DISCUSSION OF THE WEEK: MLB ALL STAR GAME/IN GAME THREAD

[HOVA]

So we have decided to try something new out at the slant.  We are going to have a new thread/topic each week that will be deemed the "discussion of the week."  We got a good conversation going with the Lebron thread so we figured to try and keep it going.  It will also be a good holdover till football season and the in game threads.  The main goal, however, is to get people more involved with the site.  There is no bashing and there is a lot of fun to go around, so don't be shy when it comes to getting involved and posting in these threads.   We have the best forum around by a long shot in my eyes, and nothing but stand up guys here at TIS, so participating in things like this is just one way to find out more about everyone here and what we are all about.  

This week's topic will be the MLB All Star Game.  You can post whatever you want about the game, the week, etc.  Snubbed players, over rated players, does the game matter, basicallly anything you think will spark a good conversation or even just something you want to vent about it.

Since we are now talking about baseball during baseball season this will hopefully make Oscar happy.  

But I don't think thats possible.  

Just busting balls.  

Have fun everyone.      

[Lloyd]

I am glad to see Joey Votto got voted in by the fans...

Thought it was a mistake that he was left off in the first place...   can't really see any one disagreeing with me..



Good idea Hova...


I swear to god... I will drive to Chicago and slap you if you start a topic over soccer or tennis...

[Spanks11]

I've always been more interested in the Home Run Derby.  2008 Josh Hamilton putting on a show was great. I remember having Justin Morneau that year to win it all and it cashed. I actually followed Oscar on that one. 

2006 was my first year betting on Derby's and I remember having David Wright and he just got beat out by Ryan Howard in the finals.   

Will be watching this year 

[Lloyd]

[Lloyd]

Red Sox

[Lloyd]

[HOVA]

I am glad to see Joey Votto got voted in by the fans...

Thought it was a mistake that he was left off in the first place...   can't really see any one disagreeing with me..



Good idea Hova...


I swear to god... I will drive to Chicago and slap you if you start a topic over soccer or tennis...

I'm glad he got in too. 

I actually believe that he should be starting over Pujols at first.  So to have him relegated to the fan vote in was terrible. 

Also, does the public not know any other NL catchers to vote for?  Yadier Molina shouldn't even be considered for an All-Star game.
And don't worry there is NO tennis or soccer threads coming in the future.  Save your gas money

[Oscarxena]

I am glad to see Joey Votto got voted in by the fans...

Thought it was a mistake that he was left off in the first place...   can't really see any one disagreeing with me..



Good idea Hova...


I swear to god... I will drive to Chicago and slap you if you start a topic over soccer or tennis...

So Lloyd, who do you think is going to win today's World Cup matchup? Also, do you think Andy Roddick has any chance at nearly 20-1 to win the US Open this year? Inquiring minds want to know your opinion, waiting in earnest! By the way, Joey Votto didn't get enough votes, so he should not be in the All Star game, if the fans wanted him in there, they should have voted for him.

 

[Oscarxena]

So we have decided to try something new out at the slant.  We are going to have a new thread/topic each week that will be deemed the "discussion of the week."  We got a good conversation going with the Lebron thread so we figured to try and keep it going.  It will also be a good holdover till football season and the in game threads.  The main goal, however, is to get people more involved with the site.  There is no bashing and there is a lot of fun to go around, so don't be shy when it comes to getting involved and posting in these threads.   We have the best forum around by a long shot in my eyes, and nothing but stand up guys here at TIS, so participating in things like this is just one way to find out more about everyone here and what we are all about.  

This week's topic will be the MLB All Star Game.  You can post whatever you want about the game, the week, etc.  Snubbed players, over rated players, does the game matter, basicallly anything you think will spark a good conversation or even just something you want to vent about it.

Since we are now talking about baseball during baseball season this will hopefully make Oscar happy.  

But I don't think thats possible.  

Just busting balls.  

Have fun everyone.      

Since I am on about a 1-21 run in the bases I don't want to talk about it anymore, pick another topic!  

[TheGame]

Since most people don't have the balls to say it....
The fans voting is bullshit !

The fans for the most part treat this like a popularity contest.
Lost in this. Is voting for the players having an all star type season.

The way they have voting set up online is dumb.
You can vote up to 25 times.
Seems like the teams were better when you had to punch the ballot at your local ballpark

The voting should either be done at the stadiums only.
Or even better split the votes between the fans, GM and Managers.

But the manager of the teams don't always get it right.
Spin it however you want. But Infante is not an all star.

[Oscarxena]

Since most people don't have the balls to say it....
The fans voting is bullshit !

The fans for the most part treat this like a popularity contest.
Lost in this. Is voting for the players having an all star type season.

The way they have voting set up online is dumb.
You can vote up to 25 times.
Seems like the teams were better when you had to punch the ballot at your local ballpark

The voting should either be done at the stadiums only.
Or even better split the votes between the fans, GM and Managers.

But the manager of the teams don't always get it right.
Spin it however you want. But Infante is not an all star.

