MLB Off-Topic

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well for 95% of the balloting period, he was on the team with the best record (and by quite a margin at that), so I can definitely see the dominant team angle. The Cubs have been playing like crap for 3 solid weeks and the other really good teams (Giants, Rangers) are just now catching up with them.

You're not wrong there. I haven't thought about that. The only point I was making there anyway was, "The Cubs are being nationally adorned and are popular to like, and the West coast once again loses its pub." But you seem to be right on that front.

Anyway, last thing I forgot to mention was that as you're talking to a Giants fan, noticed how I put a Dodger first on my list? I don't think you're getting any bias from me here; if anything, I'll throw out my amount of exposure to players such as Crawford and Belt, in which case I can speak honestly about both their offensive and defensive contributions. I just don't think they earned it over some of the other players this first half of the season.

Though of course, when I talk up something Giants-related, people will pin that as bias as well. I've mentioned that their broadcasters are the best in the business (both TV and radio, mind you), and those FanGraphs articles seem to hint strongly to that notion as well.

Well, I'm a Braves fan and I'll say the only Addison Russell should be at the all star game is with a ticket...no way he belongs in over the guys mentioned.

All that said, the system is the system and it's been that way for a long time now. I can't blame Russell or Cubs fans for the fact he ended up in the game...blame the other team's fans for not voting enough.

Most definitely. I mean it's my own fault, it's not like I voted. I guess I miss the simple times of voting once by punching in paper at the ballpark. This whole vote up to 35 times online thing just ain't for me. Makes me feel like I don't have much of a dent or power, and I sure as hell am not going to do it that many times.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Allow me to reiterate...the fact that you've picked out 1 player you think doesn't belong (out of ~20) doesn't mean the fans are bad at it. The coaches/players/GMs could easily get 1 player wrong out of nearly 20 starters. I don't think they did a poor job this season. What's your alternative?

You guys are also treating Addison Russell like he's some joke player, but he's on pace for 20 HR and 90 RBI with ~4 WAR. Sure Seager should be starting, but the whole Aledmys Diaz over Russell is not a slam dunk at all. Russell gets more value on defense while Diaz gets more value hitting some more singles than Russell does. I don't think Story is ahead of Russell either. Brandon Crawford is about the same as Russell (less homers, better average) if you're only looking at offensive numbers so I can understand that.

I'd have Seager, Crawford, and Russell on my All-Star team. Not really seeing the outrage that Addison Russell made the team although starting is a nod to his team's early success. But if I were a Cardinal fan...hmmm....

The fact that Cardinals/Giants/Dodgers fans are the ones pointing this out and cosigning each other's posts tells me it is most definitely too much salt in the diet. Or at least that team bias is a factor.

I'm not a fan of any of those teams and I don't see why he's there.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Wilson Ramos 335 average
Buster Posey. 289 average

But guess who's starting😂



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[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Wilson Ramos 335 average
Buster Posey. 289 average

But guess who's starting��

I wouldn't use average as the barometer for your argument, but yours wins outright without a fight from me as well. Posey has been the better catcher, but Ramos has been offensively superior all season, and super clutch to boot. I do wish more people knew his name. He ain't no Carrie.

Buster does not have the same offensive pieces around him in comparison though (Span and Panik at the top of the lineup have been absent even when not injured, and Pence has been out far too long himself). Even still, Ramos has been ridiculously impressive and fun to watch. Definitely a hometown favorite in D.C.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I wouldn't use average as the barometer for your argument, but yours wins outright without a fight from me as well.

Posey has been the better catcher, but Ramos has been offensively superior all season, and super clutch to boot. I do wish more people knew his name. He ain't no Carrie.

Buster does not have the same offensive pieces around him in comparison though (Span and Panik at the top of the lineup have been absent even when not injured, and Pence has been out far too long himself). Even still, Ramos has been ridiculously impressive and fun to watch. Definitely a hometown favorite in D.C.

