Should Brandon Phillips Make the Allstar Team??

[cincy09]

griffey will be voted in, Arroyo is in as long as he doesnt blow up over the next 4 weeks

[OldXOhio]

Reminds me of the Bill James essay on why a hot hitting Toby Harrah shouldn't mak eteh AS Game, essentially the conclusion was that the AS game was more about a body of work then a 3 month window that has been open.

Interesting. You agree w/ that notion?

[RedLegSuperStar]

I voted for him

[westofyou]

Interesting. You agree w/ that notion?

I went to the 1971 AS game and can't remember Cookie Rojas or Felix Millan at all.

I think a certain aspect of the AS game is marketing, that means market brand names.

Hence why I think making the AS game matter is perhaps the lamest thing MLB can do.

1971 AS Game

Luis Aparicio
Vida Blue
Don Buford
Leo Cardenas +
Rod Carew
Norm Cash
Mike Cuellar
Dave Duncan +
Ray Fosse *
Bill Freehan
Frank Howard
Reggie Jackson
Al Kaline
Harmon Killebrew
Mickey Lolich
Sam McDowell *
Bill Melton +
Andy Messersmith +
Thurman Munson
Bobby Murcer
Tony Oliva *
Amos Otis
Jim Palmer
Marty Pattin +
Jim Perry +
Boog Powell *
Brooks Robinson
Frank Robinson
Cookie Rojas
Sonny Siebert +
Wilbur Wood +
Carl Yastrzemski

National League
Hank Aaron
Glenn Beckert
Johnny Bench
Bobby Bonds
Lou Brock
Steve Carlton +
Clay Carroll +
Roberto Clemente
Nate Colbert
Willie Davis
Larry Dierker *
Dock Ellis
Bud Harrelson
Fergie Jenkins
Don Kessinger
Juan Marichal
Lee May
Willie Mays
Willie McCovey
Felix Millan
Pete Rose
Manny Sanguillen +
Ron Santo
Tom Seaver +
Willie Stargell
Rusty Staub +
Joe Torre
Don Wilson
Rick Wise +

[OldXOhio]

I think a certain aspect of the AS game is marketing, that means market brand names.

My thinking is that's fine to some degree, but when aged veterans having below norm years are getting the nod over a young up and comer with better numbers, I have a problem. The AS game is still a reward acknowledging your elite status in the game. I'm probably in the minority here, but I'd rather see how a Matt Holliday performs in the limelight, rather than watching Bonds do it for the umpteenth time.

[redsmetz]

I've been mounting a quixotic write-in campaign, writing in Brandon in the on-line balloting. He's probably up to a couple hundred votes by now.

It's close, but I could see him being chosen as an extra. It's a long shot. I think Arroyo's a given and I hope Griff wins a slot.

[westofyou]

My thinking is that's fine to some degree, but when aged veterans having below norm years are getting the nod over a young up and comer with better numbers, I have a problem. The AS game is still a reward acknowledging your elite status in the game. I'm probably in the minority here, but I'd rather see how a Matt Holliday performs in the limelight, rather than watching Bonds do it for the umpteenth time.

I agree that at a certain point you can see that that's the right course of action for the proper way to do it. But as of now the fans vote and most of the fans who get up for it are kids and chances are they'd see it differently. But the fans have the vote, so chances are old guys (like Griffey too ) will get more action then they deserve.

[goodwilly98]

I think Glavine gets the nod at this point. And regardless of Junior's numbers or time off, he's still a fan favorite that should get in.

Yeah, I forgot about Glavine...Comparing the 3 (Arroyo, Webb, Glavine), there's very little difference.

Glavine: 9-2, 3.06 64 k's 26 BB in 85.1 IP
Arroyo: 8-2, 2.31 68 k's 18 BB in 89.2 IP
Webb: 8-0, 2.14 65 k's 13 BB in 96.2 IP

It's not unrealistic to think Arroyo could get the starting nod, assuming his next few starts continue as his whole year has gone.

Of course if that were the case, let's hope he does't pull a Jack Armstrong....Wasn't he like 10-0 at the AS break, AS game starter, then completely stunk up the place the 2nd half?

[westofyou]

Of course if that were the case, let's hope he does't pull a Jack Armstrong....Wasn't he like 10-0 at the AS break, AS game starter, then completely stunk up the place the 2nd half?

[OldXOhio]

Yeah, I forgot about Glavine...Comparing the 3 (Arroyo, Webb, Glavine), there's very little difference.

Glavine: 9-2, 3.06 64 k's 26 BB in 85.1 IP
Arroyo: 8-2, 2.31 68 k's 18 BB in 89.2 IP
Webb: 8-0, 2.14 65 k's 13 BB in 96.2 IP

It's not unrealistic to think Arroyo could get the starting nod, assuming his next few starts continue as his whole year has gone.

No, it's not unrealistic at all. However, see WOY's post above on why Glavine probably has a leg up on getting the start. Even though that's not fan driven, the same attitude probably still applies.

[max venable]

Eckstein leading NL shortstops in voting is a joke.

[Roy Tucker]

Eckstein leading NL shortstops in voting is a joke.

Why not? He's leading the NL in hits.

I know. George Grande told me. Several times.

[Edd Roush]

Why not? He's leading the NL in hits.

I know. George Grande told me. Several times.

Haha, yea and the fact that he's very scrappy. David Eckstein makes George Grande forget that guy who used to play SS. Was he number 11 or 12 or something? Any ways, that old Reds SS could never hold a candle up to Ozzie Smith. Psh, could Larkin do a backflip on the field? I think not.

[membengal]

Brandon Phillips should at the very least be a prominent part of the discussion for a reserve role at 2b on the All-star team this season.

[dabvu2498]

Haha, yea and the fact that he's very scrappy. David Eckstein makes George Grande forget that guy who used to play SS. Was he number 11 or 12 or something? Any ways, that old Reds SS could never hold a candle up to Ozzie Smith. Psh, could Larkin do a backflip on the field? I think not.

Geore Grande talks more about guys on the other team than he does our guys??? Hadn't noticed.