National League wins!

[Todd4State]

I thought Manuel managed the game very well. Not having someone to pinch run for Ortiz really hurt the AL at the end of the game, as well as the inability to get A-Rod in the game because of other earlier substitutions.

I will say this in defense of Girardi- An All-Star game is probably the most diffiuclt thing to manage from a substitution standpoint. Kudos to Charlie Manuel- I thought he did a brilliant job of putting a lot of thought into the roster and how to utilize it. Very well done.

Brian McCann- the son of former MSU second baseman Howie- is my MVP for his three run double and for throwing a runner out, although that was more of a credit to poor baserunning and a great play by Brandon Philips.

Lots of Georgia guys- Wainwright, McCann, and Broxton- in the game. East Cobb should be proud.

 

[Todd4State]

I thought Manuel managed the game very well. Not having someone to pinch run for Ortiz really hurt the AL at the end of the game, as well as the inability to get A-Rod in the game because of other earlier substitutions.

I will say this in defense of Girardi- An All-Star game is probably the most diffiuclt thing to manage from a substitution standpoint. Kudos to Charlie Manuel- I thought he did a brilliant job of putting a lot of thought into the roster and how to utilize it. Very well done.

Brian McCann- the son of former MSU second baseman Howie- is my MVP for his three run double and for throwing a runner out, although that was more of a credit to poor baserunning and a great play by Brandon Philips.

Lots of Georgia guys- Wainwright, McCann, and Broxton- in the game. East Cobb should be proud.

 

[snoopdog]

in The World Series

 

[TexasHoopCoach]

congrats........

and the second since Dick Nixon reached second base with Pat.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

[No message]

 

[Todd4State]

I think they need another pitcher. A starter or reliever would help-it really doesn't matter. Either would be useful.

Getting Freese, Penny, and Ludwick back will help as well. I'm worried about Penny's back more than anything since it keeps flaring up.

Problem is, I don't think that the Cardinals have very many pieces to trade in the farm, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if they stand pat.

I do want to see Chris Dickson in the AAA All-Star Game to see how he looks, because he has some pretty good numbers in AAA.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

The rest of the lineup not named Holliday and Pujols has to get some hits.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

how long are you going to keep stuffing the ballot box for Yadi Molina? Can you really keep doing that in good conscience?

I'm just happy McCann got more than one AB this year. He made the most of it, and hopefully the Braves will too.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Give me a break.

 

[Todd4State]

how long are you going to keep stuffing the ballot box for Yadi Molina? Can you really keep doing that in good conscience?

I'm just happy McCann got more than one AB this year. He made the most of it, and hopefully the Braves will too.

But I actually voted for Pudge Rodriguez.

 

[Todd4State]

I think Girardi is a great manager. I don't think he managed that game very well. He had no substiutes at the end of the game. If the game had gone to extra innings, he had one pitcher left. It would have been very nice for the AL to have a guy that could pinch run for Big Papi- who got thrown out by Marlon Byrd at second on a ball that fell in for what looked like a bloop single before it was turned into a 9-6 force out. A faster runner would have probably gotten to second giving the AL first and second with one out. On top of that, he used up all of his catchers and was forced to go with John Buck, instead of A-Rod, who didn't even get into the game.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Despite what you think, this is an exhibition game. If he didn't play everyone, they'd be bitching. I just don't see how one comes to the conclusion that he did bad. His objective was to play everyone.

 

[DowntownDawg]

....offensively has been Schumaker and Ryan. They both hit last year and not this year. Skip is starting to come around and is up to .255, but he is facing lefties consistently for the first time in his career and it's showing. Ryan is horrible (.194 horrible), and has probably lost his job to Tyler Greene at least until Freese gets back.

Got to get Freese back, get Skip to keep hitting, and get Molina to hit, and either count on Penny or get a middle of the rotation type arm. I have to think the Reds will fade some. I really don't think we have to worry about the Cubs and the Brewers look to be out of it too.

 

[patdog]

for the All-Star game they should just waive the rule that says you can't re-enter the game. Because if you don't play everyone, you're going to piss a lot of people off. But if you do, you run a big risk of running out of pitchers (or position players) late in a game, especially if it goes to extra innings.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

He had always struggled with lefties and did great against right handers until this year. It flipped. He has been awful against righties. It makes no sense but strangely it has happened. Ryan has been terrible this year after a breakout last season. Too bad he is out of options to Memphis because thats where he needs to go work on his hitting.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

[No message]

 

[jacksdawgs]

Anybody who doesn't see that either knows nothing about baseball or just doesn't watch baseball, Molina shuts down the oppositions running game unlike anybody since Bench.

 

[boomboommsu]

and McCann couldn't block my grandmother off the plate..... (course she's 6'3", 250).....Break Down!

but McCann's hitting USUALLY makes him the better catcher. saying Molina's defense makes him better is like saying Tim Hudson's hitting makes him a better 'overall' pitcher than anyone else in baseball this year.

