All-Star debate: Down to two
I've left the All-Star question up for awhile, ostensibly because I wanted to give everybody a chance to weigh in, but -- really -- you all know it's because I was dogging it on my Monday off, at least from a blog standpoint. I did spend part of the day chopping up some dead trees and managed not to cut one of my legs off with the chain saw, so it was a good day all around.
Back to the subject at hand. I've reviewed all of your posts on the subject and come to the conclusion that the posters here are split pretty evenly between George Sherrill and Adam Jones as the Oriole who will go to St. Louis for the All-Star Game if there is only one Baltimore representative.
When the question asks who should go, I think fans lean toward Jones, partly because of how his numbers project over a whole season and partly because some aren't totally sold on Sherrill's recent hot streak. There were even a couple of votes against Sherrill because some fans think last year's long All-Star appearance contributed to his second-half downturn.
Not a bad point, though his appearances have been spaced out better this year and he may be less vulnerable to overwork.
Associated Press photo






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Comments
Hey, Pete. Great CWS game last night, no? Got a chance to sit in the club level next to the press box at OPACY the other night and it got me to wondering-- who decides where everyone gets to sit? Do you have assinged seats at each park? Who gets the cherry seats right at the window? Curious minds want to know (well, at least this little brain). Thanks!
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Pete's reply: The window seats in the press box are on the broadcast level, so that's where Fred and Joe and everybody sits. The press box has seats assigned by news outlet, which explains why the Sun has the middle seats in the front row. The second row is for non-game broadasters and some print media. The third row is for guests generally. The far right side of the box, if you're looking at it from the stands, is where the visiting media sits.
Posted by: John Boy | June 23, 2009 12:31 PM
I'd like to see Jones make it in, but I think Sherrill will be the representative again just based on the outfield depth in league. Jones represents the future of the ballclub whereas Sherrill may not be with the ballclub past the trade deadline.
Posted by: MWC | June 23, 2009 12:39 PM
I'm rooting for Jones. We trade Bedard and get 2 All Stars in return.
Posted by: My Name Is Earl | June 23, 2009 12:40 PM
either way, Seattle is kicking themselves...here we are deciding if Jones and/or Sherrill are going to the All Star game
and all they have is Bedard...
love it
Posted by: ben | June 23, 2009 12:57 PM
Peter.
Maybe I'm oversimplifying it but I think it comes down to bubblegum vs. a straight-bill cap.
One question: Do you think the Oriole All-Star could increase his trade value just by showing up? Do you think it'd make it easier for an opposing GM to trade for him, and justify it to his fans, if that Oriole appeared in an All-Star game?
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Pete's reply: I think it's important from a PR standpoint, but wouldn't outweigh any performance comparisons.
Posted by: Basemonkey | June 23, 2009 12:59 PM
Pete - what about your other leg?
Posted by: jeff Chill | June 23, 2009 1:06 PM
Notice the team these two come from... ha. ha. What a MARVELOUS trade.
As for who should be making the trip this year... my vote goes from Adam. The guy deserves it. For him to be struggling a little as of late and still have an average of, what, .316ish? shows how phenomenally he has been playing most of the season. He's an amazing ballplayer who deserves to be in St. Louis.
Not to say Mr. Flat Brim hasn't been great for us. Since his job was threatened, he's stepped up his game and has been great. But I still think AJ should be the one heading to the All Star Game. And his going will allow the rest of baseball to really notice him, and he would then have a shot at being a regular.
Posted by: Janice | June 23, 2009 1:08 PM
Adam did have an adjustment period during parts of June, but of late, he hasn't been THAT bad. Our standards are just set so high based on how locked in he was in April. His HR run during that start of the season was remarkable considering what a dreadful place to drive balls Camden can be at the start of the year. Technically it hasn't really warmed up much yet.
Posted by: Basemonkey | June 23, 2009 1:26 PM
Only one candidate? Adam Jones. Sherrill got his chance last year. Adam, while slumping a bit of late, has shown that he is an all-star so far this season.
Posted by: ChuckfromPA | June 23, 2009 1:32 PM
I think it's a shame we have to concede that only 1 Oriole is going. The O's had the best hitting outfield in the league for the first 5 or so weeks of the season, yet none of them are getting enough votes to go to the AS game on their own merit.
Posted by: Steve | June 23, 2009 1:41 PM
adam jones will get the pick.
Posted by: pop fisher | June 23, 2009 1:44 PM
Hi Pete,
Have there ever been any conversations with Aubrey Huff's agent regarding keeping him an Oriole? It just seems like we're resigned to letting him go, and if we're supposed to be contending next year, I don't think Brandon Snyder would be ready to be the everyday first baseman that soon. I just hope Huff's not the one we come to really regret letting go......
