1981 All Star Ballot

[leecemark]

--Time to vote for the 1981 CKL All Stars. Please vote for first and second teamers at each position, votes will be counted at 5 points for 1st team and 3 points for 2nd. There will be a DH/wild card position. You may vote for a player who is primarily a DH there or the 3rd best from another position, whichever you think more worthy of making the team.
--Vote for 9 starting pitchers, with votes counted 9,8,7,etc. Vote for 3 releiver pitchers with votes counted 5,3,1.
--Balloting will be open through Sunday, August 26th at midnight EST.
--Attached are leaderboards expanded to top 25. This will be posted again when we actually get to the break for those who want to hold off til then to vote

[leecemark]

My preliminary ballot;
C: Gary Carter, Rich Gedman
1B: Eddie Murray, Kieth Hernandez
2B: Bobby Grich, Manny Trillo
3B: George Brett, Bill Madlock
SS: Rick Burleson, Davey Conception
LF: Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson
CF: Andre Dawson, Chet Lemon
RF: Dwight Evans, Jack Clark
DH: Don Baylor, Dusty Baker
SP: Bill Gullickson, Rick Langford, Rick Honeycutt, Bert Blyleven, Dennis Lamp, Jerry Ruess, Scott Sanderson, Phil Neikro, Fernando Valenzuala
RP: Goose Gossage, Dan Quisenberry, Gene Garber

[leecemark]

--A few guys who didn't make my preliminary ballot who deserve a longer look; Larry Gura, Jack Morris, Tony Bernazard, Bill Buckner and Ron Cey.

[Windy City Fan]

I'd throw Yount into the mix at SS. He's got a better OPS than Concepcion, and I think he leads all SS in HR, Runs, and RBI.

[leecemark]

--Conception's OPS is more OBP driven and he is played in 7 more games, but they are pretty close. Bill Almon is another SS to consider. LF is a very deep position with Pacorik a candidate in addition to Raines, Henderson, Baylor and Baker. Dawson has also played more games in LF, but I put him at CF on my prelim to get as many of the top players as possible on the ballot. RP Joe Sambito is another guy worthy of consideration.

[leecemark]

--We're at the break. You've got til Sunday night to get your ballots in. Updated, expanded leaderboatds attached.

[rmadachik]

Here are stats broken down by position - Minimum 35 games played at each position sorted by OPS

[rmadachik]

OUtfield and DH

[dust bunnies]

Here are stats broken down by position - Minimum 35 games played at each position sorted by OPS

Thank you.

[leecemark]

C
1) Gary Carter: arguably best hitter and fielder at the position. For sure nobody is close at both.
2) Johnny Bench: kind of a sentimental vote, as Bench has really struggled behind the plate. He has hit very well though and this is prob his last chance.
1B
1) Eddie Murray: easy choice and a leading MVP candidate
2) Keith Hernandez: glove gives him the edge over similar hitters Buckner and Cooper
2B
1) Bobby Grich: stint on the DL is only thing keeping him from MVP contention
2) Tony Bernazard: terrific all around first half
3B
1) George Brett: on MVP short list. Leading Skipjacks on another run at the postseason
2) Mike Schmidt: recovering from horrible start with the bat and by far best defensive 3B.
SS
1) Rick Burelson: easy choice
2) Davey Conception: almost a coin flip with Yount
LF
1) Rickey Henderson: ironically best at everything EXCEPT steals amoung LFers
2) Tim Raines: historic stolen base seasona nd pretty good all around
CF
1) Andre Dawson: big lead in HR and RBI
2) Chet Lemon: MVP candidate if Gold Sox having a better season
RF
1) Dwight Evans: best of a weak field
2) Jack Clark: one of few bright spots for Thunder fans
DH
1) Don Baylor: perhaps the seasons biggest overperformer
2) Dusty Baker: swinging big stick for Dust Bunnies
SP
1) Bill Gullickson: maybe a bit of a homer choice, but definately amoung the top few pitchers
2) Bert Blyleven: having best season of his career
3) Jerry Ruess: 13-2, #1 in IP and top 10 in ERA
4) Dennis Lamp: been worth the big price I paid to upgrade rotation
5) Rick Honeycutt: could have been #1 if not for DL stint
6) Scott Sanderson: top 10 in wins, ERA and IP
7) Fernando Valenzula: love the K's
8) Rick Langsford: Gamblers biggest winner is their 3rd SP on ballot
9) Larry Gura: #2 in IP and #10 IN ERA

