All-Star Rosters

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

OK there's no bigger Dodger Homer than me, and I am a HUGE Kershaw fan, but what the hell is he doing on an All-Star roster this year??? He's been OK since he's come back, but he's got what, 8 starts? Weird, you'd think he'd announced his retirement and this is a gift or something.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

OK there's no bigger Dodger Homer than me, and I am a HUGE Kershaw fan, but what the hell is he doing on an All-Star roster this year??? He's been OK since he's come back, but he's got what, 8 starts? Weird, you'd think he'd announced his retirement and this is a gift or something.

Is he expected to pitch after this season? I thought he had said it was his last. Even if it is, he still shouldn't be an All Star with 9 starts and 44 innings.

[jayshum]

Just read this:

"Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who made his first All-Star team in 2011, was named to his 11th National League All-Star team as a special commissioner's selection."

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Just read this:

"Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who made his first All-Star team in 2011, was named to his 11th National League All-Star team as a special commissioner's selection."

I hope he turns it down

[KJA]

Is he retiring at the end of the season? I thought that's what this was about when they did it with Pujols and Cabrera.

[BobbyStrawberry]

The ASG rosters are so ridiculously large that it makes the whole thing kind of a joke anyway IMO.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

The ASG rosters are so ridiculously large that it makes the whole thing kind of a joke anyway IMO.

The rosters are 32 per league which is 6 more than a team normally has. Since pitchers generally pitch 1 inning in the All Star Game (maybe 2 for the starters) these days and the elected starting position players only play about half the game, it seems like the extra players are needed.

While the All Star Game is not taken as seriously by the players as it was 40+ years ago, it's still the best All Star Game of the major sports. The NFL basically got rid of their game, the NBA game is a defense-free joke and the NHL switched to a 3 on 3 tournament format to renew interest.

[Snapolit1]

Giving people “honorary” spots only going to lead to problems. Claims of favoritism, favoring big market teams, etc. Not a good idea at all. Nothing against Kershaw who has always seemed to be a very good guy.

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Giving people “honorary” spots only going to lead to problems. Claims of favoritism, favoring big market teams, etc. Not a good idea at all. Nothing against Kershaw who has always seemed to be a very good guy.

Oh c'mon, it's an all-star game, an exhibition! No one cares if Clayton Kershaw gets invited. And there's a very long history of inviting "super veterans" if you will: Willie Mays, Johnny Bench, Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline, Yaz, Cal Ripken - the list is practically endless - were all named in their last year of playing just as a token of appreciation. This is nothing new.

The all-star game is not what it was, mainly because of inter-league play. There's no mystique anymore about which league is better and how they match up. I think it'd be fun to somehow have divisional all-star teams and match them up. I think the AL central guys would love to whip the AL East guys more than they care about beating the National League.

[Beercan collector]

With every sport when the All-Star game comes around I’m simply waiting impatiently for the regular season to start up again . When I was a kid I didn’t think anything was better than the NFL All-Star game (with all the Rams helmets out there) but now I think they should just cancel all of them

[packs]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Giving people “honorary” spots only going to lead to problems. Claims of favoritism, favoring big market teams, etc. Not a good idea at all. Nothing against Kershaw who has always seemed to be a very good guy.

You'd have to be against voting too then. Every year guys get voted onto the team by popular vote and not because they're playing well.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

The rosters are 32 per league which is 6 more than a team normally has. Since pitchers generally pitch 1 inning in the All Star Game (maybe 2 for the starters) these days and the elected starting position players only play about half the game, it seems like the extra players are needed.

While the All Star Game is not taken as seriously by the players as it was 40+ years ago, it's still the best All Star Game of the major sports. The NFL basically got rid of their game, the NBA game is a defense-free joke and the NHL switched to a 3 on 3 tournament format to renew interest.

Or the players could play more of the game and the rosters could be normal size. Even 26 players for one game is ridiculous. I agree with BeercanCollector, just cancel all the AS games at this point.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by packs

You'd have to be against voting too then. Every year guys get voted onto the team by popular vote and not because they're playing well.

Even Kershaw said it was weird. But if you think it’s ok that’s all that counts!!

[packs]

Do you think fans should vote on the All Stars?

[rats60]

Originally Posted by packs

You'd have to be against voting too then. Every year guys get voted onto the team by popular vote and not because they're playing well.

That has nothing to do with this. Here is the commissioner adding a player for no reason. Kershaw has not announced his retirement. In the past these legend picks have been all-time greats who are playing in their last season. Does Manfred pick Kershaw for the All-Star Game every year until he retires now?

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by packs

Do you think fans should vote on the All Stars?

Yes.

[D. Bergin]

Kershaws on a 1 year contract and just hit 3K K’s, and may possibly be the last one to do it for a very long time, depending on how Sale and Cole finish out their careers. Maybe they’re making an educated guess this is the end of the line for him.

[D. Bergin]

Duplicate post

[gonefishin]

Giving Clayton a free ride is ok with me, but what about Scherzer who has 3,405 Ks and Verlander who has 3,471 Ks.

Maybe because Max and Justin aren't retiring?

[packs]

Originally Posted by rats60

That has nothing to do with this. Here is the commissioner adding a player for no reason. Kershaw has not announced his retirement. In the past these legend picks have been all-time greats who are playing in their last season. Does Manfred pick Kershaw for the All-Star Game every year until he retires now?

His beef was with favoritism and players from large market teams getting the pick. That concern is no different than a concern you would have with fan voting.