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Pete's reply: I don't know if the subject of an extension has been broached yet.
Posted by: Dennis McMullen | June 23, 2009 1:45 PM
Pete - great job with your blog! But one question, IF you "moniter/approve" each submission, how come there are so many DOUBLE posts of same entrys??? Either Jones or Sherrill would be a good choice, both would be better and would be a done deal if Adam quit chasing bad pitches again!
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Pete's reply: Recently, we've been working on ways to get posts up faster, which has allowed some double posts and a handful of spam items before I could delete them. I do monitor all posts, but we're trying to find ways to fill the time gaps when I'm doing something else.
Posted by: shoreman | June 23, 2009 1:49 PM
Sadly, us Orioles' fans are sitting here again contemplating who the league HAS to take for the lone Birds' representative. Living in GA, I was finally able to see the Bords play the weekend before last. They had some really interesting AFLAC trivia questions during the three games. I am not sure if I remember them correctly, but I think one was for the last Orioles position player to be voted an All Star and the answer was Roberto Alomar. I think the other was something like who was the last Orioles outfielder to win a gold glove. The guys in the booth joked about it being John Lowenstein, Paul Blair, and others. How embarrassing!
I must say though, I enjoyed beating the Braves 2/3, and the rest of the week was fun too! I think things are really looking good for the future. BTW, don't get much information down here other than what I read on the computer from the Sunpapers. Is there any talk of moving Andino to 3rd base? I have really been impressed with his play. Mora has been a good Bird, but as my dad used to say in the 60's and 70's "I don't think we could even get two bats and a couple of balls" for taht guy in a trade.
Posted by: AugustaReb | June 23, 2009 1:56 PM
Some other posters were talking about how we got the best of Seattle in the Erik Bedard trade since they gave us our two All-Star candidates. With Bedard on the DL, and his contract year coming up, do you think we'd consider bringing him back? His trips to the DL definitely diminish his value to the point that MacPhail may be willing to sign him. And after all, he was grown down on our own farm.
Posted by: Michael | June 23, 2009 2:41 PM
Ah it is so freakin sticky in Milwaukee!!! And the pick will be B-Rob :-)
Posted by: O's fan in Milwaukee | June 23, 2009 2:42 PM
Between Jones and Sherrill, the guy who walks, talks, and looks like the prototypical All-Star, it's Adam "Bubblegum" Jones. Sherrill is a great player who performs with guts but he doesn't do it with sheer talent. With all due respect to Sherrill, he strikes me as a pick to fulfill the 1 per team rule. That is, in spite of deserving an All-Star appearance, he plays for a sub-.500 club and a reliever who can be stowed in the bullpen. Jones is a young rising star who, not only has potential to catch, throw, run, hit, and drive balls out, he's doing it. He just has an All-Star aura. Better than, say, Jason Bay.
Posted by: Basemonkey | June 23, 2009 2:48 PM
Jones all the way. Sherrill arguably isn't even a good closer.
Were you sitting in the Sinclair studio last night surfing the web at 2am?
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Pete's reply: No, haven't been in that building in about a year.
Posted by: beardy | June 23, 2009 4:58 PM
Adam Jones should absolutely be the pick in CF. Right now, however, Josh Hamilton is the leading vote getter there.
Forgetting the fact that he's only hitting .240 with six home runs, he's also only played in 35 games (less than half the season) and is still out with injury.
I know it's a topic that's been harped on a lot but the All Star game voting system is awful.
Posted by: Bobby | June 23, 2009 5:31 PM
Pete- Off topic here , but I am curious If O's have to notify city of Ft. Lauderdale by certain date this month if O's planning to return there or relocate for Spring Training 2010 ?
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Pete's reply: That was my understanding.
Posted by: Allan | June 23, 2009 5:42 PM
Adam Jones; only O's rep. Sorry Nick, but there are too many outfielders putting up just as good or better numbers. Hey Schmuck, regarding your column about possible trades before the deadline. Is it my imagination or haven't the O's played better in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline in the past few years only to fall apart after the deadline passed? I still see fifth place this season, next year brings .500; a step upwards to competing.
Posted by: Os fan | June 23, 2009 6:03 PM
Why Sherrill?? Jim Johnson should go.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 23, 2009 6:38 PM
Who cares?
None of them deserve it.
Posted by: Wm A Lee Clarke III | June 24, 2009 1:18 PM
"There were even a couple of votes against Sherrill because some fans think last year's long All-Star appearance contributed to his second-half downturn"
Pitching an extra inning ruined him for the second half of the year? That argument is utterly ridiculous. .
Posted by: JF | June 24, 2009 2:20 PM