The ballots are in and the fans have selected the starters for the 2019 MLB All Star Game. I have to admit that I was wrong about the new balloting procedure. Though I am still uncomfortable with people being allowed to vote multiple times in the opening round, the fans did seem to do a great job with this year's selections. There was only one starter selection I did not agree with and even that one is defensible.
That one pick is the National League first baseman. I had Josh Bell and Peter Alonso ahead of Freddie Freeman. But you would have to think that both of them will be selected as reserves. The choice of Freeman is very defensible as he is having another great season and his fWAR is right in the ballpark as the others. A quick study shows me that Alonso should have been given the nod.
I am also very pleased that the managers have been relieved of the ability to pick the pitching staff. It was so embarrassing the way the managers would stock the All Star staff with four or five of their own pitchers (or more). Let's hope the league office does a better job of taking the pitchers having the best year.
My only wonder when it comes to pitching is that there are so many different roles now. There are closers, starters, openers, setup guys and on and on it goes. Do you pick one from each category? Or do you stick with starters and closers with the best setup guy sprinkled in?
Anyway, the point is that despite my ferocious objection to the process, the process led to the correct results. Congratulation, MLB!
That is the positive side of this post. On the negative side, I really have to admit that I hate this London Series. While a nice way to promote baseball worldwide, the timing just sort of stinks. For the participating teams (the Yankees and Red Sox this season and the Cubs and Nationals next), it is a lot to ask. Baseball players are creatures of habits and routines. To take them out of their natural rhythm is not ideal.
The other problem for me is that the games will be played on artificial turf. And since the turf cannot be nailed down (to not hurt the soccer field), there is a greater risk of injury. The sun field looks difficult and the dimensions are sort of cartoonish. A short center field and about ten acres of foul grounds really do not represent MLB standards.
I am consistent at least. I hate when teams start the season in Japan and I hate a London Series plop in the middle of a season. And to continue the trifecta, I hate that World Baseball thing too that breaks up Spring Training and puts players at risk.
If you want to promote MLB and baseball, reboot the barnstorming days and take recently retired stars overseas to promote the sport. The risks are much greater than the rewards.
That is my two cents anyway...
Showing posts with label MLB All Star Selections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLB All Star Selections. Show all posts
Friday, June 28, 2019
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
MLB All Star Voting Is Seriously Flawed
I just completed my first ballot for the MLB All Star roster over at MLB.com. The "first ballot" thought is a real sticking point. Why are there multiple votes allowed? Is this American Idol? And what about the timing of the start of voting? Can we really tell who deserves to go based on two months of baseball? These are some of the hangups I have when it comes to, not only this new voting, but also the old way. I am not a fan of fan voting.
First of all, I feel a very compelling guilt if I do not vote for many members of my favorite team. I have been so pleased with DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela, so the urge is to vote for them. But Urshela currently stands 17th in the league in fWAR for third basemen. LeMahieu has a better argument, but if you boil it all down, Tommy La Stella and Brandon Lowe have a slight edge. Of course, part of the problem is the unreliability of the defensive statistics. Is Urshela really the sixteenth best fielding third baseman in baseball? I have a really hard time buying that.
The only Yankee I voted for was Gary Sanchez. That's it. To me, that is the way it should be done. You should not vote for hometown guys or guys with great reputations. Who is the best this year? Vote for that guy. But how many are like me out there? I am not trying to paint myself as this saint, but you know the majority of fans are voting for hometown guys or guys who were great in years past. When that happens, you get Bryce Harper starting for the NL in 2018.
If it was one vote per person, then there might be more clarity for guys and gals that think like me to have a chance. But if you can vote dozens of times or whatever it is, everything gets muddy and you do not get a true picture of who should start the game.
I also believe that the voting should not be started until two weeks before the final selections or the game itself. Say, for example, you could vote for pitchers and Domingo German is on the ballot when you first go to vote at the very start of June or whenever they started. German was an All Star in April and May. He is not now. That is how fast things can change.
How about if the reverse is true? What if a guy was just middling through April and May and plays with stars in his hair in June and by the end of the month is the best player at his position to that point? Sorry, pal, we already voted for someone else.
I do not believe that smaller market teams are penalized as in the past when voting was by cards given out at the ballpark. With things on the Internet now, it should not matter that way any more. Plus, I am not sure I buy the small market idea anyway. When every franchise is worth at least a billion or more and all that money pours in from MLB.com, etc., then you only have franchises that spend money and those who would rather pocket the money.
The alternatives are unattractive as well. Polling managers leads to team stacking. Just look at how pitchers are selected. Last year's league champion manager will put his entire pitching staff out there if he can manage it. So, no, that does not work. Writers cannot even get the Hall of Fame ballot correctly. How will they manage an All Star selection? The problem is that some will do their homework and others will just file it in. Do players really know how all the other players are doing? Doubtful.
