Thursday, June 02, 2005
Take the franchise away
I am all for fan voting in the All-Star game, but after the first tabulation of votes was released, I might have to change my mind. While it's true that there is a lot of subjectivity involved in choosing All-Stars, I think we can all agree that anyone who voted for Nomar Garciaparra ought not be permitted to cast a vote in any type of election ever again.
And yet, 235,899 people cast their ballot for an individual who was batting .150 before going down with a season-ending injury.
As outrageous as this may be, it's only the tip of the iceberg. A look at the leading vote-getters among all National League position-players shows that Jeff Kent is currently the only one deserving of a starting nod. Here's a look at the leading-vote getters thus far, and in parenthesis the individual who ought to be starting in that spot.
1B Albert Pujols (Derek Lee)
2B Jeff Kent
3B Scott Rolen (Troy Glaus or Chipper Jones)
SS Nomar Garciaparra (anybody else, but probably Cesar Izturis)
OF Carlos Beltran, Jim Edmonds, Ken Griffey Jr. (Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, and Pat Burrell)
C Mike Piazza (well, the position is a dud, but I'd go with Ramon Hernandez)
The American League is a little bit more sane right now. All the infield spots are as they should be, though the outfield could undergo some change.
1B Tino Martinez (surprisingly, he probably deserves it right now. Mark Teixeira might have an argument)
2B Brian Roberts
3B Alex Rodriguez
SS Miguel Tejada
OF Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, Vladimir Guerrero (Suzuki's okay, but Vlad's been hurt. I'd take Johnny Damon and Gary Sheffield for now)
C Jason Varitek
A caller to the Mike and Mike show suggested that American League fans were intentionally trying to sabotage the National League roster because the All-Star game decides home field advantage for the World Series, and a look at the respective rosters as currently constituted shows that they might be on to something. On the other hand, voting for a dud shortstop who is on the DL makes little sense since he is easily replaceable. You're better off selecting Jose Reyes who, according to the genius Rob Neyer, is the worst everyday player in the Majors. That's right, ignore those seven triples, fourteen steals, and dynamic speed, just like major league fans were supposed to ignore the actual number of wins the Mets garnered in 2000 (92) and instead look at the run differential, which proved that Neyer was correct in predicting the Mets were really an 85-win team.
On second thought, I'd much rather have fans choosing the All-Star starters rather than a stats geek who thinks computer models are better at gauging production than actual numbers. As stupid as the fans are, they aren't as insufferable as certain "experts" who are so in love with their pet theories they seem to forget that the games must actually be played by real, in-the-flesh human beings.
Dork.
And yet, 235,899 people cast their ballot for an individual who was batting .150 before going down with a season-ending injury.
As outrageous as this may be, it's only the tip of the iceberg. A look at the leading vote-getters among all National League position-players shows that Jeff Kent is currently the only one deserving of a starting nod. Here's a look at the leading-vote getters thus far, and in parenthesis the individual who ought to be starting in that spot.
1B Albert Pujols (Derek Lee)
2B Jeff Kent
3B Scott Rolen (Troy Glaus or Chipper Jones)
SS Nomar Garciaparra (anybody else, but probably Cesar Izturis)
OF Carlos Beltran, Jim Edmonds, Ken Griffey Jr. (Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, and Pat Burrell)
C Mike Piazza (well, the position is a dud, but I'd go with Ramon Hernandez)
The American League is a little bit more sane right now. All the infield spots are as they should be, though the outfield could undergo some change.
1B Tino Martinez (surprisingly, he probably deserves it right now. Mark Teixeira might have an argument)
2B Brian Roberts
3B Alex Rodriguez
SS Miguel Tejada
OF Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, Vladimir Guerrero (Suzuki's okay, but Vlad's been hurt. I'd take Johnny Damon and Gary Sheffield for now)
C Jason Varitek
A caller to the Mike and Mike show suggested that American League fans were intentionally trying to sabotage the National League roster because the All-Star game decides home field advantage for the World Series, and a look at the respective rosters as currently constituted shows that they might be on to something. On the other hand, voting for a dud shortstop who is on the DL makes little sense since he is easily replaceable. You're better off selecting Jose Reyes who, according to the genius Rob Neyer, is the worst everyday player in the Majors. That's right, ignore those seven triples, fourteen steals, and dynamic speed, just like major league fans were supposed to ignore the actual number of wins the Mets garnered in 2000 (92) and instead look at the run differential, which proved that Neyer was correct in predicting the Mets were really an 85-win team.
On second thought, I'd much rather have fans choosing the All-Star starters rather than a stats geek who thinks computer models are better at gauging production than actual numbers. As stupid as the fans are, they aren't as insufferable as certain "experts" who are so in love with their pet theories they seem to forget that the games must actually be played by real, in-the-flesh human beings.
Dork.
# posted by Paul Zummo : 12:21 PM
