Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Da Wrestling Board. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
MLB All-Star Game Rosters...
Topic Started: Jul 8 2011, 06:48 PM (978 Views)
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
I'm not actually listing the roster, but griping, as usual, about the rather hefty sizes and the new stupid rules and cop-outs of players initially assigned to them.


1. For players who are "hurt", that's one thing. Shane Victorino is on the DL and should not be playing. Derek Jeter is not hurt enough to sleepwalk through an at bat and 2 innings in the field. Neither is A-Rod. Mariano Rivera has missed more ASG appearances than he's played in it seems. I wouldn't complain so much if two of these men weren't voted in as starters based on where they play. Jeter's numbers are shit, and I don't believe in giving someone an ASG spot based on past success, so he didn't belong in the first place.


2. Pitchers who start on sunday aren't allowed, meaning the AL can't use Justin Verlander, CC Sabathia, Felix Hernandez, and James Shields. Which means we get FOUR SUBSTITUTES. Correction, four more.

The rosters are already over-crowded with 32 or 33 guys per squad, but now, say the AL needs 7 substitutes at the minimum. That makes it an AL squad of 40 people, even if 7 of them won't be used. It's not nearly as ridiculous as the NFL Pro Bowl, where substitutions lead to the 107th best player in the conference playing in an alleged game of All-Stars, but it's just a ridiculous total inflated because of ridiculous rules to "Save arms from tiring" and players who don't feel like showing up when the fans voted for them to be there in the first place.


Edit: Not a real point, but I do like the "representative from each team rule", although there have been a few cases where it was laughable. That was rectified by adding more players to each team, so when someone cries "so and so from KC doesn't belong", they can remember the squads have expanded by at least 2 or 4 players in the last few years to try and make everyone happy.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
I have no problem with Sunday's pitching starters not being allowed to pitch in the game. You have to remember the pitcher is most important to the team he plays for and not an all star game. And teams are not going to skip a turn for a starter or push him up a day, just so he can pitch in an All Star Game

I agree with the fact that the rosters are too big. As far as Jeter being the starter at SS, I agree he does not deserve it, not even close. But that is what happens when fans elect the starters. Jeter is very popular with the fans even if he is past his prime and having a bad season

I also agree with you on players sitting out. If you are on the DL, of course you sit out. If you are not on the DL but missed your teams last 3 games or more (One series) because of an inury, you sit out. Otherwise, you play

I think the rule that every team has to be represented is dumb. What is even dumber is if the player from that team is hurt, then he is replaced by someone else from that team. Makes it even worse

I haven't watched an All-star game in many years though and even if they made changes to it, I don't think I would watch anyway
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
The one that bugs me is Shane Victorino. Considering that he was the "Final Vote" winner. He reportedly injured himself in the Phillies' series against the BlueJays, over the 4th holiday. I know they were probably taking a wait-and-see approach before officially putting him on the DL, but the timing sucks overall.

So it's not really the Phillies' fault, nor is it the voting process' fault. Yet it bugs me that MLB made a big deal out of the final vote thing and it was essentially wasted.

I'm a little torn on the pitcher issue. If guys were expected to go 6 innings in the ASG-- sure, then make them unavailable. But guys seem to throw 2 innings, maximum, in the ASG. Making Verlander, arguably the first-half AL Cy Young favorite, unavailable for two innings is bullshit and makes that group of Sunday starters seem like pampered weenies. It's almost like throwing on the side, in between starts.

It's not uncommon for a guy to come in and throw one inning in relief in the ASG. If it's a big problem, simply don't start the Sunday guys and give them a one inning appearance.

The one player from each team rule is okay. If they required that they all MUST PLAY, then we'd have an issue. Sometimes there have been some truly awful one-teamers. Like Mike Williams for the Pirates in 2004, or Alex Gonzalez for the Marlins in 1999. When you see these guys introduced at the beginning of the game, you think: 'wow, that's the best that team can do? THAT guy?', but it's usually appropriate.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
On topic with the sole representative of a team... Not sure, but the Devil Rays were once represented by Lance Carter. Who? He didn't get used in the game, at least (2003?).
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
Ryan Braun, the NL's top vote getter pulled out of the game, due to an injury. Whatever. But to paraphrase the movie The Program, it'd better because you're "injured" and not just "hurt".

Works out well, though. Great moment of spontaneity in Pittsburgh, last night:
Andrew McCutchen named to NL squad, during game

I've never seen anything like that. A standing ovation for an All-Star replacement scoreboard announcement, in-game. Fantastic clip. McCutchen's my favorite player, right now, and he's definitely The Man for this crop of Bucs. I think Steve Blass, Greg Brown (the commentators) and the fans feel that same way, as it's reflected in this clip.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
Erick Von Erich,Jul 9 2011
02:28 PM
Sometimes there have been some truly awful one-teamers. Like Mike Williams for the Pirates in 2004, .