Yes, but when its a 46 point difference, I feel pretty safe with Ramos.

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[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If you buy into WAR as a good stat to base decisions on, Posey is at 2.8 and Ramos is at 2.6 according to FanGraphs. Factoring in Posey's defense and Ramos' bad baserunning (he's slow!) is what gets Posey ahead slightly. If you look a little deeper than that, Ramos is running a BABIP 50 points above what his career average is and Posey is 25 points below. So, that suggests luck being a pretty strong factor.

I'm not sure what I think about perennial star vs decent player having a career year. Part of me wants to side with the flash in the pan because he'll likely never make it again. Part of me knows Buster Posey is a far superior player to Wilson Ramos.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm not a fan of any of those teams and I don't see why he's there.

Well he's there because more fans voted for him than for the other ones.

All 'smart' comments aside, I think someone could make a strong case for Brandon Crawford over Russell. I think someone can make a decent case for Aledmys Diaz. When people get to Trevor Story, then it's reaching a bit, imo. I would feel better about it if Crawford won the final vote, but he's not even on the ballot.

But, I don't think Russell is undeserving at all and I doubt this will be his last appearance.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The whole "salty" thing needs to die. In here and in sports overall.

There are legitimate reasons to criticize Russell's inclusion. Doing so doesn't make you "salty" or "a *****" or "sodium rich" or whatever nonsense terminology people on the internet like to throw around so much now.

[Cubfan]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I was shocked to see that Russell got picked for the Allstar game. But it doesn't bother me that he was picked over guys having a better year simply because it's still just the Allstar game.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Russell and Aledmys are similar but it should really be Crawford or Seager starting. Both are having ridiculously good seasons.

[jb12780]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm happy old man Beltran made it in. No one expected the season he's having.

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[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Allow me to reiterate...the fact that you've picked out 1 player you think doesn't belong (out of ~20) doesn't mean the fans are bad at it. The coaches/players/GMs could easily get 1 player wrong out of nearly 20 starters. I don't think they did a poor job this season. What's your alternative?

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

My alternative would be allow the writers to vote in the All-Star participants.

You guys are also treating Addison Russell like he's some joke player, but he's on pace for 20 HR and 90 RBI with ~4 WAR. Sure Seager should be starting, but the whole Aledmys Diaz over Russell is not a slam dunk at all. Russell gets more value on defense while Diaz gets more value hitting some more singles than Russell does. I don't think Story is ahead of Russell either. Brandon Crawford is about the same as Russell (less homers, better average) if you're only looking at offensive numbers so I can understand that.

Never said that Addison Russell was a joke player. While I give you that Addison Russell is a good defensive player, I don't see where his defense raises his poor offensive output compared to guys like Diaz and Crawford, to the point where he gets a place over the other two in the All-Star Game.

Let me ask you this, had Crawford and/or Diaz been chosen over Russell would you feel as though he was wronged?

I'd have Seager, Crawford, and Russell on my All-Star team. Not really seeing the outrage that Addison Russell made the team although starting is a nod to his team's early success. But if I were a Cardinal fan...hmmm....

The fact that Cardinals/Giants/Dodgers fans are the ones pointing this out and cosigning each other's posts tells me it is most definitely too much salt in the diet. Or at least that team bias is a factor.

You have to stop making this about Cardinals/Giants/Dodgers vs Cubs fans. There is no team bias on my part, just objectively looking at all the stats and judging who should be in or out of the All-Star game.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I was shocked to see that Russell got picked for the Allstar game. But it doesn't bother me that he was picked over guys having a better year simply because it's still just the Allstar game.

Well by that logic we should just put anybody in since "it's just the Allstar game".

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It would be "just an All-Star game" if it didn't have such major ramifications in October.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Jorge Mateo suspended 2 weeks by the Yankees for complaining to the front office about not being promoted to AA Trenton.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-suspend-top-prospect-reportedly-for-complaining-to-front-office/