Catcher Brian McCann the only Braves player to make the NL All-Star team

by gondeee on Jul 5, 2009 2:09 PM EDT Comment 34 comments

The NL All-Star starters and reserves were announced today, and the only Braves player to make the team was catcher Brian McCann. This is McCann's fourth straight All-Star appearance. He was beaten out for the starting job by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (St. Louis is hosting the All-Star game, so there may be some ballot stuffing going on).

There were several other candidates on the Braves to make the All-Star team, including Chipper Jones, Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, and Rafael Soriano. Chipper was likely skipped over as a reserve in lieu of Ryan Zimmerman, who is the sole representative for the Nationals.

As for our deserving starting pitchers, Vazquez and Jurrjens, their chances were likely hurt by their lack of a winning record (due to the Braves lack of run-scoring for them), despite their good peripheral numbers.

We'll have to see if any of those guys are put on the second chance ballot.

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Its really too bad Javy didn’t make the team. He’s been incredible and got NO run support.

Im actually kinda glad Chipper didn’t go. That’s 3 days of rest for a guy who hasnt played 130+ games in 3 years. We’ll need him if we’re gonna make a run.

2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP.

by mvhsbball on Jul 5, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1 on the chipper thing

at this point in his career and with his health I’d just rather see him resting for a while

by was385 on Jul 5, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Charlie Manuel is attempting to insure the fact that the NL will lose yet again. He takes as many backup 1B as he does OF…when 2 of the starting OF probably won’t play. Real slick.

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by bigjoe on Jul 5, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What a sham

Manuel just didn’t want any Braves on the team…this is almost as bad as the year that Torre picked 9 Yankees.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jul 5, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No

These are oversights…you realize players get snubbed every season, in every sport, right?

Charlie Manuel is not boycotting Braves. That’s ridiculous. And it’s nowhere near Torre’s year, when he pretty much admitted he was trying to get as many of his guys in that season. Philly has 3 players in, two of which are starters. He picked Howard. Oh, the injustice.

by hoboken_wood on Jul 5, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I realize players get snubbed every year. But you cannot tell me that we don’t deserve at least one starting pitcher.

I never said that Manuel is loading the team with Phillies. I said the selections are a sham and almost as bad as the year Torre picked all Yankees. In other words, Manuel’s selections are just as bad – whether or not they are Phillies doesn’t matter.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jul 5, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WTF!!!!!!!

Jason Marquis AHEAD of Vaz?? Oh thats so much bullshit. They had Hawpe as a reserve so its not like he was the only Rockie representative. I dont know do players or coaches or the manager or WHOEVER voted Marquis ahead of Vaz but those people or person needs to have their damn heads checked.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

This was my thought exactly re: Hawpe/Marquis. If Hawpe’s already on the roster, Marquis being there doesn’t make sense when you look at either JJ or Javy’s season.

But players and the manager select the roster. I’m not sure which party had a hand in the Colorado contingent.

Another issue is that neither is included in the fan voting. Is there a particular reason that no pitchers are on either of those lists? Does that last vote always go to a hitter?

by hoboken_wood on Jul 5, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jason Marquis does have 11 wins on one of the hottest teams in baseball tho…

2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP.

by mvhsbball on Jul 5, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sure…I never said anything about Marquis though. Javy has been second only to Lincecum this season. Whether it is Marquis or any other pitcher, none deserve it more than Javy.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

but every other statistical category favors both of our guys, and in Javy’s case, Marquis doesn’t even sniff his jock. But (and I mentioned this later in the thread), if a few more wins puts him in over Javy or JJ, then the reason falls directly on our offense. The position players should know that, and I hope they feel a little guilty about it.

Maybe he doesn’t even want to go, but the recognition would be nice.

by hoboken_wood on Jul 6, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Enough of the All star league that wins has home field advantage. IF YOU DONT HAVE THE BEST PLAYERS STARTING AND BEIN ON THAT TEAM THEN NO REASON FOR THE DAMN THING TO COUNT. Keep it an exhibition like it was meant to be.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s my main gripe with the whole thing. Who cares who gets picked if it doesn’t mean anything? However, if it’s going to decide something as important as home field advantage in the WS, then try to get the players who are playing best. Duh.

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Jul 6, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Javy Vazquez may be the 2nd best starting pitcher in the NL this season and has a solid track record of success. That’s a legitimate snub right there. As for Chipper, he’s having a down season really, something that doesn’t get much coverage, while Zimmerman has been equal to Wright this season. I don’t see this as a big snub. Soriano has a gripe when Ryan Franklin is on the roster.

by 17843 on Jul 5, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

im actually fine with Franklin on it, he is haven a fantastic season. Im just really pissed about Marquis ahead of Vaz. That is the most BS that i have seen in awhile. I dont know if Manuel did that or like coaches and players picked that but whatever it was that was absurd and ridiculous. What is Marquis doin better as in stats? Maybe W/L record? But that doesn’t mean crap. I just absolutely do not understand this at all. Selig or somebody has to step in, cause this is flat out ridiculous.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So your beef is in the selection process rather than who is actually selected? I’d be very surprised if Marquis wasn’t a player selection; naturally you can’t expect players to know anything of a pitcher besides his W/L record and ERA. Marquis looks good in both those regards despite pretty poor peripherals (4 K/9, 3 BB/9, low BABIP).