Who in the blue fucking hell is Mike Williams?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
Scrooge McSuck,Jul 9 2011
03:10 PM
On topic with the sole representative of a team... Not sure, but the Devil Rays were once represented by Lance Carter. Who? He didn't get used in the game, at least (2003?).

See my post immediately above
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
I can answer Carter.... he was a reliever who had occasional closer duties. The D-Rays sucked it hard in 2003, just to let you know. The best player that season, Rocco Baldelli, only spent a little more than half a season with the team after being called up from Durham, IIRC.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
torturedsoulv1,Jul 10 2011
04:11 PM
Erick Von Erich,Jul 9 2011
02:28 PM
Sometimes there have been some truly awful one-teamers. Like Mike Williams for the Pirates in 2004, .

Who in the blue fucking hell is Mike Williams?

My bad...Williams was selected to the NL team in 2002 and again in 2003. He came up with the Phillies in the early 90's as a stater, but never caught on. After bouncing around, the Pirates converted him to their closer in the second half of the '99 season. The Pirates traded him in a deadline deal to the Astros in July... but after the season was over he re-signed with the Bucs.

In 2002 he had a pretty decent year with 46 saves. His All-Star status that year wasn't so bad. His 2003 All Star status was very questionable. His ERA was around 7.00 when he was selected. They needed somebody from the Pirates to go. Brian Giles was the favorite, but at the time there were daily rumors of him being traded away. They didn't want the added headache of selecting a Pirate, then finding out he was traded the next day. Add in that Giles was an OF, usually a crowded position for All-Stars. So they went with Williams, based off of his 2002 year. Awful, awful choice.

I think the Pirates' Kenny Lofton made the "Final Vote Candidate" list that year. Pirate fans were trying hard to campaign for him, so the Pirate could have a deserving rep at the game. Didn't work out.

Funny story that year about Williams; I was in full-on Autograph Troll mode. This was when I worked two blocks away from Coors Field and would routinely spend 4 bucks on a Rockpile ticket almost every mid-week home game. I'd get there at 5, watch BP and get some autographs, then get home by 7. Beat sitting in traffic.

Anyways, I made a buddy that year who did the same thing. We were trying to get autographs from the Pirates and hollered when Mike Williams and the bullpeners walked by. Williams turned to us and said: "why would you want MY autograph?" as he walked away. My buddy, sitting next to me, yelled back "So I can SELL it! Ha!" Williams looked confused and kept glancing back at us. He caught up to the other pitchers and seemed to say: "those assholes over there want to sell my autograph".

Williams came back about 20 minutes later and signed for us. He didn't know who was who, only that SOMEONE in our little crowd had yelled "So I can SELL it! Ha". When he signed my ball, he sarcastically said to me: "there ya' go...now go SELL that". I immediately got embarassed and said: "no way, that wasn't me! I'm the biggest Bucs fan in this entire frickin' state". He went on: "Riiiiight" and kept giving me shit.

I turned around and my buddy was laughing his ass off. "Ha! He came down on YOU for the shit I was giving him! Awesome!"
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
I actually do remember both Mike Williams and Lance Carter now that you said they were closers

I should have remembered Williams actually even from VE's first post about him
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
Yahoo! has a big article about the game's such a farce because it's tied to the homefield advantage in the World Series. I agree that's a stupid rule and I'm not in favor of it.

But it was put in place to prevent a tie, again. Nobody seems to come forward with what to do in the event of a tie. They just assume: "the managers will work the game so that never happens again". But if it DOES? There needs to be a safety net presented to Bud Selig so the rule goes away. While I liked the 2008 game at Yankee Stadium (and it had some good moments), it went on way too long.

I still stick to what I proposed 9 years ago: if the game goes past 13 innings, then let position players be eligible to pitch. Or finish things off with a Home Run Derby. I hate the current Derby and having it as the tiebreaker would add some relevance to it for once.

So eliminate the World Series rule and implement one of my two ideas.

DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
2008 came dangerously close to being another tie situation, because pitchers are only used for an inning. The starter needs to pitch a minimum of 3 innings, and the guy after 2. Big fucking deal, not everyone gets used. Just be happy you were picked, tip your cap, and enjoy the experience. If you're good enough, you'll be back again, and then might get to play in the game.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
Joe Buck must've been given the wrong script, because he somehow jumped from Chicago to Seattle, and introduced Felix Hernandez in place of Miguel Cabrera. Or whoever it was. He seemed to get a big kick out of it too.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
I'll admit that I had never heard of Alexi Ogando before tonight's game.

Didn't get to hear the audio of the game, since I was at a restaurant with 3 chicks. Got home in time for the 9th, but we got hit with a massive rainstorm and the TV feed went out. Got to see the home runs from Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder, which were the story of the game.

I was seriously contemplating going to Phoenix for the ASG this year. But the words "Phoenix" and "July" don't go together for me. Next year's is in KC, which is a perfect road trip.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
« Previous Topic · Sports · Next Topic »
Add Reply