I would be okay with fan voting if it was one vote per fan. Perhaps I could go as high as three if some change their minds. But that's it. I would also be okay if the selections were made from equal shares of writers, fans, managers and players. I just know that a plethora of votes per fan is not productive and will not lead to the best players starting the game.
All that said, MLB has the best All Star format and game in all of sports. It is the only major sport where the players actually play the game to the best of their abilities. As flawed as the voting is, the MLB All Star game is the only one in sports I am willing to watch.
First of all, I feel a very compelling guilt if I do not vote for many members of my favorite team. I have been so pleased with DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela, so the urge is to vote for them. But Urshela currently stands 17th in the league in fWAR for third basemen. LeMahieu has a better argument, but if you boil it all down, Tommy La Stella and Brandon Lowe have a slight edge. Of course, part of the problem is the unreliability of the defensive statistics. Is Urshela really the sixteenth best fielding third baseman in baseball? I have a really hard time buying that.
The only Yankee I voted for was Gary Sanchez. That's it. To me, that is the way it should be done. You should not vote for hometown guys or guys with great reputations. Who is the best this year? Vote for that guy. But how many are like me out there? I am not trying to paint myself as this saint, but you know the majority of fans are voting for hometown guys or guys who were great in years past. When that happens, you get Bryce Harper starting for the NL in 2018.
If it was one vote per person, then there might be more clarity for guys and gals that think like me to have a chance. But if you can vote dozens of times or whatever it is, everything gets muddy and you do not get a true picture of who should start the game.
I also believe that the voting should not be started until two weeks before the final selections or the game itself. Say, for example, you could vote for pitchers and Domingo German is on the ballot when you first go to vote at the very start of June or whenever they started. German was an All Star in April and May. He is not now. That is how fast things can change.
How about if the reverse is true? What if a guy was just middling through April and May and plays with stars in his hair in June and by the end of the month is the best player at his position to that point? Sorry, pal, we already voted for someone else.
I do not believe that smaller market teams are penalized as in the past when voting was by cards given out at the ballpark. With things on the Internet now, it should not matter that way any more. Plus, I am not sure I buy the small market idea anyway. When every franchise is worth at least a billion or more and all that money pours in from MLB.com, etc., then you only have franchises that spend money and those who would rather pocket the money.
The alternatives are unattractive as well. Polling managers leads to team stacking. Just look at how pitchers are selected. Last year's league champion manager will put his entire pitching staff out there if he can manage it. So, no, that does not work. Writers cannot even get the Hall of Fame ballot correctly. How will they manage an All Star selection? The problem is that some will do their homework and others will just file it in. Do players really know how all the other players are doing? Doubtful.
I would be okay with fan voting if it was one vote per fan. Perhaps I could go as high as three if some change their minds. But that's it. I would also be okay if the selections were made from equal shares of writers, fans, managers and players. I just know that a plethora of votes per fan is not productive and will not lead to the best players starting the game.
All that said, MLB has the best All Star format and game in all of sports. It is the only major sport where the players actually play the game to the best of their abilities. As flawed as the voting is, the MLB All Star game is the only one in sports I am willing to watch.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Fan's All Star Ballot
The All Star Game sure snuck up on us, did it not? The event is just a few short days away.
Everyone has an opinion of who should be at the game. So what's one more voice added to
the mix? And while this vote is based as much as possible on who deserves to be at the
game based on performance, a few sentimental picks needed to be added because what
is an All Star Game without future Hall of Fame players added to the mix? Each position will
list a starter and a backup.
National League:
- First base: Starter: Joey Votto. The best hitter on the planet. Backup: Paul Goldschmidt
- Second base: Starter: Aaron Hill. Backup: Dan Uggla or Brandon Phillips (too close to call)
- Shortstop: Starter: Jed Lowrie. That takes care of the Astros. Backup: Starlin Castro.
- Third base: Starter: David Wright. Backup: Chase Headley. Chipper Jones (just because).
- Right Field: Starter: Carlos Beltran. Backups: Jason Heyward and Andre Ethier.
- Center field: Starter: Andrew McCutchen. Backup: Michael Bourn.
- Left field: Starter: Ryan Braun. Backups: Martin Prado and Melky Cabrera.
- Catcher: Starter: Carlos Ruiz. Backup: Yadier Molina
- Starting pitchers: Zack Greinke, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Cain, James McDonald, R.A. Dickey, Johnny Cueto and Wade Miley.
- Relief pitchers: Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Matt Belisle and Tyler Clippard.
American League:
- First base: Starter: Paul Konerko. Backup: Edwin Encarnation.
- Second base: Starter: Robinson Cano. Backup: Jason Kipnis.
- Shortstop: Starter: Elvis Andrus, Backups: AsdrubAl Cabrera and Derek Jeter (just because).
- Third base: Starter: Brett Lawrie. Backup: Mike Moustakas
- Left field: Starter: Mike Trout. Backup: Josh Hamilton.
- Center field: Starter: Adam Jones. Backup: Austin Jackson.
- Right field: Starter: Mark Trumbo. Backups: Jose Bautista and Josh Reddick
- Catcher: Starter: Joe Mauer. Backups: A.J. Pierzynski and Matt Wieters.
- Designated hitter: David Ortiz
- Starting pitchers: Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia, Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, Jason Hammel, Matt Harrison, David Price and Jered Weaver.
- Relief pitchers: Joaquin Benoit, Fernando Rodney, Chris Perez and Scott Atchison.
That's this Fan's ballot. Thoughts?
Monday, July 05, 2010
Biggest All Star Slights
The All Star rosters were announced yesterday and only two more picks are outstanding. The fans get to pick one more guy from each league. But to this point, as there always is, there were several injustices done to players who are performing worthy of an All Star nod. Joey Votto is the biggest one. But he still has a chance to make it with the fan voting. It should have to come to that.
First of all, Joey Votto should have been voted in ahead of Albert Pujols. Sure everyone knows Pujols and his Hall of Fame resume. But Votto has out played him this year. He leads the NL in OPS and OPS+. Not Pujols. It's a snub of major proportions. Then Charlie Manuel picks his guy, Ryan Howard, who isn't even close to Votto in stats. Terrible. And so Votto has to rely on the fans pick to get in. Want to bet he doesn't get picked?
The same is true for Kevin Youkilis. He is fourth in the AL in OPS. Without him, the Red Sox are totally toast. But he gets no love in the All Star department. While it's true that this Fan really dislikes Youkilis, he deserves to be in the game. He has a better chance to be voted in by the fans as he is one of the five the fans can vote for. But still. A-Rod is a HOFer, but Youkilis should have gotten in and not A-Rod.
Matt Latos should be in the All Star game and not Lincecum. Lincecum has not been his usual self and Latos has been amazing. Even more amazing, not one pitcher from the Padres made it to the All Star game. How can that happen when the Padres lead the National League in wins and the Padres lead all of baseball in ERA and bullpen ERA? Astounding.
Brennan Boesch should have been voted in. He is batting over .340 and has a slugging percentage over .600. How could he be slighted?
Miguel Olivo has been the best catcher in the National League this year. But Yadier Molina gets all the fan attention and then Brian McCann gets the reserve nod. This Fan doesn't have a problem with McCann on the team, but Olivo should be there instead of Molina.
How could Matt Capps get the All Star nod over Billy Wagner? It's not like the Nationals needed a representative. Zimmerman, who should be starting at third instead of Wright, was already selected. Capps gives up more hits than innings pitched. His saves are an adventure. Wagner is in his retirement year and is still the elite closer in the NL.
Felix Hernandez has better stats in every category than C. C. Sabathia. And yet he doesn't make the team. If C. C. can't go because of the Sunday rule, then Girardi shouldn't pick Pettitte, he should pick Hernandez.
First of all, Joey Votto should have been voted in ahead of Albert Pujols. Sure everyone knows Pujols and his Hall of Fame resume. But Votto has out played him this year. He leads the NL in OPS and OPS+. Not Pujols. It's a snub of major proportions. Then Charlie Manuel picks his guy, Ryan Howard, who isn't even close to Votto in stats. Terrible. And so Votto has to rely on the fans pick to get in. Want to bet he doesn't get picked?
The same is true for Kevin Youkilis. He is fourth in the AL in OPS. Without him, the Red Sox are totally toast. But he gets no love in the All Star department. While it's true that this Fan really dislikes Youkilis, he deserves to be in the game. He has a better chance to be voted in by the fans as he is one of the five the fans can vote for. But still. A-Rod is a HOFer, but Youkilis should have gotten in and not A-Rod.
Matt Latos should be in the All Star game and not Lincecum. Lincecum has not been his usual self and Latos has been amazing. Even more amazing, not one pitcher from the Padres made it to the All Star game. How can that happen when the Padres lead the National League in wins and the Padres lead all of baseball in ERA and bullpen ERA? Astounding.
Brennan Boesch should have been voted in. He is batting over .340 and has a slugging percentage over .600. How could he be slighted?
Miguel Olivo has been the best catcher in the National League this year. But Yadier Molina gets all the fan attention and then Brian McCann gets the reserve nod. This Fan doesn't have a problem with McCann on the team, but Olivo should be there instead of Molina.
How could Matt Capps get the All Star nod over Billy Wagner? It's not like the Nationals needed a representative. Zimmerman, who should be starting at third instead of Wright, was already selected. Capps gives up more hits than innings pitched. His saves are an adventure. Wagner is in his retirement year and is still the elite closer in the NL.
Felix Hernandez has better stats in every category than C. C. Sabathia. And yet he doesn't make the team. If C. C. can't go because of the Sunday rule, then Girardi shouldn't pick Pettitte, he should pick Hernandez.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)