All Star Shlubs and Snubs

[Edgy MD]

Awesome snit fight going on between Tony LaRussa and Dusty Baker over snubs to Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto.

Cueto fired off the big shell, though.

�I thought the way I pitched this year, I�d have a chance to go to the All-Star Game. I don�t know what happened. I don�t know if the manager of All-Star Game is (ticked) at me because I went out with one of his girlfriends.�

Fwhat?! Did a hockey game just break out?

[Ceetar]

lol.

I don't know if the La Russa hates Dusty Baker storyline has any legs (have they said anything?), but Cueto did deserve to go.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"I love bitches. And, in turn, the bitches love me."

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I suspect Cueto will be on there as the phantom injuries start to pile up. I think there also is rule about pitchers who pitch on the Sunday before the game are ineligible to be in the game, but will still be on the team. I suspect that means another player will be called to take his place.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The rule-- as per the new CBA-- is actually to the contrary, MGiM. It outlines pretty clearly that pitching on the pre-ASG Sunday does NOT (or should not, anyway) disqualify a pitcher from ASG participation.

(ii) Sunday Pitcher Rule. Any starting pitcher elected or selected to the All-Star team who makes a start on the Sunday immediately preceding the All-Star Game (�Sunday Pitcher�) shall have the option to participate or not participate in the All-Star Game. If such starting pitcher elects to participate in the All-Star Game, he will not be permitted to pitch for more than one inning, and he may also inform his manager that he should be removed from the game if he reaches a certain pitch count (irrespective of whether he has completed one inning), provided such pitch count is reasonable. If a Sunday Pitcher who was originally named to the team elects not to participate in the All-Star Game, he will be replaced on the roster but treated in the same manner as other All-Stars who are excused from participation, and he will be encouraged to attend and be announced at the All-Star Game.

Since LaRussa's muddled explanation gave the Sunday-pitching thing as a reason for not including Cueto, there's talk from some concerned parties that LaRussa violated the CBA. (Not sure it seems that way to me-- Cueto wasn't selected then automatically disqualified, but not selected at all-- but LaRussa's comments muddy the water much more than they clarified anything.)

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I stand corrected!

[MFS62]

Ceetar wrote: lol. I don't know if the La Russa hates Dusty Baker storyline has any legs (have they said anything?), but Cueto did deserve to go.

I can believe it because they are exact opposites.
LaRussa tends to overthink pitching while Baker underthinks it.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

So Kemp, predictably, pulls out - and the powers that be name Chipper in his place.

OK, I have no problem with that particular selection, except that Chipper is part of their final man balloting thing which I believe is scheduled to end on Thursday. So why name him before that's over? If he wins that vote he gets in anyhow then you name someone else to replace Kemp. If he doesn't win you can name him anyway.

Not a big deal really, I just don't get their timing.





Meanwhile, if you're the commish, wouldn't you want to know what incentives or other pushing went on to get THAT many votes for three different SF Giants over the last couple of days?
I'm betting other teams are interested in knowing what went on (it couldn't be too hard to find, could it?) and when/if they find out then we're probably going to see similar procedures in most if not all of the 29 other markets next year - at which point this whole exercise becomes even more silly than it is now.

[Frayed Knot]

Yu Darvish wins the final spot poll for the AL AS squad

And, in a surprise, a late surge of votes from the Bay area named Tim Lincecum as the final NL member even though he wasn't on the Final Five ballot. Commissioner Bud Selig said that he was fine with the outcome of the process and always trusts the wishes of the fans.









Actually, StL OFer David Freese is the voted-in NL choice

[ashie62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Yu Darvish wins the final spot poll for the AL AS squad And, in a surprise, a late surge of votes from the Bay area named Tim Lincecum as the final NL member even though he wasn't on the Final Five ballot. Commissioner Bud Selig said that he was fine with the outcome of the process and always trusts the wishes of the fans. Actually, StL OFer David Freese is the voted-in NL choice

Why you I oughta!

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Yu Darvish wins the final spot poll for the AL AS squad And, in a surprise, a late surge of votes from the Bay area named Tim Lincecum as the final NL member even though he wasn't on the Final Five ballot. Commissioner Bud Selig said that he was fine with the outcome of the process and always trusts the wishes of the fans. Actually, StL OFer David Freese is the voted-in NL choice

I can get my heart started again.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Matt Holliday replaces Yadier Molina on the NL AS team.
Tony LaRussa immediately pronounced him too to be superior to catching the knuckleball over Buster Posey.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

This is all I have to say on the subject: