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Random thoughts on the White Sox from one of their biggest fans!
World Series Champions
1906 - 1917 - 2005
Monday, July 07, 2008
All Star Snubs?
Yesterday the All Star teams were announced and as usual, there were plenty of guys left off the team that should have made it. But is it really a bad thing?
Here in Chicago, the Central leading White Sox only had two All Stars: Third baseman Joe Crede and left fielder Carlos Quentin, both making it for the first time. Both guys are well deserving. But then we can make a case for many other guys. Jermaine Dye is having a monster year hitting .309 with 19 HR and 52 RBI. Dye is at least part of the group of five players involved in the final vote-in that ends Thursday. But he should have easily been on the team. Another worthy player is A.J. Pierzynski. A.J. is hitting .296 with 7 HR and 33 RBI. But instead of A.J. going to New York, Jason Varitek of the Red Sox was voted in by the players instead. Varitek is hitting .218 with 7 HR and 27 RBI. Obviously the players voted in Varitek because of his leadership and being captain of a team leading them to two Championships. But it should be based on skill and A.J. is having a much better year than Varitek. There is also a good chance that Varitek is much more liked around the league than A.J.
It doesn't end there. The White Sox have the best ERA in baseball, yet no pitchers are going to be in New York next week to represent the White Sox. John Danks (6-4, 2.52 ERA) and Gavin Floyd (10-4, 3.22 ERA) have both proven to be All Star talent. Without these two young guns, the Sox would not be where they are at this point.
But is this really a bad thing? I personally am not too upset about this. Yes it would be nice to have this great talent on the White Sox be recognized. But I would much rather have them be noticed in October than in July. Instead of heading to New York next week, the entire pitching staff will get a very nice rest. Pierzynski has played in 73 out of 88 games. Taking next week off can only be a good thing. So while the majority is upset about many White Sox players being snubbed from the All Star Game, let's look at the big picture and realize that our key players will be getting a nice break preparing themselves for the second half grind of this very long season.
Yesterday the All Star teams were announced and as usual, there were plenty of guys left off the team that should have made it. But is it really a bad thing?
Here in Chicago, the Central leading White Sox only had two All Stars: Third baseman Joe Crede and left fielder Carlos Quentin, both making it for the first time. Both guys are well deserving. But then we can make a case for many other guys. Jermaine Dye is having a monster year hitting .309 with 19 HR and 52 RBI. Dye is at least part of the group of five players involved in the final vote-in that ends Thursday. But he should have easily been on the team. Another worthy player is A.J. Pierzynski. A.J. is hitting .296 with 7 HR and 33 RBI. But instead of A.J. going to New York, Jason Varitek of the Red Sox was voted in by the players instead. Varitek is hitting .218 with 7 HR and 27 RBI. Obviously the players voted in Varitek because of his leadership and being captain of a team leading them to two Championships. But it should be based on skill and A.J. is having a much better year than Varitek. There is also a good chance that Varitek is much more liked around the league than A.J.
It doesn't end there. The White Sox have the best ERA in baseball, yet no pitchers are going to be in New York next week to represent the White Sox. John Danks (6-4, 2.52 ERA) and Gavin Floyd (10-4, 3.22 ERA) have both proven to be All Star talent. Without these two young guns, the Sox would not be where they are at this point.But is this really a bad thing? I personally am not too upset about this. Yes it would be nice to have this great talent on the White Sox be recognized. But I would much rather have them be noticed in October than in July. Instead of heading to New York next week, the entire pitching staff will get a very nice rest. Pierzynski has played in 73 out of 88 games. Taking next week off can only be a good thing. So while the majority is upset about many White Sox players being snubbed from the All Star Game, let's look at the big picture and realize that our key players will be getting a nice break preparing themselves for the second half grind of this very long season.
posted by EJ # 2:34 PM 
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