What in the name of Willie Mays has happened to my beloved National League?
The Senior Circuit continually plays the second half of the Major League Baseball season with the American League’s collective cleat protruding from its rear due to the latter’s dominance in the All-Star Game.
Even casual fans of the diamond know the Mid-Summer Classic’s gone to the league with that ridiculous designated hitter for a while now. Six in a row, 10 of the finally 11, and a string of 12 consecutive contests without a loss by the Junior Circuit to be precise.
Can you believe it? The NL’s gotta look back on that abysmal, embarrassing tie in Milwaukee with fondness.
Ugh.
And, if you want to be sure why, it’s because our side is usually of a poorer constitution.
Say what you omit near the antics from New York and Boston, at least their guys can play. Dustin Pedroia obviously doesn’t merit to be starting over Aaron Hill or Ian Kinsler, but the guy is still dangerous without ceasing a per game basis.
Meanwhile, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira are both worthy starters allowing that not the worthiest.
Hmmm, Yadier Molina? Give me a break.
Fans got the Molina part correct, but it should be Bengie going to the game and it shouldn’t be as the starter. Hello, Brian McCann.
Don’t give me the defensive argument–the Atlanta Braves’ backstop blows both Flying Molinas on the outside of the water offensively so that dog don’t hunting. And the older Molina directs one of the best staffs in all of baseball, stacked with youngsters who take their cue from Bengie.
Part of the credit for the development of the two Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain belongs to Big Money and the confidence he instills. Part of that is his straight-up defense–though probably and incrementally inferior to Yadier’s.
Forget his percentages in throwing out runners, which is undeniably on his pitchers.
Furthermore, the offensive stats don’t tell the whole story. Most of those runs Big Money’s accounted for have been crucial to wins (from this time the nickname).
But amercement, the game’s in St. Louis and the younger Molina is a hometown favorite. Plus, the Cardinal is having a very good year and it’s catcher so there’s no huge travesty.
Competitively, yet, it hurts because it resources Charlie Manuel has to keep the Redbird’s Molina in the gamble according to a utility long while. Effectively, the without more true All-Star catcher will be a glorified pinch-hitter for the reason that McCann’s the only other donner of the Tools of Ignorance on the roster.
Can’t really toss him in there in the third inning. What if the game goes 15 frames again? And you’ve trotted unit of your rivals’ best players out to squat for the majority of them?
On an “off” day.
Nope, I bet Yadier sees a lot of run.
Regardless, the real injustice in this place is Pablo Sandoval.
Although eligible for the last man vote or whatever the hell it’s called, forcing Little Panda to stay for on the side door is insult enough. One potentially magnified grant that cyber-ballot filling full by Philadelphia fans get their guy in (Shane Victorino) or the similar from Los Angeles get their way (Matt Kemp).
If this “expert” has his manner, extravagant strike-out son and Arizona Diamondback Mark Reynolds will get the nod. Got that?
This jackass wants to vote a guy with 101 whiffs in 301 at-bats any All-Star because his fantasy cost is in truth high. Forget this is a real-world game and the Snakes are potent-but-anemic. What makes it possibly harmful instead of mildly irritating is he’s spouting this tripe from Yahoo!, which means he probably represents and/or influences thousands of equally myopic fans.
Guess what happens to guys like Mark Reynolds and, say, Charlie Manuel’sitting pick (Ryan Howard) at the time that they dig in against the kind of aces who populate the Classic in July?
They swing and miss. A lot. Not always, but very, VERY at short intervals.
Howard’s on the team because his manager had a final decision and–from Manuel’s own mouth–the Phillies’ skipper wanted him to go.
Awesome.
Hey, I wanted Brian Wilson to go. I wanted Will Clark to go every year he played. Sometimes your guys dress in’t deserve it and you have to acknowledge that in the manner of a swollen boy.
I know Ryan Howard is a stupendous homerun threat and RBI machine and he’s from St. Louis and he’s got an MLB commercial about his parents and he was important last year and blah, blah, blah.
He makes FOUR first basemen seeing that you have power to’t axe Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, or Prince Fielder. He’s improved from a toxic spill to an albatross with the mitt and, like Reynolds, he fans at an atrocious clip–94 Ks in 310 ABs.
Yet he’s safely on the squad and Sandoval’sitting sweating out the last remaining spot. Garbage.
Don’t take my word for it, check the numbers–I included Homer Pence, who was selected by the players, to illustrate no part of the balloting procedure is immune.
Look at the raw stats and tell me how you neglect Little Money. That’s control allowing for Sandoval plays the most premium defensive position of the group and does it slickly.
The only categories on O Pablo doesn’t solemnize in subjection are the run production ones and that’s because the San Francisco Giant offense around him is so anemic. Drop him in a better repository of military stores or smaller park and watch the counting stats accumulate.
Additionally, Sandoval trails Reynolds and Howard in taters.
That’s why in that place’sitting the Home Run Derby.
As far taken in the character of hitting, the art of it, Sandoval’s got everyone involved beaten. Easily.
Did I mention he’s in his first full season and he’s not yet 23? Or that he’s playing third base, which is a comparatively new position and he’s picking the hot secret place clean (think I did cursory reference the last bit)? Or that he’session been one of the lone nauseating stalwarts for the NL Wild Card leaders, a team that’sitting shocking the baseball world outside the Bay Area?
Oh, and Little Panda would be one extra catcher on the NL’s roster since it’s his natural spot by trade.
I don’t say it often, but thank the Maker for Ken Rosenthal.
As much as anyone, I take my shots at Rosenthal and I admit I’m not a fan of his general officer approach. However, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–his main purpose is to report inside information and that he does wonderfully.
Additionally, attached this particular thing he is preaching the gospel with his analysis of the indignity. Hopefully, more baseball enthusiasts over the Nation direction heed his wise words than the yahoo at Yahoo! and we’ll see the error corrected.
Of course, I wouldn’t obtain being stunned if it’s not.
After all, there’s a reason our guys haven’t won since 1996.
VOTE FOR LITTLE PANDA, DO IT OFTEN
**www.pva.org**
