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- 07/03/2012, 12:46PM ET
Who SHOULD win the NL final vote?
Outlaw... said 07/03, 12:46 PM
The choices are Chipper Jones, Michael Bourn, Bryce Harper, Aaron Hill and David Freese
The first two I will eliminate are Chipper and Bryce Harper. Chipper has had a decent year, very good for a 40 year old, but not an All Star worthy season IMO. The only reason he is a choice is because this is his farewell tour, but Chipper himself has said he wants to earn his way by merit, not as a going away present, and he's endorsed my choice. Really, Martin Prado should have been a choice before Chipper.
Harper has played well for a 19 year old, but again, not All Star worthy. He has a lot of hype, but his on field performance hasn't warranted an AS selection.
Freese and Hill have had very good seasons, and definitely deserve some consideration, but I have to be a bit of a homer and select Michael Bourn.
Bourn is a big reason why the Braves are still treading water in the NL East.
He's second in the NL in hits with 102 hits. He has a batting average of .304, and 23 stolen bases.
He's the best leadoff hitter in the NL IMO, and I think he deserved a spot without having to be voted in.
AXZ21 said 07/04, 08:00 AM
Well first of all, it appears as if Chipper will be going anyway as an injury replacement. He would have been my choice. That being said, I don't mind choosing one of the remaining 3.
My choice for the last spot is... Bryce Harper.
It's worth remembering that Harper hasn't played the entire season - called up 4/28. I don't see that as a reason to count him out, rather the stats he has put up in that time, along with the hype merit his All Star selection.
In about the past two months since being called up, Harper has recorded 8 HRs, 23 RBIs,, 8 SBs, and a .276 BA. Give him since the beginning of the season, I'd be willing to bet that he'd have about 15 HRs and 40 RBIs.
Aside form the stats, the HYPE validates his selection as well. By voting him into the ASG, the hype and interest around it would really grow. THAT makes his selection worth it as well. As much as some might like it to be, it's not ALL about stats.
Bourn is a nice player, don't get me wrong, but with his stats not really blowing away Harper, you have to vote for the guy that's going to make the game more fun to watch.
Outlaw... said 07/04, 02:58 PM
Bryce Harper is easily the least deserving of the candidates. He's had a good season, but not All Star worthy season.
Given the pace he's on now, had Harper played all games this season he'd have 11 home runs and 31 RBIs with a batting average bellow .280. Good numbers, great numbers for a 19 year old, but not All Star numbers.
You're saying the hype should get him in the All Star game. If the game truly were an exhibition, I might agree, but since this game determine home field advantage in the World Series, you can't just go for fan favorites, you have to pick the players that give you the best chance to win. Harper will make several All Star games in his career, but he shouldn't this season.
Bourn is on pace to have over 200 hits, around 45 stolen bases with a batting average of over .300. Bourn has more RBIs than Harper would be on pace for had he played every day hitting out of the leadoff spot.
Bourn has had a better season, he's better on defense. he's better with the bat, and he's better on the base paths.
Bourn is the best player to chose from.
AXZ21 said 07/04, 05:45 PM
My view on it, is that once the voting has gotten to this stage, maybe stats aren't most valuable to what the All Star Game is going to be.
Who will contribute more to the game and festivities?
You can argue that they would contribute just as equally through their performances to the game itself. However, Bryce Harper helps for the interest and hype of the game much more than Bourn does. By this point, both rosters are already stacked with the top players from each league. Maybe of more value now, is how each individual player can bring more to the game.
I believe that Harper brings that edge.
You mention that home-field advantage in the World Series makes this game important - and it does - but once you're down to the last player being chosen on each squad, the impact they will make on the game itself is lessened, as they definitely will not be starting, and will most likely only play an inning or few if the managers didn't see value enough to vote them in.
I agree with you that Bourn may have better stats than Harper at this time, but we vote in players not stats.
Nice Rice Bryce is my vote.
Outlaw... said 07/05, 12:07 PM
The interest and hype in the All Star game is fine as is. It doesn't matter how stacked the teams already are, the most deserving player should always be who gets voted in.
What does Harper bring to the table at this moment? He has average power, an average glove and an average batting average. he has decent speed, but he hasn't shown it much on the base paths.
What does Bourn bring to the table? One of the fastest players in the game, a great glove, great baserunning, a high batting average. There's a reason why Bourn has the most 3 hit games this season and has over 105 hits. As of this season Bourn is the better player and Harper shouldn't be rewarded simply because he is more hyped.
Harper is only 19. He will mature into one of the best players in the game. But you shouldn't vote on potential. You should vote on the performances of the current season, and if you honestly think Harper is more deserving of an all star selection than Michael Bourn this season, then you are either a blind Nationals homer or you don't follow baseball.
AXZ21 said 07/05, 04:12 PM
Where we are disagreeing on this subject is the purpose of this last slot. I believe the hype is more important at this juncture in the voting and you'd rather have a guy - who wasn't even good enough to make the original roster - to play 1 or 2 innings.
Look at it this way. You say Bourn has "a great glove, great baserunning, and a high batting average". The NL team and All Star Game already has all those things. Bryce on the other hand can bring the excitement of one of the game's young stars to Kauffman Stadium next week. He'd become the youngest player to play in an All Star Game since 1984.
It really is all in your opinion. Harper's stat line isn't MUCH worse than Bourn's, especially if he would've played the whole season. When you're down to this part of the voting, you gotta vote for who's bringing more to the game.
Case closed/
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Comments (27) Add A Comment
Again, I see enough Baseball IQ to not argue. Chipper is definitely a sentimental choice but his ticket to Cooperstown is punched already, no need to tarnish AS selection with emotions. IMO.
OlderthanDirt
Total Comments (2091)
Better than the Brewers and the Braves are 5-2 against the Dbacks.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39744)
I actually liked Ripken and Gwynn getting all star bids their final years. Cal was even the MVP of the game.
Bourn should have made the team instead of La Hair.
Mondo Jay
Total Comments (20012)
Ifn you're gonna talk about Zak Brown, I like Knee Deep w/Jimmy Buffett and Can't Ya See (cover of Marshall Tucker Band) with Kid Rock.
Back to baseball. I agree with Outlaw's call on Bourn but I can see public opinion getting in the way of a good selection and going with Harper.
Lightly Salted Nuts
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sorry for the up front ad.............
OlderthanDirt
Total Comments (2091)
so the ad does not play here, great.
OlderthanDirt
Total Comments (2091)
ZBB is the most popular Country band out there today. With them, I usually lie their songs when they first come out, but hate them after a couple of wees because the radio plays them every other song.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39744)
My favorite Zac Brown Band song.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39744)
*like
And they are from Dahlonega. The site of America's first gold rush and around 20 minutes from my house.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39744)
Nice TD outlaw, may the best argument win.....Bryce cough cough
AXZ21
Total Comments (37)
Right's arguments are a little inconsistent. First, Harper should get the nod for hype. Then, the impact of his lack of qualifications is explained away by saying he really isn't going to play much anyway. How do you hype a guy who isn't going to play? "Come watch Harper get an AB in garbage time"?
The game means something, so they should pick the best guy available. Voting left.
williewilliejuan
Total Comments (34981)
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