MLB - 2008 Season

[Imran Siddiqui]

Rays

Hopefully they can keep this up! Since going to Tropicana Field a month or so ago (it's in this thread), I've become a Rays fan (I needed an AL team and the position was open... "whoever is playing the Yankees" isn't necessarily something you can root for in the playoffs if the Yanks don't make it ), so here is hoping last place in MLB to first. *knocks on wood*

And Mets , last night. Great game against the Phils. Horrible season and yet still in the thick of things.

[-Jrabbit]

Varitek over A.J. in the player voting for All-Star catcher?

[Arrian]

Nobody likes A.J. It's a joke, but so are several of the fans choices.

-Arrian

[-Jrabbit]

Agreed, but I expect populist selections from the fan vote. I just thought the players might give him a fair shake. :shrug:

[Imran Siddiqui]

The players think he's a "leader", whatever. Though, to be quite honest, Gerald Laird probably deserves it over A.J. or Varitek, regardless of injury.

Of course the need for a 3rd C at all screws over 2 of either Jermaine Dye, Evan Longoria, or Jason Giambi (3 of those on the "Final Vote")

(speaking of which, Morneau over Giambi is just a bad selection, same goes for Crede over Longoria)

[Arrian]

I know he was hurt and so missed a lot of time, but if one has to pick a 3rd catcher, why the hell not Jorge Posada? Mind you, I'd rather he rest his shoulder.

Morneau over Giambi... I dunno. Morneau can actually play defense.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Posada does have a good deal less at bats than even Laird, who has about 100 less than A.J.

And does Mourneau's defense make up for the 15 points in OPS+ that he gives up to Giambi?

[-Jrabbit]

Even as a Chisox fan, I have to admit that Crede's inclusion surprised me. Longoria has been amazing, especially for a rookie.

Of course, I also blithely expected SOMEONE from the (statistically) best pitching staff in the AL, and on a first-place team, to be selected. Like Gavin Floyd or Bobby Jenks maybe... But then I see the Dice Man got screwed too, so it's clear that the AL just has too damn many awesome pitchers to accommodate.

[-Jrabbit]

Now I'm in a quandary. Do I use my Last Chance Fan Ballot for Longoria or Jermaine Dye?

Jermaine IMHO got screwed too. He's among the top AL OFs in a bunch of major categories.

OPS - 2nd among OFs (6th overall)
Slug - 2nd (4th overall)
RBI - 5th (14th)
HR - 2nd (2nd)
Ave - 4th (13th)

Looks like the 3rd or 4th best OF in the league to me (ignoring speed and fielding). He has carried the team at times, stepping up while Konerko and Thome hit the skids.

[Imran Siddiqui]

While true, Jenks should have made it. I do think it may have been a case of, damn, too many good pitchers, let's throw darts. Unfortunately I think Jenks' W-L record hurt him (and they still look at that crap in evaluating pitchers).

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Posada does have a good deal less at bats than even Laird, who has about 100 less than A.J.

And does Mourneau's defense make up for the 15 points in OPS+ that he gives up to Giambi?

Hmm, according to SG's calculations over at Replacement Level Yankees Weblog, no:

Youkilis, Kevin 16 5 22
Giambi, Jason 19 -2 17
Morneau, Justin 12 1 12

Batting Runs Above Average, Fielding Runs Above Average, then the combined total. Giambino leads 17-12 over Morneau. I dunno how good FRAA is for defense, but Giambi hasn't been especially awful out there this year, and Youkilis does look like a +5 (halfway through the season) to my eyes. Morneau, obviously, I don't see much.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Of course, I also blithely expected SOMEONE from the (statistically) best pitching staff in the AL, and on a first-place team, to be selected.

I'd have picked Danks.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

For whatever reason, Mourneau gets more play because people don't see him much in Minny. They see the RBIs and go gaga, even though that's a team dependant stat.

[Arrian]

I just assumed Giambi was his usually terrible self in the field, but he hasn't been. I wonder how much of that is Wang being out and Joba being in the rotation (more ks, less grounders). Or just a small sample size fluke.

Anyway, it would be fun to see him in the HR derby.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think its the mustache. It's given him super powers. He's calling upon the spirit of the healthy Mattingly.