Who will represent the Braves in the Mid Summer Classic??

[BraveFan]

Who do you think will be on the all-star team from the Braves?

[BraveFan]

Prediction:
Brian McCann
Jair Jurrjens
Javy Vazquez

Who it should be:
Brian McCann
Jair Jurrjens
Javy Vazquez
Rafael Soriano
Yunel Escobar (ya him, I can't think of any SS better than him besides Hanley in the NL, his reputation won't allow him to make it though)

[-Dr. Brave-]

McCann and Vazquez. I don't see Jurrjens making it. Soriano might have a better chance.

[Chris_Moderato]

Brian McCann.

[hoosjon]

GOTTA have Javy V in there ... so many strikeouts! Of course, Mac, but he should be starting over Molina (whichever Molina it is) ... stupid fans voting on the Internet.

I doubt we'll see any other Braves. Yunie or relief pitchers sound good to us as home-town fans, but there's a lot of talent out there for the coaches to choose. And so many people clamoring for them to choose this or that player.

[Lauren T.]

I think BMac will be the only one to make it, although I wish Soriano could make it as well. JJ and New Javy are all-stars in their own right, but I don't think Manuel will look past their records.

[BraveFan]

I don't see how perhaps the best pitching staff in the NL can go without at least one representative to the all-star game. I know it is unlikely but what if Hanson wins today and throughs more scoreless innings. That would put him at 5 and 0 with a really low era.

[Lauren T.]

I don't think anyone who's only played six games in the majors (by the deadline) should be sent to the all-star game.

[Dreamscape]

McCann and Vazquez. That's about all who should go. Jurrjens has a nice ERA, but he hasn't been as dominating as Haren, Lincecum, Johnny Cueto, Gallardo, Josh Johnson, and really, Zach Duke is a very deserving selection and as the only Pirate worthy of selecting, he'll be there.

Soriano has a good argument, but who does he knock out? If there is 13 pitchers and I've already named seven starts who should be there, that leaves six pitchers. Luckily, Matt Capps won't "have" to make the team because someone "has" to be the Pirates's representative and same thing with Brian Wilson. Obvious choices include Bell, Broxton, and Franklin. Ramon Troncoso should be there and Francisco Cordero has been great. The last spot could go to Soriano or they could play up saves and give it to a Francisco Rodriguez, Wilson, and/or Capps.

Escobar? It's a crappy position, but Tejada outshines Escobar here. After HanRam and Tejada, if you carry a third SS, nobody really stands out between Escobar, Tulowitzki, Christian Guzman, or Theriot.

McCann and Vazquez definitely should be there. Soriano has a good argument. That's about it.

[KB 34]

McCann is an easy selection seeing he's a good hitting catcher and there aren't many of them around. My guess is he's the only selection as the Braves starting pitchers have crummy records and the saves are divided between Gonzalez and Soriano.

[BraveFan]

all-star selection show at 1pm today on tbs

[Wahoo]

Not that I'm a big aficionado of the all-star game anymore, but if Yadier Molina getting voted started over Brian McCann isn't an example of blatant ignorance/homerism, then I sure as hell don't know what other evidence you need that fans are idiots, and shouldn't be voting.

[jamminHANES]

Poor display by Braves fans in getting out and voting for their player.

[Wahoo]

Perhaps many Braves are like me and others on this board, and having taken the defeatist stance that other fans are generally ignorant and will find a way to get inferior players in anyway.

[Hobbes]

I voted for the AS lineup, several times. But I wasn't about to sit down and vote 25 times each for multiple email addresses just to get my players in. Since anybody can do that I don't figure it matters much to be a regular fan doing a regular vote.

[KB 34]

Congrats to Brian McCann on being selected as a reserve. As I expected he's the only Braves player on the roster. Let's all cheer for a tie because that would be downright hilarious.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2009/roster_league.jsp

[luvdembravos]

For the most part, the 13 NL pitchers selected don't look too intimidating to me.

[Dreamscape]

KB, your version of hilarity is completely different from me.

[BraveFan]

Jair, Javy, Soriano deserved an all-star bid much more than Johan Santana who has been horrible lately.

[KB 34]

KB, your version of hilarity is completely different from me.
I enjoy watching Selig look really stupid and incompetent. Most people don't which is fine but I have my reasons which start with my money being stolen and end with my views on fair play when it comes to owning teams and such.

[IkeWagner]

Yes, congrats to Mac.

The trouble with this fan voting silliness is that it seems it would be very difficult to revoke without being perceived as anti-fan. I'm thinking we will be stuck with this for awhile.

One of my fantasies is being a popular MLB player having a down year and being selected to start in the AS game, and opting to not start so that the more deserving player (let's make him some guy who may never have a chance to go back) can start.

[Dreamscape]

Much like my idea of hilarity being very different from KB, my fantasies are very different from you, Ike.

[Hobbes]

I would be bothered much less by the absurd voting system of the All-Star game if the game didn't have a tangible impact on games that really do mean something. Remove the connection to the World Series and they can select every past-his-prime aging superstar they want (and overrated defensively-challenged shortstop as well).

[Dreamscape]

Well, they can remove that and the outdated notion that every team should be respented by a player. Then and only then can the "home field advantage" bit come into play.

[Lauren T.]

As just shown on the ESPN broadcast, the NL Home Run Derby reps are Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, and Ryan Howard. That's gonna be a good show. :D

[JanShan12]

The Home Run Derby is going to last forever. Those guys will hit homers all night!

[Dreamscape]

The Home Run Derby is going to last forever. Those guys will hit homers all night!
Am I the only person who finds the derby one of the most boring things in baseball? Add Chris Berman and it becomes insufferable.

Could be a nice drinking game, though.

[Wahoo]

Am I the only person who finds the derby one of the most boring things in baseball? Add Chris Berman and it becomes insufferable.

Could be a nice drinking game, though.

Seconded. I used to get up for it, but I can rarely watch it or the All-star game anymore. It would make a great drinking game though.

[JanShan12]

I don't get into it either. I watched last year's only because my brother had it on the tv and we caught Josh Hamilton's home runs. It just makes for a long night of meaningless baseball.

[Chris_Moderato]

I can have it on with the sound off. Chris Berman pretty much ruins anything he's involved with.

I think I actually like the derby more than the game.

[Lauren T.]

I think it's fun. Last year Berman only had half a "BACKBACKBACKBACK" until either his mic was silenced or someone cut him off -- we didn't hear another all night. That made it much more enjoyable.

[slowride]

Chris Berman ruins anything he touches.