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Why is it ridiculous for Billy Butler to make an all-star game?
He is on a 30 HR pace this year and over the last 4 years he has averaged .301/.369/.476, good for a 129 OPS+. That ain't a Hall of Famer, but it is certainly good enough to make an all-star game. Oh, and he basically never misses a game.
He's also a DH, making his OPS+ not nearly as impressive. Butler is a fine player and may continue to grow into a true All-star, but he isn't making this game without the team requirement. The fact that Butler made it and Pujols did not is a joke.
Not that it matters to anyone. Like I said, the MLB AS game is as irrelevant as any other these days.
Last three years, Cano: 141, 132, 151.
Butler: 134, 125, 131.
Butler is very very good, and it's close, but there's a difference.
Cano is so good! I love him.
55.MM1f posted on July 11, 2012 at 01:51 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
The fact that Butler made it and Pujols did not is a joke.
Butler has a better batting average, OBP, slugging, and OPS+ than Pujols, and he has more home runs. Pujols is a good first baseman and Butler is a DH, but minor defensive differences have never been a consideration when selecting guys for all-star games.
Having the game in KC was kinda stupid in the first place. Attendance is terrible, and has been for 20 years. Putting the ASG there is bad business.
Apparently, the KC fans gave Cano's family a hard time, too. There are jerks everywhere but at least the jerks elsewhere come out in big numbers to support their teams.
Having the game in KC was kinda stupid in the first place. Attendance is terrible, and has been for 20 years. Putting the ASG there is bad business.
I don't know if you've noticed, but the team has kinda stunk for twenty years. Would you pay to see those teams?
They actually smashed attendance records for the Futures Game/Celeb Game, and sold out the HR Derby and ASG too. They had a record turnout for the 5k and the Fanfest had terrific attendance all weekend. It makes a lot of sense too because there isn't a lot else going on in KC. We tend to make a big deal about things like this.
Apparently, the KC fans gave Cano's family a hard time, too. There are jerks everywhere but at least the jerks elsewhere come out in big numbers to support their teams.
From what I heard it was a couple of people in the bathroom. It is stupid if true, but I'm sure we're not the only fanbase to have a couple bad apples give a player's family a hard time.
Go sell your bitter somewhere else.
58.NJ in NY posted on July 11, 2012 at 09:13 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
I wonder if every single time Billy (OPS+121) Butler comes to the plate, KC announcers say "He's one of the best hitters in baseball...if not the best"...like they do with Robbie (OPS+121) Cano.
This is really silly. Taking a cursory glance at projections, there's 4 guys you can say are CLEARLY better hitters than Cano: Votto, Bautista, Cabrera, and Braun. I think that's sufficient to consider him one of the best hitters in baseball. YMMV.
I don't know if you've noticed, but the team has kinda stunk for twenty years. Would you pay to see those teams?
I would pay to see other teams that visit my hometown park. I would also pay to see my team because I enjoy baseball and watching players develop.
Speaking of player development, the Royals, like other teams, seem to have a relative inability to develop black ballplayers? Is Tom Gordon the last black prospect to come up and succeed in MLB? He came up 24 years ago. I must be missing someone.
Is Tom Gordon the last black prospect to come up and succeed in MLB? He came up 24 years ago. I must be missing someone.
Brian McRae was two years later, for what it's worth.
One of the Royals' problems has been an inability to develop anyone who succeeded in MLB, hue be damned. Since Gordon, the list of truly successful KC products isn't a long one - Damon, Sweeney, Beltran, a few pitchers and a few of the kids there now.
Managers may lean toward selecting only pitchers from the host team in the future if they don't have an elected starter/reserve, just to avoid this type of situation. Not a huge deal either way.
Managers may lean toward selecting only pitchers from the host team in the future if they don't have an elected starter/reserve, just to avoid this type of situation. Not a huge deal either way.
Unless the home run derby captain happens to be on the same team as the manager, I doubt they'll care that much. And, as far as I know, there's no rule the derby participant must be on the All-Star team.
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< 1 2That's loser talk.
He's also a DH, making his OPS+ not nearly as impressive. Butler is a fine player and may continue to grow into a true All-star, but he isn't making this game without the team requirement. The fact that Butler made it and Pujols did not is a joke.
Not that it matters to anyone. Like I said, the MLB AS game is as irrelevant as any other these days.
Butler: 134, 125, 131.
Butler is very very good, and it's close, but there's a difference.
Cano is so good! I love him.
Butler has a better batting average, OBP, slugging, and OPS+ than Pujols, and he has more home runs. Pujols is a good first baseman and Butler is a DH, but minor defensive differences have never been a consideration when selecting guys for all-star games.
Apparently, the KC fans gave Cano's family a hard time, too. There are jerks everywhere but at least the jerks elsewhere come out in big numbers to support their teams.
I don't know if you've noticed, but the team has kinda stunk for twenty years. Would you pay to see those teams?
They actually smashed attendance records for the Futures Game/Celeb Game, and sold out the HR Derby and ASG too. They had a record turnout for the 5k and the Fanfest had terrific attendance all weekend. It makes a lot of sense too because there isn't a lot else going on in KC. We tend to make a big deal about things like this.
From what I heard it was a couple of people in the bathroom. It is stupid if true, but I'm sure we're not the only fanbase to have a couple bad apples give a player's family a hard time.
Go sell your bitter somewhere else.
This is really silly. Taking a cursory glance at projections, there's 4 guys you can say are CLEARLY better hitters than Cano: Votto, Bautista, Cabrera, and Braun. I think that's sufficient to consider him one of the best hitters in baseball. YMMV.
Speaking of player development, the Royals, like other teams, seem to have a relative inability to develop black ballplayers? Is Tom Gordon the last black prospect to come up and succeed in MLB? He came up 24 years ago. I must be missing someone.
Brian McRae was two years later, for what it's worth.
One of the Royals' problems has been an inability to develop anyone who succeeded in MLB, hue be damned. Since Gordon, the list of truly successful KC products isn't a long one - Damon, Sweeney, Beltran, a few pitchers and a few of the kids there now.
Yes.
Unless the home run derby captain happens to be on the same team as the manager, I doubt they'll care that much. And, as far as I know, there's no rule the derby participant must be on the All-Star team.
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