Jason Varitek made the All Star team? Are you kidding me?

[festeringZit]

God Red Sox fans could not be any more biased and just downright dumb

Why make a stupid sweeping generalization?

I am a Red Sox fan, and I think that in no way does Varitek deserve to
be there. That being said, it happens every single year. The
All Star Game election/selection process is flawed, and deserving
players get denied every year to players who really deserve to be there.

 

[OTK]

This is why I don't even watch the All Star game. It's the Red Sox and Yankees against the NL. The Yankees should only have Mo and A-Rod on the team and the Red Sox should only have Pedroia and Youk going, and Youk shouldn't even be starting.

Webb shouldn't be starting pitching for the NL either, that should be Volquez based on the first half, and Fukodome, and Griffey shouldn't be in the All Star game either. It's ridiculous.

 

[OTK]

considering MLB players voted him onto the team as a reserve, not fans ( they picked Mauer) the last two posts could not be more dumb.

If you saw the vote tallies you'd see most Red Sox fans did vote for Tek. He was a close second after Mauer for starting catcher, so although he did not get voted as the starter most Sox fans did all they could to make it happen. Some Red Sox fans realize he is terrible, but obviously not all.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Im sure his homer votes have been tailing off. He really sucks right now. Id rather have Englebert.

 

[Gaz]

For years the All-Star game has been little more than a popularity contest with a few exceptions.

 

[gtc08]

wow, at least the nba fans arnt as biased as these mlb fans. this is pretty bad.

 

[SkinsRaj28]

From ESPN's Keith Law:

Is it more of an insult to the All-Star Game to put someone playing as horribly as Varitek is on the AL roster, or to Varitek himself by drawing even more presumably unwanted attention to his hitting woes?

Varitek has been so bad at the plate this season that he's below replacement level for catchers -- that theoretical player who any team could grab from Triple-A to fill that roster spot. And it's not as if Varitek is a perennial All-Star who fans would expect to see in the game; he hasn't made the squad at all since 2005 (and hasn't deserved to), and only appeared in one other All-Star Game before that, in 2003.

The obvious alternative here would be A.J. Pierzynski, who is hitting reasonably well and is having a season comparable to his 2006 season, the last year he made an All-Star team. The players could also have chosen Ivan Rodriguez, who is having a good enough year in a weak crop of AL catchers, has made 14 All-Star teams and is one of the most recognizable names in the game.

 

[wilheim]

From MLB.com

In the AL, the players selected these reserves: designated hitter Milton Bradley of the Rangers -- who undoubtedly will start in lieu of the fan pick, Boston's injured David Ortiz -- catcher Jason Varitek and outfielder J.D. Drew of the Red Sox, first baseman Justin Morneau of the Twins, second baseman Ian Kinsler and shortstop Michael Young of the Rangers, third baseman Joe Crede and outfielder Carlos Quentin of the White Sox and outfielder Grady Sizemore of the Indians.


AL manager Terry Francona of the Red Sox added infielder Carlos Guillen of the Tigers, catcher Dioner Navarro of the Rays and pitchers George Sherrill of the Orioles, Justin Duchscherer of the A's, Joe Nathan of the Twins and Joakim Soria of the Royals.

The AL pitching staff is as follows and was also largely elected by the players: Duchscherer is joined by fellow starters Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays, Cliff Lee of the Indians, Scott Kazmir of the Rays and Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana of the Angels. Sherrill, Soria and Nathan are joined by fellow relievers Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox and Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels.


Rosters for both teams will not be finalized until Thursday, when fans at MLB.com pick one more player for each squad. Now in its seventh year, the Monster.com 2008 All-Star Final Vote begins immediately following Sunday's Major League All-Star Selection Show presented by Chevy, continues until 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, and is unlimited. The winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.

Here are the Final Vote candidates for both squads:
In the NL: third baseman David Wright of the Mets and outfielders Pat Burrell of the Phillies, Corey Hart of the Brewers, Carlos Lee of the Astros and Aaron Rowand of the Giants.

In the AL: first baseman Jason Giambi of the Yankees, third baseman Evan Longoria of the Rays, second baseman Brian Roberts of the Orioles and outfielders Jose Guillen of the Royals and Jermaine Dye of the White Sox.

