Comments on: Strasburg is a(n) (All-)Star http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/ People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Sun, 20 May 2012 08:48:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2050 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:13:28 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2050 Btw, saw articles noting that this year's ASG received a very low viewership, and it was pointed out that the 1976 ASG was the highest-rated and most-watched. Left unsaid is what I believe to be the most likely reason for that: rookie pitching sensation, Mark Fydrich. But, no... no... definitely would've been a "bad" idea to put rookie pitching sensation, Stephen Strasburg, in this year's ASG. Right. Btw, saw articles noting that this year’s ASG received a very low viewership, and it was pointed out that the 1976 ASG was the highest-rated and most-watched. Left unsaid is what I believe to be the most likely reason for that: rookie pitching sensation, Mark Fydrich.

But, no… no… definitely would’ve been a “bad” idea to put rookie pitching sensation, Stephen Strasburg, in this year’s ASG. Right.

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2044 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:51:44 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2044 And the inconsistency (or utter hypocrisy) with which this event is run only serves to buttress my general point: Strasburg should've been there. The All-Star Game has integrity? What gave you that impression? Kevin Youkilis will end up top-5 in the MVP voting, yet he wasn't selected. Spare me the "integrity". And Youk's on my mind as a Red Sox fan, obviously. Annually there are *countless* examples of deserving players left off, and undeserving players going. If Strasburg is "undeserving", it's only cuz his team was too cheap to bring him up sooner (i.e. delay the arb clock). Why should that be held against him? He would've helped the NL more than most pitchers selected - I don't think that's in dispute. He was a far better candidate than the Nats rep, Matt Capp - I don't think that's in dispute. The fans would've loved to have seen him, even for only an inning - I don't think that's in dispute. Yes, I'm picking and choosing which "factors" to consider in asserting his All-Star status - and isn't that the point? Until/unless they actually come up with a consistent (and fair) means of establishing what an "All-Star" is... Stephen Strasburg wouldn't have even been *close* to the "most undeserving" All-Star this season, much less in history. He should've been selected. And the inconsistency (or utter hypocrisy) with which this event is run only serves to buttress my general point: Strasburg should’ve been there. The All-Star Game has integrity? What gave you that impression? Kevin Youkilis will end up top-5 in the MVP voting, yet he wasn’t selected. Spare me the “integrity”. And Youk’s on my mind as a Red Sox fan, obviously. Annually there are *countless* examples of deserving players left off, and undeserving players going.

If Strasburg is “undeserving”, it’s only cuz his team was too cheap to bring him up sooner (i.e. delay the arb clock). Why should that be held against him? He would’ve helped the NL more than most pitchers selected - I don’t think that’s in dispute. He was a far better candidate than the Nats rep, Matt Capp - I don’t think that’s in dispute. The fans would’ve loved to have seen him, even for only an inning - I don’t think that’s in dispute.

Yes, I’m picking and choosing which “factors” to consider in asserting his All-Star status - and isn’t that the point? Until/unless they actually come up with a consistent (and fair) means of establishing what an “All-Star” is… Stephen Strasburg wouldn’t have even been *close* to the “most undeserving” All-Star this season, much less in history.

He should’ve been selected.

]]> by: Gonzo http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2039 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:12:56 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2039 If they want to continue to make the game a farce, then he should be chosen. But if they want to keep the integrity of the game (such as it is), they should show respect to the position players who have played in 80+ games (or starting pitchers who have made 14+ starts, or relievers who have been played a good number of games; you get my point). A guy with 5 starts isn't an all-star. To your point, he probably will be. But not quite yet. As an aside - if they really want to "make it count", they should do away with the stupid rule of one player from each team. If the NL is truly trying to win the game, why should they have to have a fucking pirate on the team, over an otherwise worthy player from ATL, PHI, STL, etc? If they want to continue to make the game a farce, then he should be chosen. But if they want to keep the integrity of the game (such as it is), they should show respect to the position players who have played in 80+ games (or starting pitchers who have made 14+ starts, or relievers who have been played a good number of games; you get my point). A guy with 5 starts isn’t an all-star. To your point, he probably will be. But not quite yet.

As an aside - if they really want to “make it count”, they should do away with the stupid rule of one player from each team. If the NL is truly trying to win the game, why should they have to have a fucking pirate on the team, over an otherwise worthy player from ATL, PHI, STL, etc?

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2035 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:53:13 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2035 And... if the NL (and AL) truly want to field a team that can win the game, and thus gain them home-field advantage in the WS (which I personally detest, fwiw), then isn't Strasburg *far* more likely to help that effort than Capp? And… if the NL (and AL) truly want to field a team that can win the game, and thus gain them home-field advantage in the WS (which I personally detest, fwiw), then isn’t Strasburg *far* more likely to help that effort than Capp?

]]> by: Tank http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2027 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:45:42 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2027 That's a good point; I haven't actually bothered to look at the Nationals' roster, but its entirely possible that the biggest contribution they could make to an all-star team would be a bucket of balls. In which case, I wouldn't object to sending Strasburg in place of an at-least-equally undeserving warm body. That’s a good point; I haven’t actually bothered to look at the Nationals’ roster, but its entirely possible that the biggest contribution they could make to an all-star team would be a bucket of balls. In which case, I wouldn’t object to sending Strasburg in place of an at-least-equally undeserving warm body.

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2024 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:29:55 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2024 I understand that argument - I do. But, as expected (see above), the Nats closer, Matt Capp, was selected. In roughly the same amount of innings, Strasburg has out-performed Capp. I do stand by everything I initially wrote - but specifically, I'm saying that since we have the "every team has to be represented rule", Strasburg indeed earned that selection as the Nats representative. Can anyone tell me with a straight face that Matt Capp was more deserving of an All-Star selection than Strasburg? I'd truly love to hear that argument. Even if you insist that in a vacuum, Strasburg shouldn't go due to small sample size - then at the very least, outside the vacuum, I submit you must concede that he's a better choice than Matt Capp... right now. I understand that argument - I do. But, as expected (see above), the Nats closer, Matt Capp, was selected. In roughly the same amount of innings, Strasburg has out-performed Capp. I do stand by everything I initially wrote - but specifically, I’m saying that since we have the “every team has to be represented rule”, Strasburg indeed earned that selection as the Nats representative.

Can anyone tell me with a straight face that Matt Capp was more deserving of an All-Star selection than Strasburg? I’d truly love to hear that argument. Even if you insist that in a vacuum, Strasburg shouldn’t go due to small sample size - then at the very least, outside the vacuum, I submit you must concede that he’s a better choice than Matt Capp… right now.

]]> by: Tank http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2020 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:51:36 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/strasburg-is-an-all-star/#comment-2020 No, no , no. Strasburg gives every indication of being a future star. But to date, his career consist of one good month. His performance has undeniably been impressive, but the sample size remains too small to rate him an all-star. Let's see how he does on his second, third and fourth circuits through the league, after batters have had the same chance to dissect his performance as he has theirs. On paper, you's have to conclude that he'll fare well. But they don't play the game on paper, they play the game on grass. Or artificial turf. But mostly grass. No, no , no.

Strasburg gives every indication of being a future star. But to date, his career consist of one good month. His performance has undeniably been impressive, but the sample size remains too small to rate him an all-star. Let’s see how he does on his second, third and fourth circuits through the league, after batters have had the same chance to dissect his performance as he has theirs. On paper, you’s have to conclude that he’ll fare well. But they don’t play the game on paper, they play the game on grass. Or artificial turf. But mostly grass.

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