Ed Kranepool disappointed with David Wright's All-Star starting snub

[metrotheme]

http://www.examiner.com/article/ed-k...-starting-snub

"I think it is a disgrace that David Wright is not the starting third baseman for the National League," said Kranepool.

Kranepool talks more about the process, and his own selection in 1965. There is video with the article too where Kranepool talks about Rogers Hornsby and Gil Hodges.

[Paulypal]

As I stated in the Alderson thread -- the Giants ran some "promotion" more like a scam to drum up fan votes. Sandoval had 1.6 million more votes than Wright. Its absurd.

The fans get most of it right, but there is the instance that this crap happens. The Giants should be ashamed of themselves for running such a scam, and/or the Met fans need to vote more. Personally I dont think the fans should vote, or it should count for a lot less. Let the manager and the coaching staff of the ASG choose the team along with fan voting.

The fact that the game is run this way, and that it counts for home field in the WS makes it even more ridiculous. Any team in the NL with a playoff shot, and a chance to go to the WS would rather have Wright in over Sandoval. Hell - in a moment of honestly Sandoval would rather start Wright over himself if he was concerned about the Giants getting home field.


On another note - Sandoval made one of the dirtiest plays sliding into 2nd base last week.

[EasilyFound]

I start by saying that I believe it is ridiculous that the All-Star game counts for anything. Just ridiculous. That said, I could care less who starts or gets selected to be an All-Star. If I were a player, I rather have the three days off.

[Shea Knight]

As I stated in the Alderson thread -- the Giants ran some "promotion" more like a scam to drum up fan votes. Sandoval had 1.6 million more votes than Wright. Its absurd.

The fans get most of it right, but there is the instance that this crap happens. The Giants should be ashamed of themselves for running such a scam, and/or the Met fans need to vote more. Personally I dont think the fans should vote, or it should count for a lot less. Let the manager and the coaching staff of the ASG choose the team along with fan voting.

The fact that the game is run this way, and that it counts for home field in the WS makes it even more ridiculous. Any team in the NL with a playoff shot, and a chance to go to the WS would rather have Wright in over Sandoval. Hell - in a moment of honestly Sandoval would rather start Wright over himself if he was concerned about the Giants getting home field.


On another note - Sandoval made one of the dirtiest plays sliding into 2nd base last week.

I thought the SF fans just outvoted the NYM fans...how was it a scam?

Granted I of course agree David should be starting, but still...did the Giants themselves engage in any untoward or unsavory practices, or was it just a rabidly-homer fan base mindlessly punching Pablo's ticket (granted he should still have made the team anyway in my opinion, but in no universe does he start.)

[milladrive]

I start by saying that I believe it is ridiculous that the All-Star game counts for anything. Just ridiculous. That said, I could care less who starts or gets selected to be an All-Star. If I were a player, I rather have the three days off.

I'm with you, EF. I'm with you.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Today the Whitesox had posters behind homeplate which read "Take Jake" for Jake Peavy and a countdown timer on tv for fans to know how much time they had left to vote him in. I think thats going a little far to try and get a hometown guy in and personally i'm glad he didn't get voted in. I wish Chris Sale didn't make the team either.

I'd rather see Konerko get rested up too but I do wanna see Adam Dunn in the homerun derby just to see how many balls he misses but also to see how far he hits em too.

[Paulypal]

I start by saying that I believe it is ridiculous that the All-Star game counts for anything. Just ridiculous. That said, I could care less who starts or gets selected to be an All-Star. If I were a player, I rather have the three days off.

I disagree 1000%. The players want to be named an All Star - especially younger players. Some players blow it off but even those players want to be considered all stars.

I do agree that the fact it counts for anything is just plain stupid

[Paulypal]

I thought the SF fans just outvoted the NYM fans...how was it a scam?

Granted I of course agree David should be starting, but still...did the Giants themselves engage in any untoward or unsavory practices, or was it just a rabidly-homer fan base mindlessly punching Pablo's ticket (granted he should still have made the team anyway in my opinion, but in no universe does he start.)

I heard they had unlimited voting with 15 computers in a kiosk at the park. There was something else involved to entice fans to vote...I don't know what it was. Voting is one thing stuffing a ballot box is another. Personally it's whatever. If its that important to you.... Have at it.

[Strawman]

Clearly the system is very poorly designed.

But in the end, nobody cares that much about the All Star game. Yeah, it's nice to make the team - I'll agree with that.

[milladrive]

I heard they had unlimited voting with 15 computers in a kiosk at the park. There was something else involved to entice fans to vote...I don't know what it was. Voting is one thing stuffing a ballot box is another. Personally it's whatever. If its that important to you.... Have at it.

Didn't they once take the voting away from the fans for stuffing the ballot box from like 1957 to 1970? ...or something like that? Why don't they do that again? ...especially in this day'n'age of computer rigging. It's clearly gotten out of control again.

But, like I say, I really don't care one way or another. I just like justice is all.

[metrotheme]

In 1957, Reds fans stuffed the ballot and the commissioner overturned the votes. The fans couldn't vote until 1969.

Didn't they once take the voting away from the fans for stuffing the ballot box from like 1957 to 1970? ...or something like that? Why don't they do that again? ...especially in this day'n'age of computer rigging. It's clearly gotten out of control again.

But, like I say, I really don't care one way or another. I just like justice is all.

[theAmazingMet]

They shouldn't allow any computer voting. Ballots should be given out, one per fan at the gate before the game. If you don't go, sorry. If you don't have a team close by, sorry. Could ballot stuffing still occur? Perhaps, but this way would make it a helluva lot harder to pull off. Maybe MLB could supply ballots to MiLB teams so fans in more areas could vote. Clearly the current system stinks.

[Paulypal]

They shouldn't allow any computer voting. Ballots should be given out, one per fan at the gate before the game. If you don't go, sorry. If you don't have a team close by, sorry. Could ballot stuffing still occur? Perhaps, but this way would make it a helluva lot harder to pull off. Maybe MLB could supply ballots to MiLB teams so fans in more areas could vote. Clearly the current system stinks.

I cant wait for Selig to announce that this is the most votes cast in ASG history - with the underlying tone that he is responsible for it.

Personally the last time I was excited to see a Met in an ASG was 1979 when Mazzilli got in (and homered). I was 15. Since then - not so much. It really doesnt matter to me. I just hate to see (like Milla said) an injustice.

[Ralf]

There should be a movement of fans to select one awful player from any team and stuff the ballot boxes for him. That would be a true mockery of the system and it would have to be changed.

As someone else suggested, the fans should get a vote but the ultimate decision should be in the hands of the managers. No specific position voting anymore, just a random vote total for each player. Before the ASG, they can review the merits of the fans votes and make a judgement call on each player.