AL All-Star Voting: Catcher

[Lynch]

Just for comparison sake

Martinez: .302-.367-.505
Mauer: .383-.444-.533
Hernandez: .301-.358-.512
Posada: .292-.415-.482

So yeah, my bad. Martinez should have been in there

As it currently stands, Mauer should be a shoe-in. OF course we know how it works and that's probably not going to happen.

[Fishercat]

But as a whole, the fans don't know shit. Fans stuff ballot boxes and vote for who they know. Players play against each other and coaches study film and have to be attentive to who is good both in the field and at the plate. Sportswirters are another group of common idiots (as a whole).

I'd have no problem with the fans getting 1/3 of the vote, but what they have now is ridiculous and wrong.

Agreed, but my concern is that the players are likely focused on the skills of the players they play.

For instance, suppose you are Joe Mauer. If you didn't look at the stats (which fans can do as well), would you be more inclined to vote for Jermaine Dye or Manny Ramirez? Even worse, would you vote for Torii Hunter or Carl Crawford, if you know Torii that well. They'll know each other, but do they have the time or caring to look up Jeremy Bonderman's stats if they havent' faced him (I bet the Twins have). The Sox haven't seen a majority of the AL Central. I doubt Manny is looking up Joe Nathan on ESPN.com to see how he compares to Papelbon or Rivera.

The coaches could be worse, as they are likely to look at film and know their own players even better, and not use numbers in an Oakland v. Seattle game if he's Joe Maddon.

[Fishercat]

Saber's favorite player of all-time, The Babe.

There we go.

[Fishercat]

As it currently stands, Mauer should be a shoe-in. OF course we know how it works and that's probably not going to happen.

Hell, Mauer should be starting and playing nine innings. However, he won't.

Starter: Varitek
Reserves: Mauer, Posada

The other two get screwed, although I think the other players/coaches have a say as well. Supposedly Francona got to realistically chose four players.

[Roy31]

Mauer, Hernandez and Martinez are all deserving. The rest are not.

What are you talking about Rodriguez has helped turn around the Tigers!

Hernandez is borderline all star game worthy. Mauer, Martinez, And Rodriguez are all having fantastic first halfs and are worthy of making the all star team.

Posada! Gimme a break, Pierzynski has been ok, and Varitek has been ok.

[love_that_reefer]

Compared to those three I don't feel they are deserving. Rodriguez has helped but its mostly a team effort and good pitching that has turned that team around. Its not like Pudge wasn't there before.

[Dam8610]

I think Pierzynski will get one of the reserve spots, because of the guy picking the reserves. Just another perk of winning it all.

[Roy31]

Compared to those three I don't feel they are deserving. Rodriguez has helped but its mostly a team effort and good pitching that has turned that team around. Its not like Pudge wasn't there before.

Yeah jeez I thought it was like his 2nd year with the tigers, its hard to believe this is his 3rd season with them anyways. Hes putting up good numbers at the plate batting .308 and 31 RBI's. Defensively he hasnt made an Error yet as opposed to Hernandez 8 (league leading for catchers), Posada 2, Martinez 5, Mauer 2.

[love_that_reefer]

He is putting up good numbers. We have a ways to go til the final balloting so if he keeps it up, he will get to go.

[Lynch]

I think Pierzynski will get one of the reserve spots, because of the guy picking the reserves. Just another perk of winning it all.

And that right there would show another cog that's busted in the whole process.

[Fishercat]

Seriously, unless he's voted in, A.J. shouldn't even be near the festivities

[Dam8610]

And that right there would show another cog that's busted in the whole process.

It'd be no more busted than in past years where Yankees have gone as reserves when others should have gone, or last year when Francona chose Clement as the last pitcher.

[Fishercat]

It'd be no more busted than in past years where Yankees have gone as reserves when others should have gone, or last year when Francona chose Clement as the last pitcher.

I believe Francona chose Clement as the replacement pitcher, and FWIW, Clement's stats warranted it at the time (him or Bonderman, very similar). I know managers only get to select a few after fans, coaches (I think other coaches have the say on many reserves), team necessities

[Kingdom]

Mauer will be in. There's no way he doesn't make it.

[DirtyKash]

V-Mart took the entire month of May off! And the guy can't throw out any baserunners at all!

Mauer > V-Mart for sure!