There are two ways for fans to vote for the 2008 All-Star Game Final Vote -- online now at MLB.com, or on-the-go from their cell phones. Fans also can text the word "VOTE" to 36197 to have the All-Star Final Vote candidates sent to their phones. To vote for a specific player, simply reply with your choice. In Canada, fans should text the word "VOTE" to 88555. Standard text messaging rates apply -- please check with your mobile carrier for details.

Link to MLB Ballot for final roster spot.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2008/fv/ballot.html

MLB.com

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

By placing Varitek on the all-star team, baseball has stooped to a new level of idiocy...this is the dumbest thing that I have ever witnessed in MLB...All-Star selections used to mean something and most players have a clause in their contract that if they make it, that means more money for them...the players that selected him really must hate AJ from the white sox and Pudge from the Tigers...

That being said, watch him pinch hit in the game and drive in the winning run....

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

Another monster at bat by Varitek....sorry Wil, this guy should not be an all-star, sacriligious if you ask me...

 

[Harvey Dent]

God He is swinging well

 

[wilheim]

Not really Jason Veritek's fault.

I admit the guy is in a slump, but he didn't invent slumps, Manny is in one just as bad.

You can't blame Veritek, his peers voted him onto the team. My advice is to write your congressmen.

There wasn't a lot of concern after Veritek caught the final pitch of the 2007 World Series.


In the meantime players themselves obviously are not unbiased because they skipped right by the following to choose Veritek.:

Rod Barajas C Toronto Blue Jays
Daric Barton C Oakland Athletics
Rob Bowen C Oakland Athletics
John Buck C Kansas City Royals
Ryan Budde C Los Angeles Angels
Jamie Burke C Seattle Mariners
Kevin Cash C Boston Red Sox
Jeff Clement C Seattle Mariners
Robinzon Diaz C Toronto Blue Jays
Mike DiFelice C Tampa Bay Rays
Sal Fasano C Cleveland Indians
Yamid Haad C Cleveland Indians
Toby Hall C Chicago White Sox
Ramón Hernández C Baltimore Orioles
Brandon Inge 3B/C Detroit Tigers
Kenji Johjima C Seattle Mariners
Gerald Laird C Texas Rangers
Víctor Martínez C Cleveland Indians
Jeff Mathis C Los Angeles Angels
Chad Moeller C New York Yankees
José Molina C New York Yankees
Mike Napoli C Los Angeles Angels
Dioner Navarro C Tampa Bay Rays
Miguel Olivo C Kansas City Royals
Brayan Peña C Kansas City Royals
A.J. Pierzynski C Chicago White Sox
Jorge Posada C New York Yankees
Guillermo Quiroz C Baltimore Orioles
Max Ramirez C Texas Rangers
Mike Redmond C Minnesota Twins
Shawn Riggans C Tampa Bay Rays
Iván Rodríguez C Detroit Tigers
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C/1B Texas Rangers
Dane Sardinha C Detroit Tigers
Kelly Shoppach C Cleveland Indians
Chris Stewart C New York Yankees
Kurt Suzuki C Oakland Athletics
Curtis Thigpen C Toronto Blue Jays
Matt Tupman C Kansas City Royals
Bobby Wilson C Los Angeles Angels
Vance Wilson C Detroit Tigers
Gregg Zaun C Toronto Blue Jays

Terry Francona was classy enough to name rival catcher Dioner Navarro of the Tampa Bay Rays to the team as a managers choice. I predict he will be the first substitute at that position Francona makes when he takes out Joe Mauer.

 

[FairWarning]

wow, at least the nba fans arnt as biased as these mlb fans. this is pretty bad.

Explain how Yao Ming gets a starting gig in the AS Game?

Joe Crede really doesn't deserve to make it. Fielding is horrible. I would put Longoria in over Crede. Floyd or Danks should be on it though. They are the biggest reason the White Sox are where they at.

 

[billhill999]

Posada got hosed.

 

[PhilMoneyMargonis]

no question about it... varitek should be off and AJ should be on

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

No Cole Hamels or John Lackey?? You can't be serious!!