With the All-Star Break looming, the festivities chatter has kicked up quite a bit. Thursday, we learned who the final two members of the All-Star team were, with Freddie Freeman of the Braves winning the National League Final Vote and Steve Delabar of the Toronto Blue Jays winning the for the American League.
I voted for Freeman over Puig for the simple fact that a player needs to play more than 5 weeks to be an All-Star, in my opinion. Puig has put up good numbers, I’m not saying he hasn’t, but he’s not deserving of the All-Star Game. Yet. If he had come up earlier in the year and was still playing hot, I would have said sure, but 5 weeks is not enough time. Player’s numbers change and even out over the course of the season, and nobody stays hot forever. New call ups tend to do a little bit better the first month or so because there isn’t enough scouting reports available. Once those get around, the numbers usually come back down to human level. Which we’ve seen with Puig’s increasing strike out numbers. Either way, I think Freddie Freeman is a great player and very deserving of the honor. At least somebody I voted for made the team!
One of my least favorite All-Star Game festivities is the Home Run Derby, which takes place tomorrow. I like home runs, but I’m not a fan of the derby. It has a history of screwing up the players that partake and actually do well. Watching Josh Hamilton at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008 was amazing though. This year, the Oakland A’s have a representative in the derby, Yoenis Cespedes. I’m sorry to all my fellow A’s fans, but I think this is horrible. I love Yo, but I have a very bad feeling about this. Aside from the fact that Cespedes has not hit a home run since June 21, three weeks ago, bringing his total to 15. The main reason I don’t want him to participate though is his swing. He has a very strong and slightly violent swing. He has a tendency to hurt his wrist and miss time because of said swing. Having him go up there and that’s exactly what he will be doing for a minimum of 10 swings is horrifying. I don’t want to see him get hurt in something that doesn’t mean anything for the team and could end up hurting us as we continue to make a push for the post-season. That’s right, it’s mid-season, I’m now allowed to say it. I would love to see him do well, and maybe watching the balls go out will help him when he rejoins the team after the break.
Exciting news today though, Athletics closer, Grant Balfour, is a proud member of the American League All-Star team!!!! I’m so excited and happy for him. He is truly deserving and I’m just bummed it took them this long to add him to the team. I can only hope he gets to actually play, I’m sure FOX will love the Aussie Swear Jar.
Out of Left Field 