NL Allstar vote leaders so far

by rocKStark5 on May 28, 2008 3:18 PM EDT Comment 26 comments

Just when you think the sports media are the stupidest people to talk about sports...

When I was looking at the ballot and doing research (basically I just go by VORP and THT defense metrics) I was feeling REALLY good about the NL this year in the allstar game...then reality came crashing down and for some reason it completely lapsed me just how stupid the voters really are. I do realize this is discussed Ad Nausea every year but this is the first year I look at allstar voting as a SABR guy.

Yes, it's still relatively early.

Vote Leader LF
Sorryano
8th in RZR
8th in NL VORP for LF

SABR Choice (going by Vorp and RZR)
Matt Holiday
2nd in RZR
3rd in VORP

Vote Leader RF
Fukudome
2nd in RZR
8th in VORP

SABR Choice:
This one is a little tough, the VORP leader is Ludwick at 25.7 vs Fukudome's 10.6. The RZR is Ludwick's Tied for 7th at .899 vs Fukudome's 2nd at .933. The balance to the two is Hunter Pence, who is 3d in RZR at .926 and 5th in VORP with 12.1.

I know it's really fashionable (and little league) to preach defense defense defense, but Ludwick is over TWICE as good with the bat (with 1/4 less PA's) so far while the others are only slightly better in defense.

My Picks are:
Ludwick if he doesn't regress ;)
2d - Xavier Nady: 2nd Vorp 17.6 same RZR as Ludwick
3d - Pence

I'm not even going to mention how silly voting for Ken Griffey Jr is (unless it's for nastolgic reasons) who currently is barely above replacement level offensively (.9 vorp) and dead last in RZR. Don't get me wrong, I love Ken Griffey Jr, he's a HOF'er and I agree with the world it should have been him.

CF:
No CF'er was picked (probably because the fashionable cub's CF platoon sucks) however:

This is slightly more interesting than RF, the VORP leader, Nate Mclouth is 30% better than Aaron Rowand but is the 2nd worst CF in the NL. My choice would be Aaron Rowland who is 2d in RZR and 2d in VORP, but I'm not totally feeling it, I could probably be swayed if a good arguement was presented. I still maintain at the professional level an impact bat with league average defense is far more important than plus defense and less offense, but Mclouth is comically (or duncan-ish) bad.

If look at the MLB VORP leaders position by position you feel really good about the chances the NL will FINALLY break the slump in The House That Ruth Built, however, throwing trendy picks and past their prime HOF'ers isn't going to get the trick done. Lets just hope AL voters are just as stupid.

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Excuse me for my lack of political correctness

But why is it the “in thing” to vote for the latest Japanese player to be a starter in the All-Star game? Ichiro gets in every year, but I can understand that to some degree I guess, but I think the only reason Fukudome is getting so many votes is because he is the next media hyped Japanese player.

If he was one of the best 3 outfielders in the National League then fine….but he’s not.
I really can’t disagree with any of the other vote leaders except for Griffey.

As for Ludwick not getting many votes….well if Larussa doesn’t seem to think he’s an everyday player I guess he isn’t an All-Star player. Rolls eyes

by KYCards on May 28, 2008 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he's a media hyped japanese player AND a cub...that's double trendy points for voting!

Good call on the everyday player…how much justice would that be that Lud gets on the AS team even though he’s LaRussa’s 4th outfielder :D

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on May 28, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Japaneese people can vote.................

Same thing with Yao Ming in the NBA with the Chineese.

There are LOTS of Japaneese people and LOTS of Cub fans so I expect them to vote.

by ICbirdfan on May 28, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The All Star game does not interest me much at all............................

Lud is having a good year but lots of guys get snubbed each year. I would definitely want the best players if I am a NL manager on a team that has a chance of making the play-offs though.

by ICbirdfan on May 28, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simple explanation, really

All the people in Japan vote for the Japanese players like crazy. It’s not “trendy” to vote for Fukudome, it’s just the he’s one of the players the people of Japan are voting for feverishly.

by mojowo11 on May 28, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

I hear its trendy to wear full catchers gear in Japan playing slow pitch, you may get voted in ahead of Fukodome if VEB is still followed by a lot of one time Gooch fans from the pacific rim ; D!. Cant vote for Pence, “hes a very fine upstanding young man” though! (as described by non other than an ex-President). Good luck Ludwood! Dont regress to the mean!

by cardschinmusic on May 29, 2008 6:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny...

if gooch ever was on the ballot I wonder if he would’ve gotten the votes!

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 30, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh, see,

I thought by definition the word “trendy” meant doing something just because everybody else was doing it…well I guess if they’re Japanese then they’re exempt :-/

I guess it’s just racial bonding.

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on May 29, 2008 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trendy would be ...

if those of us who typically look at a player’s production were to suddenly switch to latest Japanese flavor of the month. The Japanese have a selected few players that were well respected players in Japan before they came here. They aren’t jumping on some bandwagon. They are voting for their own. There is no difference between that, and those who simply vote for the home team players.

It’s the All-Star game, and contrary to MLB’s latest marketing, it doesn’t mean a damn thing. It’s an Homecoming contest for the starters.

by etp_stl on May 29, 2008 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Kobe Bryant

got voted to the NBA all-star game while he was still the Lakers’ sixth man, like in his rookie year or something.

by Nate811 on May 29, 2008 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Luddy not even in the top 15. A guy with an OPS lower than Kennedy, OTOH, is- michael bourn(!) And francouer, with a .718 OPS. And GRIFFEY, who’s been stuck on 598 home runs so long that they stopped showing the mlb.tv commercial with him in it?

