All Star selectors almost get it right

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July 6, 5:21 PM

by David Bush, S.F. Baseball Examiner

 

 

AL manager Terry Francona 

The convoluted process of selecting the rosters for the All-Star game is almost complete, and the teams chosen by the combination of election and managerial fiat is generally predictable and almost fair.  Injustices have been kept to a minimum.

The starters for the July 15 game in Yankee Stadium were voted by fans both via ballots distributed at ballparks and online. Naturally they are top-heavy with players from teams from with big attendance and enthusiastic followings. Four Boston Red Sox -- first baseman Kevin Youkilis, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, outfielder Manny Ramirez and designated hitter David Ortiz --  three Chicago Cubs -- rookie catcher Geovany Soto, outfielders Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano -- and two New York Yankees -- third baseman Alex Rodriguez and shortstop Derek Jeter -- were voted into the opening lineups.

Other than Ortiz who is on the disabled list, all are probably worthy candidates, although some might wonder if Soto is really deserving ahead of the Dodgers Russell Martin, the Braves Brian McCann, both named as reserves, or even the Giants Bengie Molina and brother Yadier of St. Louis, who finished out of the money in all the categories.

The pitchers and some of the reserves were chosen by votes of the players, managers and coaches, and each All-Star manager was given a handful of slots to fill. The remaining player from each league will be chosen by an internet fan vote from five candidates picked by the manager in consultation with (or under orders from) the commissioner’s office. The Giants Aaron Rowand is among the N.L. possibilities.

The reserves voted in again are all pretty much worthy, although the pick of Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth, who is having a good power year ahead of his teammate Xavier Nady, who is having a better average one, is surprising. And N.L. manager Clint Hurdle might have picked either of the Molina brothers, although Yadier is banged up, instead of McCann as the backup catcher.

Baseball has never quite defined what the criteria for All Star selection is, leaving it to the various constituencies to make their own value judgements. Is it based solely on what a player is doing the current year, or can it be a reward for a record built over the course of a career? Usually if a player is a no doubt about it Hall of Famer he receives a courtesy selection if he is having anything resembling a decent season. But Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Detroit’s Ivan Rodriguez will not be at Yankee Stadium.

Now Griffey’s batting average has consistently been in the .240 range all season, certainly not All Star caliber, and he has an un-Griffey like 11 home runs at the midway point. But he did surpass 600 home runs this year and managed a fourth place finish among NL outfielders in the fan voting. Those factors should at least give him a seat on the National League bench.

Rodriguez, still as good as there is defensively, is putting up good enough numbers to be vault ahead of the Red Sox Jason Varitek, undoubtedly a sentimental choice by American Leauge manger Terry Francona, who is also Varitek’s boss. Varitek, without whom the Red Sox do not win their two recent World Series titles, was hitting just .219 when Francona tabbed him on Sunday. But if Francona really is judging on past accomplishments he has to pick Rodriguez and not be influenced by the uniform.

Some have criticized the players’ selections to the American League pitching staff for having valued relief pitching over starting, with six closers and six starters as opposed to the N.L.’s four and eight respectively. But Francona will be grateful when he is managing the game, which is basically a series of cameo appearances from the mound. Relievers are much more effective than starters at getting ready quickly in mid-game and going all out for one inning.

Things will be interesting in Yankee Stadium.

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