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Time to Move Away From Fan Vote ASGs?

The mid- summer classic is one that almost any fan looks forward to each and every baseball season. The fans get to watch some players hit some absolute nukes in the home run derby and young and old players get to showcase their talent for the world to see. There is just one problem that I have come to see this year more than ever… Players getting in that should not. I know the all star game does not mean anything anymore as it did in past years but this year more than ever there have been a few guys that should have been in that did not get in… At age 22, Rafael Devers is having season to say the least. In 89 games this year he is batting .324 with 16 HRs and 62 driven in… Last year he had 21 HRs all year and drove in 66. Needless to say he is having a breakout year. Even with this he did not get in the ASG. Rather, Matt Chapman got in. Now Matt Chapman is an amazing defender without a doubt but he’s hitting .265 with 21 HRs and 52 RBIs. Personally I would love to see both these guys get in but that is not what this is about. Fans want to see offense and I do too but Devers deserves it more.

There are two players from the Tampa Bay Rays that should’ve got in over a player named Aaron Judge. Kevin Kiermaier and Tommy Pham. Both play on a small market team with not so amazing season stats but both have better stats than Aaron Judge. Judge, a superstar no doubt, made the all star game only playing in 33 games this season. Again, fans want offense, but if you don’t even qualify for league leader stats due to your lack of plate appearances then you should not be able to make the all star team. Pham said it best, “When you look at the NL, too, you see all the big-market teams dominating the voting. It’s never going to be fair. It has to change because when you go into arbitration, that’s a big thing that’s talked about with accomplishments. Baseball has to be better to fix it. We’re not getting any help either from ESPN. We haven’t had an ESPN game all year. That’s a way for fans to see us by putting us on one of those big-time games. But we continually never get put on, so all they see is the same players. The Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox—the same teams are always on there.” Tommy has a very valid point, cities like New York have a much larger market than Tampa and it shows when it is left to the fan bases to get their guys in. The fan vote needs to go.

Most VALUALE Player: What the MLB misses when it comes to the MVP

Jose Altuve, Bryce Harper, Barry Bonds, Clayton Kershaw, Kris Bryant, and Ken Griffey Jr. all share one historic honor. It has nothing to deal with the number of games they have won. Nothing to deal with injuries players have played through, and nothing to deal with what a player means to their team. Rather, they all have been named their league’s most valuable player.

Nothing against any of the players listed, but when you hear the phrase valuable, it does NOT mean best. There is no question that all of the players listed above were the best in their respective league. However, all of these players had a star studded lineup around them, on fantastic teams. What baseball measures is who is the best player (usually on the best team), rather than who is the most valuable to a team.

The dictionary definition of valuable is, “a thing of great worth.” A player with great worth to a team is not one who is always the best. For example, if the 2016 Chicago Cubs lost Kris Bryant, they still have other All Stars such as Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, Addison Russell, and Javier Baez. If Houston lost Altuve, they have numerous players to pick up the slack. A true valuable player is one that a team can NOT replace.

An irreplaceable player could mean they play numerous positions, could be a 5 tool player, or could be a locker room guy that is the glue that holds a team together. This brings players like Mike Trout, Marwin Gonzalez, Cody Bellinger, and David Eckstein to the forefront. Some of these guys have won MVP, but the majority of players like this are left out. Valueable is something that is tough to put a finger on, but it does not mean best. For example, Mike Trout is the best in the league, is a 5 tool player, a great leader, and has an extremly high WAR (Wins Above Replacement). That is a most VALUABLE player. Gonzalez can play almost every position, and is a great clubhouse player. Without him, the Twins are not nearly the team they are right now: Now that is an MVP.

I have no problem with rewarding the best player in the league. That is something that anyone would be honored to be called. The problem I have is the name. It seems small, but those role players and players who bring teams together with different skills are over looked far too often. The importance of a truly valuable player is much higher than those greatly talented players. MLB, get the name right, and honor those players who are truly VALUABLE.

Let Them Steal and Let Them Play: How the MLB Finally Got a Change Right

Recent drama in the baseball world has been focused on a possible rule change. Recently, Major League Baseball has been trying to make the game “more entertaining,” and in their most recent efforts, the MLB has proposed that player should be able to steal first-base. Initially, I heard this and thought it may be one of the most ridiculous ideas I have ever heard, however, as I have thought about it my stance has shifted a little bit.

Originally, I sat on the side most baseball fans are on. According to numerous tweets, and comments across social media, people are sick of “America’s game being changed.” This makes sense. Major League Baseball has toyed with inserting a pitch clock to speed up the game. The MLB has even been accused of changing the standards that are required to have a legal baseball (to allow more home runs). These changes a drastic and sometimes not needed, but the new idea of stealing first may be exactly what the game needs.

To steal first, a batter must have a ball be in the dirt or get by the catcher. If that happens at any point during an at bat, a hitter may attempt to go to first-base. In short, every pitch is like a 2 strike pitch when it comes to wild pitches and past balls, and this is excellent for the game of baseball. What will have to happen is pitchers and catchers will need to focus on execution and being excellent, not just good, in all situations. Lazy players are awful to watch, and defense is put in the rear view window too often in baseball. This rule will change that. Great defensive catchers like Tyler Flowers, Yadier Molina, and J.T. Realmuto will no longer be overlooked and underpaid. Rather they will become an even more vital piece to a successful team. Is baseball getting a little “change happy”? Yes, but some changes are good. And this change is starting to be used in the Atlantic League today, and will hopefully show up at a MLB field near you.

Chemistry between a Pitcher and Catcher will be put to the test with this rule

Marisnick Collision: Clean Slide or Re-Enactment of Edge’s Spear Takedown

Sunday night baseball, the last hope for fans clinging to the weekend before the beginning of the dread of a work week. In a late eighth inning attempt to score Astro’s outfielder Jake Marisnick had collided with Angels’ catcher Jonathon Lucroy. With review of the play at the plate it had appeared to be that Marisnick was avoiding contact by moving to the inside of the base path. Within the same time frame an inaccurate throw home cause Lucroy to adjust to the ball to make a play on the runner. Marisnick had began is head first slide toward home plate as Lucroy performed a military tactical slide as the two met. Considering the inability to control the human body in air and the near impossible fraction of time to react, Marisnick had appeared to purposely perform the act. While some are calling for Marisnick’s head on a platter, crying out for a suspension, I feel that no such action should be taken. Does it suck for Lucroy, who was transported to hospital for a CT scan and a fractured nose? Yes. Does it suck for Marisnick, who feels he caused injury to an undeserving player? Yes. It also sucks for Major League Baseball, who is forced to make a decision that will tip toe the line of player safety and correct ruling of the play. Personally I feel that this play fits within the ruling guideline and is more of situation of unfortunate timing and placement. I don’t agree with some fan opinions that its “old school baseball” and “that players now are babied by the league.” Collisions are scary for those witnessing and especially for players who are in the collision. Giants’ catcher Buster Posey was seriosuly injured after a collision eary in his career and arguably has not been the same player since. Later, Marisnick expalined his side of story on twitter. Hopefully Marisnick did not intentionally attempt to hurt Lucroy in his action of scoring, but all we have to do is trust his word for his intent.

To Introduce Myself

In my first attempt to blog my thoughts and personal opinions on matters in primarily baseball and other happenings in the sports world.

Coming from a life revolving around baseball and the lifestyle that is attached with it. Playing baseball constantly from the wee age of 4 until my last time playing at the collegiate level, I quite literally lived to play baseball.

Through this blog I plan on bringing opinions and other information to the public entity that is THE INTERNET.