Francona announces All-Star starting lineup
by Randy Booth on Jul 14, 2008 12:31 PM EDT
in News
40 comments
Tito made his decisions, and this is what it looks like:
AL starting lineup:
1: Ichiro Suzuki, RF, Mariners
2: Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
3: Josh Hamilton, CF, Rangers
4: Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees
5: Manny Ramirez, LF, Red Sox
6: Milton Bradley, DH, Rangers
7: Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox
8: Joe Mauer, C, Twins
9: Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red SoxSP: Cliff Lee, Indians
I wonder how much crap Pedroia is giving Tito, or vice versa. I'm sure this is going to be a good joke in the clubhouse for awhile...
Here's the National League lineup, if you care at all about the NL:
NL starting lineup:
1: Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
2: Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
3: Lance Berkman, 1B, Astros
4: Albert Pujols, DH, Cardinals
5: Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
6: Matt Holliday, RF, Rockies
7: Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers
8: Kosuke Fukudome, CF, Cubs
9: Geovany Soto, C, CubsSP: Ben Sheets, Brewers
I'll take the first of the two lineups ... definitely.
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avoiding bias....
“i was going to do it alphabetically, but i didn’t want Youk to get mad at me. He scares me. So i ordered it by height instead.”
-Tito.
by jjbooth74 on Jul 14, 2008 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Alright.
Next time, could you make it clear that you wrote it? Just to save accuracy nuts like myself time searching Google news to confirm so.
by 0157H7 on Jul 14, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and it would save me from proclaiming my love for a middle aged bald guy.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Jul 14, 2008 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha, sorry...
although, it speaks volumes that two well-versed sox followers could believe that he did say it… so, perhaps the man-crush is validated after all?
by jjbooth74 on Jul 15, 2008 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tito is the funniest man in baseball.
I want him for an uncle. Is that so wrong? Well, no wronger than obsessing about Varitek’s “trunks”, I suppose.
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.
by britsoxfan on Jul 15, 2008 4:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why on Earth does Jeter bat 2nd?
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Jul 14, 2008 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
NL Outfield
Worst Defensive Outfield…...ever
by drabidea on Jul 14, 2008 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jeter bats second
because he always bats second. Ditto for Ichiro batting first and ARod batting 4th.
Jeter has earned the right to hit in his normal spot. 10 years from now we may say the same about Pedroia.
I wouldn’t knock the NL lineup too much. They are clearly stronger at the top two positions, Berkman is hitting much better than Hamilton (look at OPS), Pujols is as good a hitter as ARod (and having a much better season – look at OPS again), and Chipper is having a much better year than Manny. Holliday and Braun are weaker Bradley and Youk. I think only at the 8 spot does the AL have a clear advantage, but not by a lot. This year there are more hitters in the NL having very good years.
Ichiro’s .737 OPS and Jeter’s .740 OPS are particularly weak compared to Hanley’s .957 and Utley’s .955. All things considered, I’d take the NL lineup.
In terms of defense, I’d give the AL clear advantages at 1b and RF, the NL an advantage at SS, and have little opinion at the other positions.
by RickD on Jul 14, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
AL definitely has defensive advantage at DH....
Interleague or not, those NL guys just aren’t used to it ;)
by jjbooth74 on Jul 14, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Assesment
Agreed on most points. I don’t think anyone can criticize the NL lineup. I’ll just throw my 2 cents in and see if I can get a nickel out.
I think it is more argueable that ARod is as good a hitter as Pujols. Over the past 5 years Pujols has averaged 1.057 OPS while ARod has averaged .975. I think this year is the best shot that the NL has of beating the AL over the past 13 years, I am excited to watch.
In terms of defense, I wouldn’t give the NL much of an advantage at SS. I also give the AL an advantage at CF, Fukodome has played 6 games at CF all year. I would also give the NL an advantage at DH, Pujols is a gold glover :)
by drabidea on Jul 14, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Am I crazy?
I’d take Holliday and Braun in a lineup over Bradley and Youk in a heartbeat. Defensively, not so much.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Jul 15, 2008 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agree on Jeter & sentiment
He’s batting second becuase of past reputation and it’s in NY and Tito obviously afraid to make waves. Otherwise, a 1-2 lineup of Suzuki and Pedroia is better considering how the latter has been on a tear of late.
In the NL, I’m glad Pujols has a great hitter behind him for once. Maybe he’ll see some good pitches. He doesn’t see many during the season. Actually, I like that NL lineup better but would have more confidence in them with a different manager.
by ccthemovieman on Jul 14, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Unrelated but stunning still...