RP
1) Goose Gossage: another great season
2) Dan Quisenberry: workhorse relief ace
3) Joe Sambito: saves down for last place G-Sox, but has been dominant

[scubadan]

I'll be away this weekend so I better post this now:

C: Gary Carter, Jim Sundberg
1B: Eddie Murray, Bill Buckner
2B: Bobby Grich, Tony Bernazard
3B: George Brett, Bill Madlock
SS: Rick Burleson, Bill Almon
LF: Andre Dawson (primary position he has played), Rickey Henderson
CF: Chet Lemon, Dave Winfield
RF: Dwight Evans, George Hendrick
DH: Don Baylor, Dusty Baker
SP: Bert Byleven, Jerry Reuss, Rick Langford, Bill Gullickson, Scott Sanderson, Dennis Leonard, Jack Morris, Larry Gura, Fernando Valenzuala
RP: Jim Sambito, Ron Davis, Rick Camp

[J W]

C: Gary Carter, Rich Gedman
1B: Eddie Murray, Cecil Cooper
2B: Bobby Grich, Tony Bernazard
3B: George Brett, Bill Madlock
SS: Rick Burleson, Bill Almon
LF: Andre Dawson, Tim Raines
CF: Chet Lemon, Dave Winfield
RF: Dwight Evans, Dusty Baker
DH: Don Baylor, Steve Kemp
SP: Bert Byleven, Jerry Reuss, Bill Gullickson, Dennis Lamp, Rick Honeycutt, Scott Sanderson, Fernando Valenzuela, Dennis Leonard, Larry Gura
RP: Goose Gossage, Ron Davis, Joe Sambito

[dust bunnies]

C: Gedman, Carter
1B: Murray, Cooper
2B: Grich, Bernazard
3B: Madlock, Brett
SS: Burleson, Almon
LF: Dawson, Baker
CF: Lemon, Griffey
RF: Evans, Hendrick
DH: Baylor, Kemp
SP: Blyleven, Honeycutt, Reuss, Valenzuela, Lamp, Gura, Righetti, Stieb, Leonard
RP: Gossage, Quisenberry, Comer

[buppers]

C: Gedman, Carter
1B: Baylor, Murray
2B: Grich, Bernazard
3B: Madlock, Cey
SS: Burleson, Almon
LF: Baker, Kemp
CF: DAWSON, Lemon
RF: Monday, Evans

DH: Paciorek, Zisk

SP: Honeycutt, Gullickson, Blyleven, Lamp, STIEB, Solomon, Reuss, Sanderson, Gura

RP: Gossage, GARBER, Quisenberry

[Windy City Fan]

C: Carter: Games played gives him the edge over Gedman.
Gedmen: Terrific season

1B: Murray: MVP candidate and easy choice
Hernadez: Glove gives him the edge over several similar candidates

2B: Grich: Another no brainer. MVP candidate despite DL stint.
Tony Bernazard: Easily the next best choice.

SS: Burleson: Another guy who should be unanimous.
Yount: Maybe a little bit of a homer vote, but has the second best OPS among SS and leads all SS in Run, RBI, and HR.

3B: Brett: Glove and extra playing time gives him the edge
Madlock: Best stick at the hot corner

LF: Raines: On pace to demolish the single season steal record!
Henderson: Another amazing leadoff man.

CF: Dawson: Leading MVP candidate for the Badgers
Lemon: Fine season wasted on a poor team.

RF: Dwight Evans: Best of a weak field
Jack Clark: Token Thunder representative


DH: Dusty Baker
Don Baylor

Pitchers: Gullickson: Top ERA and 10-2 mark
Honeycutt: Second in ERA
Blyleven: Among the leaders in everything.
Lamp: I just hope Boddicker pays off for the Tyrants down the road!
Steib: Top Badger pitcher
Langford: Win leader
Sanderson: Another guy on every leaderboard
Valenzuela: Strike out leader

Relievers: Gossage, Sambito, Garber