Franklin is posting a 0.84 ERA on the back of a ridiculously high strand rate (99.2% of runners stranded on base) and a crazy low BABIP (.212 while allowing a 21% LD and 45% GB rate). Those aren’t indicative of anything but luck. He’s been a decent enough reliever (7 K/9, 2 BB/9, 3.10 FIP), but Soriano has been the second best reliever in the NL this year and has thrown more innings, struck out 11 per nine, and posted a 2.03 FIP without ridiculous luck.

by 17843 on Jul 5, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never said Soriano didn’t deserve to be there, all i said is im fine with Franklin bein there. Luck or not he is haven a very good season so he does deserve to be there, so does Soriano though. You know, Marquis prolly was a player and coaching selection instead of Manuel, im not sure though. And yes his W/L record and ERA looks nice, he is haven a much better season than i thought he would but Vaz ERA is better, same with K/BB ratio and WHIP and other categories. You dont select a player cause of his stupid W/L record that is irrelevent. That is like the last stat for a pitcher you look at when evaluating them. But you know if the players and coaches cant do better than this then you know maybe there should be a different selection process cause that is flat out absurd what happened with Vaz. Marquis does NOT deserve to play in that game over Vaz. It doesn’t matter if Vaz gets on the final fan voting ballot for the last player on the team and then makes the team doesn’t matter. The fact that Vaz is originally off the roster in favor of Marquis is absurd and somethin needs to be done over it.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And what is there to "DO" about it?

The process WAS changed to include players’ votes and create some equitability. Now that’s not good enough?

Bud’s grubby hands have touched and tweaked enough over the last several years. Bottom line is, Marquis has had a decent year—fine enough to sneak onto the roster over someone (or two) that may have deserved it more. Good for him. Javy can thank the likes of Kelly Johnson and Frenchy for not being there, if W-L record was the difference.

by hoboken_wood on Jul 5, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Change who votes for one. The quality of judgement for picking the best of anything typically goes analysts>management>fans>participants. Choosing MLB all-stars cuts out all of the first group and much of the second (front office). If I had to reform all-star voting, I’d maintain the fan vote as the game is primarily entertainment, but I’d leave the rest of the selections up to the front offices of each team. Managers are apt to reward “their guys” and players are apt to use non-performance criteria or poor measures of performance (W/L instead of FIP,etc.).

I don’t particularly care about who is selected as an all-star; sure I’d love to see Chipper, Soriano, and Vazquez as all-stars, but I’m happy Soriano and Chipper will get a nice break.

by 17843 on Jul 5, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah i mean your right im fine with Soriano and Chipper gettin a break too, they will need it if we wanna try to get somewhere thie year. Its prolly best Vaz gets rest as well. I guess what it comes down to is if they are gonna make decisions like this then Selig might as well just make the All Star game what it used to be and that is an exhibition game then.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jurrjens and Vaz are scheduled to pitch Saturday and Sunday, so they probably wouldn’t have been available for the ASG anyways. That may have affected the decisions not to include either of those two.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jul 5, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That never cost a player a spot before. The player would get selected and then might would turn down the invitation and they would have to pick someone else UNLESS about a week before they would talk to that player or that team and see. But i dont believe Manuel talked to Cox or Vaz so whatever.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess what I’m saying is, I’m not that hurt about our pitchers not making. It would have been nice for them to get recognized for strong first halves but it didn’t happen, and it’s not like I actually wanted those guys pitching in the ASG anyways.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jul 5, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand what your sayin, its prolly best this way but for me its the principle of the whole thing that bothers me about this.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its not like the fans voted for other Starters that weren’t worthy and then they had to try to get others in there and have some snubs. Its not the same with hitters, sometimes that happens with that and i can understand that. The fans did NOT vote at all on the pitchers and STILL a snub like Vaz happened for Jason freakin Marquis. That is ridiculous and that is why i am pissed about it. There is just absolutely NO way Marquis deserved to be there over Vaz, now if he was the ONLY Rockie Representative then fine but he was not. That is the whole principle of it.

braves#1

by rockybull on Jul 5, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My gripe

Not only were Vazquez, Jurrjens, and Soriano left off, they didn’t even make it on the Final Vote ballot.

Also, really would love it if someone could explain Miguel Tejada’s presence on this team. I mean, thank God we didn’t have Jimmy Rollins on this team, but come on.

And i can understand Johan Santana’s presence on the team, but if we were just looking at this year’s performance, there’s much more deserving candidates.

by Bronn on Jul 5, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tejada’s the second best shortstop in the NL per WAR. It’s a weak crop, but there it is.

by 17843 on Jul 5, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I can see that now about Tejada. But still, he’s a pretty weak defensive option, and his numbers taken in isolation are good but not spectacular. If only Escobar hadn’t had his various injury problems (both affecting his playing time and performance) he could have been a shoo-in. So maybe I can live with Tejada.

But I’ve still got a legitimate gripe about our three pitchers. If you go in for VORP for pitchers (which is a flawed stat, but still pretty decent), we’ve got the 6th and 9th best starters in the NL, and the best relief pitcher, and none of them are on the team or on the Final Vote ballot. On a team that’s carrying 8 starters and 5 relievers, that’s way too much to be overlooked.

by Bronn on Jul 5, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on both points.

If I were Manuel I’d be tempted to play Zimmerman there if Sandoval gets voted in.

by 17843 on Jul 5, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s crap, but it’s more rest for the team.

by l0stnumber on Jul 5, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Outrageous!!!!!

No Frenchy on the NL squad???? There should be an investigation !

by mikie baseball on Jul 5, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm happy for BMac

IMO he deserved to be the starter, but at least he’s going.

Until the Braves crawl above .500 and stay there for more than a game or two our players no matter how good they are will never get the press and coverage other players do and in general the fans (except those who really follow the game closely) will remain unaware of their talents and thus not enough votes.

I think making “it count” is one of the most asinine moves MLB has ever done. It should have remained an exhibition game for the fans as it was intended.

"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich

by NCChopper on Jul 6, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs