The MLB widget would have you believe that Bobby Abreu is a Phillie and Hideki Okajima is worthy of AS support.

Sandy Alomar Jr has to be the worst 6-time all star; hell, he's probably the worst 3-time all star.

I had to check that. Sandy Alomar started the 1991 All-star game. His line for the year: .217/.264/.266 (47 OPS+ in 199 plate appearances).

Brian Harper (332/357/473 at the break), Mickey Tettleton (269/388/500) and Matt Nokes (286/320/521) stayed at home. What was up with the voting that year--Alomar was the only Indian selected, so it doesn't look like the fans just stuffed the ballot box. Anyone older than I am can shed some light on that?

I know he doesn't have quite as many at bats, and he plays for the Pirates, but what about Ryan Doumit as a dark horse catcher backup?

Maybe stupid fans somehow confused Sandy Alomar with Roberto Alomar?

Varitek?

Seriously?

Did the NL players vote for the AL selections? Maybe it was ballot stuffing on their part...

Did the NL players vote for the AL selections?

"Tony Pena, Jr. elected to All-Star Game!"

I had to check that. Sandy Alomar started the 1991 All-star game. His line for the year: .217/.264/.266 (47 OPS+ in 199 plate appearances).

Brian Harper (332/357/473 at the break), Mickey Tettleton (269/388/500) and Matt Nokes (286/320/521) stayed at home. What was up with the voting that year--Alomar was the only Indian selected, so it doesn't look like the fans just stuffed the ballot box. Anyone older than I am can shed some light on that?

From what I remember, Alomar was colossally overrated well before he even set foot on a major league diamond--he was labeled a surefire star when he was in the Padre system, and he was then involved in a marquee deal for Joe Carter (along with Carlos Baerga), which added to the perception that he was a megaprospect--teams were trading "superstars" to get him, after all (irony being that Carter himself was hugely overrated). That, his having a pretty good rookie year, his being Robby Alomar's brother, and pure mystical fairy dust contributed to his being regarded much more highly than he deserved. (Specifically, in '91 he was still benefitting from a post-ROY honeymoon. Doesn't come close to justifying his ASG selection, of course.)

Alomar was colossally overrated well before he even set foot on a major league diamond

Two time Minor Leaguer of the year!

"I know he doesn't have quite as many at bats, and he plays for the Pirates, but what about Ryan Doumit as a dark horse catcher backup?"

I would've taken him, but the Pirate thing and the time he missed with the broken finger pretty much killed any realistic chance he had. Pity.

Varitek should be Exhibit A anytime someone ####### about fan voting and having the players do it.

Can we rescind Wagner's spot for the Mets and substitute any of Wright/Reyes/Santana instead?

Wasn't Francona, Biff, was the players. Most of whom, apparently, don't follow the game much.

I guess this is my obligatory annual pointing out that it's not the All-Good-Stats-In-Half-A-Season Team, but the All-Star Team. The fact that someone is playing badly in the first half does not mean that there's something wrong with selecting him.

Two time Minor Leaguer of the year!

Right, and even then, people like Bill James (OK, maybe just Bill James) were saying he projected to max out as a Tony Pena type player, rather than a true star (Alomar had lousy plate discipline, and he played his AAA ball at Las Vegas, which seriously inflated his hitting stats). Debatable whether he even reached that level.

Bay should be present in some fashion. The fans voted for Braun so ditch Ludwick who has only half a season on his resume.

That and I know this will irritate the Cards fans who will again claim that I "hate" the Cards. Or Tony. Or Budweiser beer.

I can't keep track which it is......

don't have a problem with this assessment, Bay, Burrell, Ludwick are all interchangeable in my mind, want to honor previous greatness go for it.

I guess this is my obligatory annual pointing out that it's not the All-Good-Stats-In-Half-A-Season Team, but the All-Star Team. The fact that someone is playing badly in the first half does not mean that there's something wrong with selecting him.

That point's more convincingly made with a player who's having a bad first half but is (or at least has been) an actual star. That ain't Varitek.

I guess this is my obligatory annual pointing out that it's not the All-Good-Stats-In-Half-A-Season Team, but the All-Star Team. The fact that someone is playing badly in the first half does not mean that there's something wrong with selecting him.

I haven't heard any complaints about Ichiro and his OPS+ of 103 being in the starting lineup. I think this is because (a) Ichiro is a hugely popular player, (b) Ichiro is likely better than his first-half numbers, and it could be assumed that he'll have a better second half, and (c) Ichiro is a potential Hall of Famer.

None of that is true of Varitek, who has been terrible this year and looks through. He's been a nice player for a long time, but no one thinks he's a Hall of Famer. And it's not even like the fans put him there because they want to see him in the All-Star game; the players selected him. (Plus there's the fact that people suspect he's in mostly because of incessant Red Sox hype.)

I'm all for seeing all-time greats like Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson there, even in their decrepit final seasons. I'm all for seeing today's biggest stars there, even if their first halves weren't outstanding, like (holds nose) Derek Jeter.

But that's not Jason Varitek. I can't think of a logical reason for him to be there.

I'm as big of a fan of Yadier as anyone, but have to agree with the majority, no way do I see a way to justify him in this crowded catcher spot of the NL. If his defense was better than it's been this year, if he had a few more total bases, and if the pitchers were raving about his ability to call a game, then he may be able to move up the chain, but none of that is true so he doesn't have anything to justify moving him up.

That point's more convincingly made with a player who's having a bad first half but is (or at least has been) an actual star. That ain't Varitek.

I don't think Varitek's a particularly good choice by any standard (but he's the Team Captain!), but the arguments against him haven't been "He's a mediocre player" but "He's having a bad half." If people were saying, "He's having a bad first half and hasn't been a star since 2005," I wouldn't have said anything.

Well, I would have, but it would have been in response to some other comment. There were plenty to choose from on the first page of this thread -- either "These players are deserving because they're having good first halves" or "This guy isn't because he's having a bad first half."


And speaking of this bad logic, why is Brian Roberts staying home (unless he wins the Monster.com Last Chance At a Product Placement Vote), while George freaking Sherrill is on the team?

Yeah, I'm with #90, Yadier is the 5th best catcher in the NL.

I'll still take Chris Snyder over him.