This means two things to me.As you probably know, online voting for the 2006 All-Star Game ends this Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Updated vote counts were announced yesterday, and Ken Griffey Jr. is currently ranked fourth among NL outfielders. We need to move him up one spot for a starting position.
The Reds recently kicked off a campaign to encourage last-minute votes from the fans. I've attached our logo, which was used to create stickers and ballpark signage. Feel free to use it on your blogs if you want to encourage people to vote. Here's a direct link to the ballot: http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/events/all_star/y2006
/ballot_reg.jsp .
Number one, I need to plug Griffey Jr. and the rest of the Reds for consideration on this year's all-star ballot. So go vote!
Number two, someone in the Reds organization actually reads my blog -- or at least found it when looking around this morning. And that makes me happy. :)
Update: Stay tuned for Griffey's Better Know a Red feature sometime in the coming few days. Hopefully it'll help people remember what a special player he really is.
Update #2: Since we're talking about votes, here's my quick'n'dirty selections for the all-star game this year:
Granted, the Phillips and Griffey votes are pure loyalty votes. Phillips is deserving of consideration, but it's pretty hard to ignore what Dan Uggla (29.1 VORP, 0.366 OBP, 0.532 SLG) is doing this year if you're not a Reds fan. Griffey...well, this is more a salute to his career, and unfortunately results in a slap in the face to Jason Bay (29.7 VORP, 0.407 OBP, 0.562 SLG).Position
AL
NL
C
Mauer, Joe (38.2 VORP, 0.444 OBP, 0.524 SLG)
Ross, Dave (17.1 VORP, 0.397 OBP, 0.697 SLG)
1B
Hafner, Travis (45.6 VORP, 0.450 OBP, 0.625 SLG)
Pujols, Albert (40.3 VORP, 0.441 OBP, 0.732 SLG)
2B
Roberts, Brian (17.8 VORP, 0.376 OBP, 0.395 SLG)
Phillips, Brandon (20.7 VORP, 0.357 OBP, 0.461 SLG)
3B
Rodriguez, Alex (21.3 VORP, 0.393 OBP, 0.494 SLG)
Cabrera, Miguel (40.8 VORP, 0.447 OBP, 0.573 SLG)
SS
Tejada, Miguel (31.9 VORP, 0.366 OBP, 0.513 SLG)
Reyes, Jose (31.9 VORP, 0.361 OBP, 0.495 SLG)
OF
Wells, Vernon (40.2 VORP, 0.388 OBP, 0.622 SLG)
Beltran, Carlos (33.8 VORP, 0.395 OBP, 0.607 SLG)
OF
Sizemore, Grady (36.6 VORP, 0.375 OBP, 0.548 SLG)
Holliday, Matt (32.7 VORP, 0.395 OBP, 0.606 SLG)
OF
Suzuki, Ichiro (32.6 VORP, 0.409 OBP, 0.450 SLG)
Griffey Jr., Ken (8.7 VORP, 0.311 OBP, 0503 SLG)
But frankly, I think the Dave Ross vote is totally legit. The guy has been totally unreal, and there really aren't many other good options in the National League. Ok, sure, Brian McCann has a higher VORP (20.0), but he's also played a lot more and his percentage numbers (0.412 OBP, 0.519 SLG), while very good, aren't as fantastic--I mean, look at Dave Ross's slugging percentage! Even though Ross only has 117 plate appearances this season, he's SECOND in the league in VORP, just edging out Michael Barrett (17.0 VORP, 0.370 OBP, 0.508 SLG). So I'm writing him in, and I don't feel guilty about it.
Other comments -- Derek Jeter's offensive numbers justify his inclusion, but I gave my vote to Tejada because I think defense should matter. Brian Roberts barely made the cut over Mark Derosa for AL second basemen...mainly because I've never heard of Mark Derosa. :) But AL second basemen are an even weaker position than NL Catchers.
Well of course they read your blog, J. Where else are they going to get your caliber of sass and sarcasm? ;P
ReplyDeleteIf defense matters, why Hafner at first? Maybe Giambi instead? I'm not as familiar with the AL's current real 1b.
ReplyDeleteIt says a lot about Krivsky that the initial head-scratcher deals for Ross and Phillips have wound up with legitimate All-Star candidates. May all his moves play out so well.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations (belated, obviously) on the small person who's undoubtedly been stealing your sleep.
Hmm, thought I said "defense up the middle" but I guess I didn't work that into the sentence. :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have no clue about Hafner's defense, but I'm pretty certain that Jason Giambi is about as terrible as they come defensively. Both are primarily DH's, or at least should be. But on the corners, I will generally take a bat over a glove, though it's always nice to have both (e.g. Pujols)..
Oh, and thanks John! She's slowing me down a bit, but the Reds have been painful to watch lately anyway. I mean, come on, the Royals?? -j
ReplyDeleteBy voting for Beltran, you are pretty much negating the Griffey votes.
ReplyDeleteNo one who wants to see Griffey in there should vote for Bay, Beltran, or Soriano, even if they want to see two of them in there.
p.s. vote 25 times with every email address! you can make them up, too! and if anyone wants a gmail address, i have plenty of invites left!
ReplyDeleteI can't help but vote for Beltran--the guy's having an unbelievable season, both offensively and defensively. Voting for Griffey is worth doing, but I can't compromise my All-Star Game Voting Ideals further. :)
ReplyDeleteHere are the contenders as of Monday:
1. Jason Bay, Pirates - 1,706,105
2. Carlos Beltran, Mets - 1,537,849
3. Alfonso Soriano, Nationals - 1,484,845
4. Ken Griffey Jr., Reds - 1,366,906
5. Andruw Jones, Braves - 1,250,129
In all frankness, Griffey's performing the worst among those individuals. If he wasn't in contention, I wouldn't be voting for him. I'm surprised at how well Bay is doing. Must be some sort of Canadian Crusade...