 

[DowntownDawg]

.273 against lefties and .252 against righties. Still, only 44 AB's against lefties. I was thinking he was getting more than that. He hit over .300 in each of the last 3 years. Time to get out of this slump.

 

[JimC1097]

Yea, he did a bad job.

 

[Todd4State]

Despite what you think, this is an exhibition game. If he didn't play everyone, they'd be bitching. I just don't see how one comes to the conclusion that he did bad. His objective was to play everyone.

I don't see anyone bitching about not playing today.

It is an exhibition- that's why I vote the way I do. But there's also something at stake, and that's homefield advantage in the World Series. There is something tangible to play for.

I don't buy that it was Girardi's objective to play everyone. If that was his objective, why save A-Rod?

Also, if I was a Yankees fan, I would be very pissed off at Giradi if his objective was to play everyone since they are a likely playoff team with a great shot at the World Series. He probably had more at stake in the outcome in the game than many of the other managers.

 

[Todd4State]

would be a great tandem because they have opposite strengths and weaknesses.

Molina- 5-10 home run guy, not a great hitter but is very good in the clutch, and is a plus defender with a great arm that is very accurate.

McCann- Lots of power for a catcher and a very good hitter. But is an average defensive catcher.

Speed is a luxury item when talking about catchers. Both are excellent.

If Molina could hit like McCann, he would be a Hall of Fame catcher. As it is, he is a very good player.

 

[Todd4State]

for the All-Star game they should just waive the rule that says you can't re-enter the game. Because if you don't play everyone, you're going to piss a lot of people off. But if you do, you run a big risk of running out of pitchers (or position players) late in a game, especially if it goes to extra innings.

has to do with the pitchers. In the All-Star Game, a pitcher is going to go all out because he knows that he is only going to pitch 1-2 innings at the most. Say a guy pitches in the sixth, and then he is replaced. That pitcher is going to assume that he is done and is going to shower, ice, etc. whatever their routine is. On top of that, if a manger puts in a pitcher after they have been sitting for a while, that is going to run that pitcher at a higher than normal risk for injury. It's the same principle as a long rain delay.

MLB is not going to approve a situation where you have pitchers going all out, then get shut down for potentially an hour or more, and then have to go back into the game.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

I have no problem with Molina really, and no one can argue his defensive skills. I also realize this is a classic sports argument that doesn't really have a "right" answer. But it's the All Star Game, for crying out loud, and Molina is batting .223. Apparently you're only watching half of each game yourself.

McCann sucks at throwing out runners and Molina is a badass. Given. Look at the other All Star catchers, while you're at it. VMart is throwing out 19% of runners this year. John Buck? 24%. Joe Mauer? 25%. Brian McCann ... 29%.

I always love the "anybody who doesn't agree with me doesn't watch _____." One of my all-time faves, thanks for that.

 

[KurtRambis4]

see anyone bitching about not playing because EVERYONE played. However, if he would have not played 4-5 guys to save them for later in the game (and they ended up not getting in) that's exactly what would happen. It has before. It would have again. The reason A-Rod didn't play wasbecause he's banged up and not 100% and Joe wanted to rest him. Don't sit there and tell me what you'd feel like as a Yankees fan. Get that **** out of here. You know what you'd feel like as a Yankees fan? Being the best franchise with the greatest fans and most storied history in all of baseball. I'm sure Joe wanted to win, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. If he doesn't think his team can win without HFA, then he doesn't need to be managing. I don't understand why you have such an angst against Joe?

 

[missouridawg]

Molina is far superior defensively.

McCann is far superior offensively normally (not so much this year).

Both deserved a spot and both played.... </p>

 

[Todd4State]

Just because a manager has a bad day doesn't mean he's a bad manager. I actually think he's a good manager.

You're not being rational at all. Your letting your Yankee homerism get the best of you. No, not everyone played. You even said in your post that A-Rod didn't play.

And what about the NL guys that didn't play? They're not bitching either.

I'm not a Yankee fan, but I am a fan of the Cardinals. I know that when something happens that hurts the Cardinals, then I know that I'm pretty upset about it. Being a Yankee fan doesn't get you to some stage of Eutopia any more than being an Astros fan.

Also, I've said nothing about thinking you need HFA to win the World Series, but there is no question that it is an advantage, and there's also no question that Girardi would want that if it would potentially help his team.

 

[KurtRambis4]

the point entirely. Also, you talking about homerism is rich. You said that Joe screwed up by playing everyone. I said he didn't screw up, because if he hadn't played everyone people would be bitching about him not. It's happened before and would've again (use your baseball knowledge tool, google). I realize that he didn't use Alex. The reason he didn't is because he's not 100%. Joe obviously thought it was in the Yankees best interest to rest him. So essentially, he played everyone that was available (in his mind). That, to me, shows he was treating this as an exhibition. Furthermore, I don't think you can really question his managing at this point in his career. Everyone questioned his rotation in the playoffs and we see how that worked out. I'll give him a little more credit than some "message board baseball guru." Also, I'm sure as a cardinal fan you really worry about homefield advantage. Me, as a Yankee fan, don't really care. I expect to win, regardless.