Oh well; Luddy got 75 votes from me. It’s the rest of y’all who are failing him. And Tony, since if he’d had the extra 5 or 6 or so PA’s required to get on the qualified lists, more people would know who he is.

"the hardest decision to make is to do nothing; there is a terrible temptation to interfere." -gen patton

by SleepyCA on May 28, 2008 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well, the mlb.tv commercial was on in force tonight

at least 30 times… so i guess it’ll be griffey.

"the hardest decision to make is to do nothing; there is a terrible temptation to interfere." -gen patton

by SleepyCA on May 28, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we all know why Griffey is there

dumb people just recognize the name.

If you are in St. Louis check out my band, Griffin and the Gargoyles
(formerly Gargoyle Reign, Gargoyle Lounge)

www.GriffinandtheGargoyles.com
www.myspace.com/GriffinandtheGargoyles

:-D

by jealousblues on May 29, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I almost don't mind a near all Cub All-Star team

Because when they get their asses handed to them by the American League, I’ll be able to laugh instead of be bothered by the AL winning streak.

by cloistermaximus on May 28, 2008 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Voted 25 times today

for Ludwick. My outfield was Ludwick, McClouth and Ryan Braun. Not the greatest defensive outfield but they can all mash.

My infield was Pujols, Uggla, HanRam, and Chipper

McCann was my choice at C.

Unfortunately the starting team will probably be: Soto (not too bad a choice), Berkman (can’t complain), Utley (also good), The MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN BASEBALL (not deserving), Wright (not as good as Chipper but defensible), Soriano (not deserving), Fukudome (only 2 homers), and Griffey (pathetic).

by indakind on May 28, 2008 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think my team this year will be

c McCann
1b Berkman (though I might vote Pujols, both will be there so no big deal)
2b Utley
ss HanRam
3b Chipper/Wright (i really like Wright better but Chipper has been amazing)
of Holliday
of Pence
of Braun

I really dont have a clue on the OF

but the NL team will be very good as long as we get rid of some of the crap voted in OFs.

I think they take it this year

they will have great pitching: Webb, Haren, Santana, Peavy, Lincecum, Sheets
i guess the Pen will be: Lidge, Wagner?, Saito?
we should have great bench players too. I say we take it this year.
C: [soto] McCann, Martin
1b: [berkman] Pujols, Lee, Howard/fielder (though they stink so far)
2: [utley] Phillips, Uggla
3b: [chipper] Wright, Atkins? Aram, Zim?
ss: [hanram] Tejada, Rollins, Furcal, Reyes, Tulo (if not for injury),
OF:[fuku, soriano, griffey] Beltran, Braun, Holliday, Lee, Pence, Francouer, Dunn, McClouth

(the guys in brackets are the leading vote getters in the NL right now, so I cant mess with them)

any other thoughts suggestions?

If you are in St. Louis check out my band, Griffin and the Gargoyles
(formerly Gargoyle Reign, Gargoyle Lounge)

www.GriffinandtheGargoyles.com
www.myspace.com/GriffinandtheGargoyles

:-D

by jealousblues on May 29, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ludwick isn't even on the ballot

a lot of people don’t know who he is. neither does his manager, apparently, looking at his playing time. don’t tell me you’re surprised that he’s not in the top 15…

I have a love/hate relationship with the Cardinals' middle relief corps.

by madding on May 28, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

?

He’s not on your ballot? Get the 2008 ballot and check this time.

by jxmetal1 on May 28, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is actually on the ballot.

Dan and Al have been saying otherwise, but, of course, they’re wrong.

by Phizzle on May 28, 2008 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my fault for listening to baseball announcers

unless he’s somehow not on the paper ballot but is on the online ballot. that would be mysterious, though…

I have a love/hate relationship with the Cardinals' middle relief corps.

by madding on May 28, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope he is on the paper ballot too

otherwise I had too many franklins at the game and just thought I was voting for Luddy

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on May 28, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ludwick is on the paper ballot

I voted for him twice the other day.

by Nate811 on May 29, 2008 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

considering

the average baseball fan is hardly a stat geek (about 95% of my friends who follow baseball have no idea the type of season ludwick is having; he “sucks” compared to soriano…according to them) so it is all a popularity contest, hence griffey leading the votes.

by lopey986 on May 29, 2008 4:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

put in my 25 for ludwick

by cd on May 29, 2008 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont care how Good Xavier Nady is playing right now

he is not, nor will ever be an All Star.

He starts off every year great, (this year he has sustained it longer) and always peters out to mediocrity by mid year.

I have no confidence in him playing by the time the ASG comes around.
I just disagee that the ASG should be the “this decent player had a really good half, or hot start” game.

When it comes down to it, I just think Id rather have someone else over a guy like Nady to decide one game.

TBH same goes for Ludwick. Though for obvious reasons (homerism) I think he will keep it up ;-)

If it werent for the Outfield we have a great team this year.

I think we win this season.

If you are in St. Louis check out my band, Griffin and the Gargoyles
(formerly Gargoyle Reign, Gargoyle Lounge)

www.GriffinandtheGargoyles.com
www.myspace.com/GriffinandtheGargoyles

:-D

by jealousblues on May 29, 2008 9:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs