With all the fan votes finally counted and the MLB players have turned-in their selections, the All-Star teams were announced today, with no missing chads.
Over the last few years the Texas Rangers have only put in the minimal one player, sometimes two, and it always seems to be Michael Young.
Young is back again this season, for the sixth time of his career, as a reserve behind Yankee great Derek Jeter. Jeter ran away with the fan votes, but amongst the Major League players Young beat out Jeter 470-463 votes.
I understand having Jeter start the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, for the last year of its usage. And Michael is the type of player that doesn't care about the start, he will enjoy being on the team.
Milton Bradley was able to make his way onto the All-Star team as an outfielder, but Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who is the AL All-Star team manager, has already stated that Bradley will start as the DH over the injuried David Ortiz.
With no surprise, Josh Hamilton is a starter in the outfield for the American League. The April and May Player of the Month seemed to be a no-doubt for the past month, and he joins Manny Ramirez and Ichiro Suzuki as starters.
My biggest problem with the selections was that of the second baseman starter, Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia edged off Ian Kinsler in the fan voting by a slim 34,243 votes. In the player votes Kinsler blew away Pedroia 389-215.
Ian Kinsler on the season leads the AL in hitting at .332, runs at 79, and extra-base hits at 48. Ian has 28 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs, 53 RBI, and 23 stolen bases.
Dustin Pedroia is currently hitting .313, 60 runs, 35 extra-base hits, 25 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 39 RBI, and 9 stolen bases.
Don't get me wrong, Pedroia is having an All-Star type season, but he shouldn't be the starter.
The good news is that both players are making their first career appearances in the midsummer classic and this could be chapter one of many head-to-head battles for a starting position in the future. Similar to the old battles of Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Nomar Garciaparra.
The only other argument that I could make, but won't is Vicente Padilla has All-Star caliber numbers, but I won't make an argument about a Ranger pitcher making the All-Star team.
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3 months ago
Kinsler is having the better year but with Boston having the bigger market, Pedroia will always win that vote.
from 3 months ago
Sadly Kevin, I have to totally agree with you. Maybe these two make another run like this in the next few years and I can really celebrate when Kinsler finally gets the All-Star start that he deserved in 2008.
3 months ago
Ian for MVP
from 3 months ago
Very true...imagine if Josh Hamilton wasn't doing what he is doing or if the Edinson trade never took place, would we be talking about Kinsler as a possible MVP candidate
3 months ago
Ian is tearing it up! Thanks for shedding light on it. Wish Padilla wasn't heading into the tank.
from 3 months ago
Andy I can see what your saying, his last couple starts have worried me quite a bit.
Maybe a possible trade away here, heard rumors of teams looking at the second tier players and now with the Sabathia deal done, this could happen.
3 months ago
Gotta do something to stay in the race, felt like starting Mendoza tonight was like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Hard to trade Padilla when starting pitching is the biggest hole, but everyone knows he will implode. Glad I don't have to make these decisions!
from 3 months ago
Well now the Rangers are bringing two more knifes to the fight...two rookies making their major league debuts in the next two games against the AL West leading Angels.
Tonight will be fun, two of the pieces in the Teixeira trade...Matt Harrison pitching to Jarrod Saltalamacchia
3 months ago
Yippie the Rangers have 4 deserving All Stars! Its a miracle they all get to go. I know the Padilla talk is getting slightly off topic here, but if he can be traded for something good you gotta do it. I don't see Padilla as being here in a Ranger uniform in the future. Mendozza is a bigger concern for me, never thought he was that good to be a starter. Maybe a long reliever.
from 3 months ago
Mendoza might do that exactly in becoming the next Joaquin Benoit and Kameron Loe
from 3 months ago
yeah, Mendoza doesn't have the look of a starter like hurley and harrison do.
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