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Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron leaps above the wall to catch a ball hit by San Francisco Giants' Nate Schierholtz during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Colorado Rockies Examiner wrote a post arguing for the inclusion of Brad Hawpe of the Colorado Rockies in the All-Star Game. Even though he is not among the top 15 vote-getters in the National League outfielder category.
The latest voting results update has three outfielders from the Dodgers, Phillies and Brewers in the top 15. To that, the Rockies Examiner tosses out this gem:
This list says something about the marketing folks of the Phillies and Brewers...and it also says something about the baseball IQ of their fans.
As a Brewers fan, I don’t need a marketing department to tell me to vote for my favorite players. Secondly, what does it say about my baseball IQ? I know Brad Hawpe is statistically the second-best NL outfielder. But here’s the rub — I don’t care.
Many states allow you to vote straight-party Republican or Democratic in elections. When I fill out the chad ballots at the ballpark, I almost always complete two, with one NL section as a a straight-ballot Brewers ticket.
Sometimes, even I can't bring myself to vote straight Brewers. For example, I will not defend Corey Hart. Rickie Weeks is out for the year, and I'd rather see Chase Utley start, because he's so dreamy and he uses the f-word.
That’s what many fans care about. Who is good-looking, and who hits homers and who is entertaining.
Then the Rockies Examiner has this to say:
The fans who are voting for them should be banned from all major league ballparks for one full year.
Maybe there’s something there. Maybe, Hawpe getting snubbed has less to do with Brewers fans' baseball IQ and more to do with their attendance. Or rather, the lack of attendance at Coors Field.
According to espn.com's attendance statistics, the Colorado fans have filled their stadium to 57 percent over the course of 32 games played there. Milwaukee fans, despite their lack of IQ, have filled Miller Park to 89 percent during 40 home games. If the Rockies played the same amount of home games as the Brewers with those averages, Coors Field attendance would still lag more than 350,000 behind Miller Park’s mark for teams with similar records.
Maybe those 350,000 people are the ones who weren't allowed in stadiums because they like players for their looks or personality — or the simple fact they play for their favorite team — and not their purely statistical appeal.
Here’s some baseball IQ: screw that guy. Brad Hawpe just some guy from a different team, which swept my team the last time it was in town. I'd rather vote for m'boy Mike Cameron. Did you see that catch he made the other night? A photo of it won espn.com's Freeze Frame on Wednesday night — was that due to the Brewers marketing department or fans linking each other to the contest and voting? Or was it due to him running full speed into the wall to rob a home run without needing to steal a glance at the wall? Mike Cameron does his homework.
Last year, Mike Cameron was suspended for 25 games for allegedly cheating. So was Manny Ramírez, for 50 games. Guess what? I'd rather see either of them start instead of Brad Hawpe. That guy sucks.
Comments
It was a good rebuttal until you fulfilled my original assertion that Brewers fans are baseball dumb.
Sure fan voting is how it works and voting for your players is OK...to an extent.
Saying Hawpe sucks is just stupid. Saying a guy with an OPS over 1.000 sucks is stupid.
When players are asked to make over the wall catches four times a game I am sure there will be a stat to track that. You also dont want to bring up defense if you think Braun is an All Star (I think he is, but he isnt much better defensively than Hawpe).
As long as home field advantage is on the line Brewers fans should care if they think they will be in the post season. Putting Cameron in over Hawpe lessons the NL chance to win. If Brewer fans were smart they would want the NL to win so if the Brewers to make the World Series they get 4 games at home, not 3.
If Brewer fans want a guy in the All Star who is batting .119 with RISP...fine by me, I dont have a choice.
John - you have zero credibility as a Brewers' fan and as a baseball fan.
Mike Cameron is a hack. Yes he plays great defense (sometimes), but his inability to hit with runners on makes him useless on a team of .250 hitters that constantly strikeout.
Cameron is hitting only .152 with RISP. He has just as many strikeouts as games played, had only 18 RBI during May and June and since the first few weeks of the season hasn't done much to help this team win.
On the other hand, Brad Hawpe is hitting .363 with RISP, has a slugging percentage more than 100 points higher than Cameron, has been very consistent and helps his team win. Now, I'm not sure if Hawpe has made any dazzling ESPN Freeze Frame catches or whatever it's called, but I'll trade Mike Cameron for Brad Hawpe any day. Hell, I'll trade Mike Cameron for a Joey Meyer future stars card and a Glenn Braggs foul ball.
Get a clue and then try again.
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