Check this out: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/07/braves-offered.html
It was posted this morning and it seems like Gammons wouldn’t report this if he wasn’t sure. The latest update is that the talks will continue. Does Theo not hear the YOUUUUUUUUUK every time he comes up to the plate? Trading him for a rental and losing a great prospect is bad business.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jul 14, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Never going to happen
They would never trade the cheap Youk for an expensive Texiera.
by drabidea on Jul 14, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Word
Teixeira would be great to replace Lowell or Manny. But not good to replace Youk.
It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
by MerryGoByeBye on Jul 14, 2008 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lowell...
has a clubhouse presence that shouldn’t be overlooked.
classy guy, but also white guy who grew up speaking spanish (parents were missionary’s in PR i believe). he’s perfect for bridging the gap between suburban white kids and the growing numbers of hispanic players.
granted, a big papi or kevin millar (did you guys get alook at those BRIGHT ORANGE shoe laces he had over the weekend? WOW) can accomplish the same thing… but there’s something to be said for lowell’s light-hearted professionalism.
by jjbooth74 on Jul 14, 2008 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm a big fan
I like everything Lowell does. We signed him to a 3-year deal, right? He’s certainly not killing us at 3B. In fact, he’s doing very well for my fantasy team.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Jul 15, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rabid Red Sox fan calling for peace with the Yankees
I am a rabid Red Sox fan who has appeared on Curse of the Bambino, Reverse the Curse of the Bambino and Spaceman – A Baseball Odyssey.
On my blog today I argued that even though I am a huge Sox fan and I hate hate HATE the Yankees that Red Sox fans and Yankee fans have too much in common and should not hate each other.
Curious to what my fellow Sox fans feel about the olive branch
by SullyBaseball on Jul 14, 2008 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You don’t have much of an argument. The rivalry is kept alive in part because the two teams are competing, especially in the areas they have in common. Disagree completely, and don’t see how this is relevant to the ASG.
I’d give a clear edge to the NL in terms of pitching and hitting. They’ve got Ben Sheets, Tim Lincecum, Johan Santana, and a bunch of other big names to throw at us. And the line ups.. Just look at them. The NL has got an even bigger edge there.
by Charger567 on Jul 14, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NL lineup as good or better to me.
Switch out Ichiro, Jeter and Pedroia for Sizemore, Young and Kinsler and the AL would be better.
Boomshakalaka
by jksnake99 on Jul 14, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that would hurt on defense...
...jeter may be bad, but michael young could possibly be worse.
kinsler is terrible. sizemore is good, but ichiro is better.
by jjbooth74 on Jul 14, 2008 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t worry, Grady will have MANY All-Star starts in the years to come…
by Randy Booth on Jul 14, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why would you take out Pedroia the Destroyah?
He is going to prove that he is the best second basemen in the bigs.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jul 15, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
Damn, and I never say the trade didn’t work out for us as both Beckett and Lowell are great, but damn did he turn out to be some player…especially compared to our current SS….
by sydneysox on Jul 14, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sully
The Hanley trade was one of those “help both teams” deals that is so rare.
Yeah it would be great to have Hanley… but having an ALCS MVP and a World Series MVP is pretty cool too
by SullyBaseball on Jul 14, 2008 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why Teixera?
Shouldn’t they be trying to sign a reliever?
by SullyBaseball on Jul 14, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it funny that his name in French means
“to win” but in the past tense?
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jul 15, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a day for baseball!
The feel-good story of the year in sports lost the HR derby even after breaking a record for most homers on the first part. And he lost to some totally unknown dude called ‘Jason Morneau’. What team does this guy play again? :)
It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
by MerryGoByeBye on Jul 15, 2008 1:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just once
I’d like to see someone lay down a bunt at the Home Run Derby, and speed down the first-base line.
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.
by britsoxfan on Jul 15, 2008 4:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The way that Hamilton was hitting them last night
a bunt would’ve cleared the short porch.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jul 15, 2008 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do they even have anyone covering the bases?
If not, Ells might be able to get a bunt home-run.
by 0157H7 on Jul 15, 2008 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was hoping Hamilton would do that in his second round
Since he didn’t need to hit any HRs anyway.
"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"
by Allen Chace on Jul 15, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
...or charge the 71-year-old throwing soft pitches
if one comes in too close to their face.
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.
by britsoxfan on Jul 15, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a reason
why Coco Crisp isn’t invited to the HR Derby.
by 0157H7 on Jul 15, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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