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Thursday, July 12, 2012

mlb.com: Bodley: After stuffed All-Star ballots, Giants stuff box score

Who knew that Reds’ fans stuffed the ballot box in 1956 too?

The last time the Midsummer Classic was played here was 1973, when the NL won easily in a forgettable game, 7-1. And this is eerie: The Giants’ Bobby Bonds blasted a two-run homer and stretched a single into a triple with daring baserunning in the ‘73 game. Yes, he was also the MVP. ...

Earlier Tuesday, Commissioner Bud Selig said he wasn’t disturbed by Giants fans stuffing the ballot box. “There’s no perfect system,” Selig said. “I remember in 1956, the whole Cincinnati Reds team was voted on. After that they had to make a whole bunch of adjustments. Since then, there has always been a debate about fans voting.

“I think fans should vote. It only shows San Francisco, sold out for every game, has great intensity there, and they went to work on it [and voted their players on]”. Selig said with the players’ vote and the managers choosing players, “we have protections now.”

Selig added that 10-15 years ago, interest in the game was not nearly as high. “You had to beg the players to come,” he said. “The only people who were upset were the players who weren’t invited.”

bobm Posted: July 12, 2012 at 08:36 AM | 11 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: all-star game, giants, reds, royals

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1. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 02:21 PM (#4181124)

I agree with Bud here. It's not like Giants fans voted in scrubs -- Melky's been amazing this year, and Posey and Sandoval are having very good seasons even if they're not the best at their position this season.

2. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: July 12, 2012 at 02:34 PM (#4181143)

As an NL fan, I'm sure glad the Giants fans got Melky and Sandoval up in the first inning.

3. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 03:00 PM (#4181179)

Yeah, I can't really whinge any more about Sandoval give his triple, huh?

4. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: July 12, 2012 at 03:39 PM (#4181219)

tee hee, stuffed box.

5. Accent Shallow Posted: July 12, 2012 at 07:50 PM (#4181362)

It's not like Giants fans voted in scrubs

Didn't they do their level best to, though? Several reserves (as well as starters having poor seasons, like Belt and Crawford) showed up higher on the ballot than they deserved, on their merits.

6. Steve Treder Posted: July 12, 2012 at 08:01 PM (#4181372)

Didn't they do their level best to, though? Several reserves (as well as starters having poor seasons, like Belt and Crawford) showed up higher on the ballot than they deserved, on their merits.

That's the issue. While one can debate the merits of Cabrera, Sandoval, and Posey as starters, they're all clearly legit stars, and the kinds of players who are appropriately found on All-Star teams. But if a Belt or a Crawford had been voted in, that would be a genuine problem for MLB. Regardless of what Selig or anyone else in MLB is saying publicly, if in private they aren't sharing some concern about what this might portend for future years, they should be.

7. King Berenger Posted: July 13, 2012 at 01:18 AM (#4181541)

“I remember in 1956,

I laughed. Bud Selig remembers 1956. Bud Selig also remembers the Brooklyn Superbas stuffing the ballot box.

8. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: July 13, 2012 at 08:32 AM (#4181606)

Hard to believe, but Selig will be 78 later this month.

9. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 13, 2012 at 05:22 PM (#4181972)

as well as starters having poor seasons, like Belt and Crawford

OK, Belt's not exactly hitting a ton of home runs, but it's kinda hard to say a 1B with a 122 OPS+ is having a poor season (and it was in the 135 range at the point voting ended).

10. dr. scott Posted: July 13, 2012 at 06:38 PM (#4182001)

Belt started off very poorly, but began spanking the crap out of the ball 5 weeks before the all star game... he came back to earth a bit the last week or so. Rumor was that he was doing serious work on the hole in his swing that got him out most of the time, and could now either foul off or hit this particular pitch (was it the low inside strike? I cant remember).

As a giants fan, and seeing this transformation I seriously considered voting for him. Granted the guy I did vote for went 0-3 with a K. NL fans, be happy I did not use such common sense when voting for Panda and Melky.

11. Steve Treder Posted: July 13, 2012 at 07:10 PM (#4182023)

Belt is having a productive year, very promising for a player of his limited experience. But the idea of him as a deserving 2012 All-Star, let alone starter, is ridiculous.

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

mlb.com: Bodley: After stuffed All-Star ballots, Giants stuff box score

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