MLB All-Star Game, A Travesty

First, in answer to all my faithful readers (OK, both of you), I have not been abducted by aliens. I have been, well, just uninspired.  Oh sure, I have had a few ideas roll around in my head, they just fell out one orifice or another.   But, get ready, the bear has been poked and here is my latest installment.

Turning the midsummer classic into a joke, AL voting by the fans has been, in reality, some computer geek digitally stuffing the ballot box.   Too many Royals heading up positions that should, by all rights, belong to another deserving player.


Let's take a look at the voting leaders by position;

C - Salvador Perez, Royals
     Sal is hitting .263, respectable for a catcher, but Stephen Vogt of the Athletics is at .290 with 53 RBI's - 25 better that Perez.  Geez, Sal isn't even the 2nd best statistically, he ranks 3rd behind Vogt and Brian McCann of the Yanks.

1B - Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
    Right where he belongs, leading the vote.  But don't look now, former Tiger Prince Fielder is tied with Miggy with a league leading .365 BA.  I'm willing to bet there will be a throne for the Prince in Cincinnati.

2B - Omar Infante, Royals
     Here is where the obvious ballot bunching shows up.  Infante is hitting .231 while Jason Kipnis of Cleveland is clobbering at .347.   C'mon is this ridiculous or what?

SS - Alcides Escobar, Royals
     A .273 hitter, his year isn't too bad, but compare to Jose Iglesias of the Tigers hitting .326.  Not even close!

3B - Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
     OK, I buy this one, JD is hitting .300, Moustakas of KC or Machado of Baltimore would be fine, as well.

OF - Mike Trout, Angels; Lorenzo Cain, Royals; Alex Gordan, Royals
     Agree with Trout, a .303 hitter.  No to Cain (.298) and Gordan (.265).   Add Brett Gardner, Yankees (.304) and Nelson Cruz, Mariners (.303).

DH - Nelson Cruz, Mariners
     Make a switcheroo here, move Cruz to the starting OF and add Prince Fielder at this spot.

MLB commissioner Selig needs to take the voting out of the hands of the public and put it back where it belongs, in the hands of the players themselves.   This year's ballot is proof. 




And those are some seriously ugly hats!





  

Lastly, do you think Pete Rose will throw out the first pitch?  Don't bet on it.....