens every year. Even from the players’ side… Remember when Jason Varitek made the team when he was barely hitting over .200?

So, I don’t think the fans should ever lose their vote. If you want to change what they’re voting on, well, that’s a different story… Maybe fans vote on the team representative… or as one people suggested awhile back… they vote on a positional representative (rather than the starters). But then would the fans feel slighted if a guy they voted in didn’t play.

And unfortunately, since he normally has slow starts… I don’t see Mark Teixeira making too many all-star teams.

by Cinemanrt on Jul 3, 2011 10:12 PM EDT reply actions