AL All-Star Voting: Catcher

[ThomasTomasz]

The top 5 vote getters (I don't have the exact order) are Varitek, Posada, Rodriguez, Pierzynski, and Martinez.

Where are the two guys who actually deserve these two spots, Ramon Hernandez and Joe Mauer?

Mauer, who is in the quest for .400, is really a great hitter, and has overcome weak knees to become one of the better defensive catchers. He's been on fire over the past few weeks, and a major part of the Twins success.

Ramon Hernandez is the main reason why the Orioles are not down in the bottom of baseball. He is the top catcher in throwing out baserunners, with a percentage over 50. He is the leader among catchers in home runs and RBIs, and is hitting around .300. Hernandez is the definition of clutch hitter, and the Orioles have fewer wins, if not for Hernandez getting up, and driving in runners to tie, or gain leads.

Both of those guys deserve the two All-Star spots for catcher, but one, and maybe both, will not get it, because the fans are in charge of voting for the starter. As long as the 12 year old bandwagon fan is in charge of selecting the starters, we will always have this problem.

[love_that_reefer]

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

[Fishercat]

You're right. But that's not how the system works. Oh well.

[ThomasTomasz]

You're right. But that's not how the system works. Oh well.

I know, and its a shame. I wish MLB ran the All-Star voting the same way the NFL does, where fans get 1/3 of the vote, players get 1/3, and the coaches get 1/3 on all of the starters.

[Fishercat]

Too bad the players and coaches could be even less attentive than the fans.

[Fishercat]

Oh, and the fact that Mauer/Posada/Hernandez (at least one of three) may be screwed over is really not good.

[love_that_reefer]

Too bad the players and coaches could be even less attentive than the fans.

You really think so? I find that impossible to believe in this day and age.

[love_that_reefer]

Oh, and the fact that Mauer/Posada/Hernandez (at least one of three) may be screwed over is really not good.

Don't forget about Martinez!

[MarinersFan87]

Robinson Cano over Jose Lopez?! Johnny Damon over Ichiro, Rios, etc?! Any NL OF not named Jason Bay?!

Yes, most fan idiots but there isn't much to be done about it.

[Fishercat]

You really think so? I find that impossible to believe in this day and age.

There was an SI poll of players a few years ago asking who the best living player (active or retired) was. Guess who #9 was

[love_that_reefer]

I'm afraid to guess but I will go with.........Lou Gehrig.

[Lynch]

Too bad the players and coaches could be even less attentive than the fans.

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.

[Fishercat]

Don't forget about Martinez!

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

[Fishercat]

I'm afraid to guess but I will go with.........Lou Gehrig.

Very close

[realmofotalk]

There was an SI poll of players a few years ago asking who the best living player (active or retired) was. Guess who #9 was

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