MLB All-Stars: Too stupid to count, but it does

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120701&content_id=34263550&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Starting lineups and NL reserves are in so far.

The usual stinkers. Somehow Pablo Sandoval edged out David Wright at third base in the fan voting despite missing a huge chunk of the first half and having numbers nowhere near as good as Wright. I'm sure I'll see more as I look through it.

I know the Padres are bad, but was Huston Street really the only choice for their representative? A closer who missed over a month?

 

Kemp was a curious choice too, since he's not expected back until the 13th.

 

Agreed. He was the best player in the NL up to the moment he got hurt, but he has been out for a while and won't be able to play in the game. I don't see how people vote for him over worthy candidates like Braun and McCutchen.

 

I actually don't mind that the game counts. I just don't like the fact that fans choose the rosters.

You can't have it both ways. Either take the game serious like they want to, or don't. MLB is still caught in the middle when it comes to the All-Star game.

 

I think there were more blunders in the NL than the AL. But they looked to be kept to a minimum.

 

Sandoval obviously rode in on Posey's and Cabrerra's coattails.

 

Outside of the obvious ...

Pitcher picks I liked: Ryan Cook (somebody was thinking), C.J. Wilson, Jim Johnson, Chapman, Lance Lynn.

Roster additions I liked: Billy Butler (underrated), Desmond.

Criminally stupid that Yu Darvish was left off the AL pitching staff. Bourn should be on, but more people want to see Harper, and he will win the NL vote.

oop: Yes, the Padres are that bad ... and that anonymous.

And frankly, I'm slightly impressed that Ron Washington didn't brainlessly write down Pujols' or Rodriguez's name. He could have.

 

My feeling is that MLB should automatically remove any player who's injured from the online ballot for as long as he's on the DL. I know they can't do that for the paper ballots (and the fact that they use the Opening Day rosters for those lists is absurd) but most people don't use the paper votes anyway.

 

I wish all the All Star games would go Glen Gary Glenn Ross and stop the charades. The players on the winning team get $1 million. The losers get a set of steak knives.

 

And coffee for the closers!