I agree with what you say 100% Gamer, that is what my point is on the Votto thing. I'm not saying he doesn't belong, obviously he does and in fact I was so disgusted with it that I voted for him about 30 times in the Fan Ballot, not really a drop in the bucket but I wanted to do my part. I also voted for Konerko as I thought he should have been in as well. The problem though with the fan ballot is that they are able to start voting I believe about 1 or 2 weeks into the season, so what happens is the most popular players such as Pujols, Howard, Jeter and whoever else you want to name start accumulating votes even before the really hot voting starts. It is sort of like a high school popularity contest, the most posular kid gets elected to everything while the other kids have to stand second fiddle. But we are standing on a slippery slope here as if we take the voting away from the fans, will anyone care to go to the All Star game? I say expand the rosters, have players vote for their starting team, compare it to what the fans came up with and then add whoever is having a great year but obviously to a point. I'm not sure what the proper answer is but when fans are voting on it, there will always be problems.

 

[TheGame]

I think if you allowed fan voting only at games, plenty of people would still go.
They could still hold the final 2 spots voting online

I like the idea about the starting line ups.
Last week I sent Hova a quote from Jim Leyland talking about that. Here it is...

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, on the All-Star selection process:
It's not a good system, if you want to know the truth. But you get run out of baseball when you say that. I'll be getting booed everywhere I go. In reality, they're making a big deal about the game meaning something now and that the starters should play at least five or six innings. Well, I managed a couple All-Star games where guys I had sitting on the bench were better than the guy that started. So, to me they can throw that theory totally out the window.

Baseball wants the game to mean something. But at the same time they are not putting out the best line up.
The All Star game is what it is. An Exhibition game !
Pretty much all of the All Star games are like that.
There is so much exposure now for these players. It's no longer special seeing them all in one place.

Will I watch it ?
Right now I would say yes. Since there will be nothing else on sports wise that I care about.
Unless ESPN U shows a complete college game replay that....
Either I was too drunk to remember watching it 
Or somehow I missed the game. But highly doubt that one.

[HOVA]

Since most people don't have the balls to say it....
The fans voting is bullshit !

The fans for the most part treat this like a popularity contest.
Lost in this. Is voting for the players having an all star type season.

The way they have voting set up online is dumb.
You can vote up to 25 times.
Seems like the teams were better when you had to punch the ballot at your local ballpark

The voting should either be done at the stadiums only.
Or even better split the votes between the fans, GM and Managers.

But the manager of the teams don't always get it right.
Spin it however you want. But Infante is not an all star.

Dammit you took the words right out of my mouth.

There is no doubt the biggest problem is the fan voting.  They need to figure out some sort of better system.  Maybe 50% fan vote 50% GM and managers.

I think the NFL system for the Pro Bowl is something similar, and that seems to work fine. Even with guys declining the invite (after a long tough season I think they earn that right to rest.)  Why not just do what the NFL does? And I'm not implying the game should be moved to the end of the year. 

[HOVA]

HOME RUN DERBY ODDS

David Ortiz      +250
Miguel Cabrera   +250
Nick Swisher   +500
Corey Hart      +500
Matt Holliday   +500
Vernon Wells   +650
Chris Young      +800
Hanley Ramirez   +800


   

[Oscarxena]

HOME RUN DERBY ODDS

David Ortiz      +250
Miguel Cabrera   +250
Nick Swisher   +500
Corey Hart      +500
Matt Holliday   +500
Vernon Wells   +650
Chris Young      +800
Hanley Ramirez   +800


   

All right handed batters except for Ortiz, I am not sure of the dimensions at Angel Stadium but from what I see it is equal in both parts of the park. This might be a good shot to catch an underdog here, so I will look into these players and see if I can find something worthwhile to bet.

 

[HOVA]

HOME RUN DERBY ODDS

David Ortiz      +250
Miguel Cabrera   +250
Nick Swisher   +500
Corey Hart      +500
Matt Holliday   +500
Vernon Wells   +650
Chris Young      +800
Hanley Ramirez   +800


   

All right handed batters except for Ortiz, I am not sure of the dimensions at Angel Stadium but from what I see it is equal in both parts of the park. This might be a good shot to catch an underdog here, so I will look into these players and see if I can find something worthwhile to bet.

 

Swisher is a switch hitter, so I don't know which side he is going to be hitting from. 

[heart222]

so dosent the a.l. win most of the last ten times?If so why are they only -120 what am i missing. regards heart222

[Lloyd]

HOME RUN DERBY ODDS

David Ortiz      +250
Miguel Cabrera   +250
Nick Swisher   +500
Corey Hart      +500
Matt Holliday   +500
Vernon Wells   +650
Chris Young      +800
Hanley Ramirez   +800


   

All right handed batters except for Ortiz, I am not sure of the dimensions at Angel Stadium but from what I see it is equal in both parts of the park. This might be a good shot to catch an underdog here, so I will look into these players and see if I can find something worthwhile to bet.

 

Swisher is a switch hitter, so I don't know which side he is going to be hitting from. 

King of like Swisher and Hanley Ramirez

[HOVA]

Sorry Game,

But for the White Sox sake, I hope that Miguel Cabrera wins it.

It seems like every year, whoever ends up winning or doing well in the is thing, has a bad second half of the season.

I think that this contest really screws up players swings.   

[Oscarxena]

Sorry Game,

But for the White Sox sake, I hope that Miguel Cabrera wins it.

It seems like every year, whoever ends up winning or doing well in the is thing, has a bad second half of the season.

I think that this contest really screws up players swings.   

Hey, I got Cabrera in my fantasy league, I am ruling the league. Don't wish ill on me will ya!

[HOVA]

Sorry Game,

But for the White Sox sake, I hope that Miguel Cabrera wins it.

It seems like every year, whoever ends up winning or doing well in the is thing, has a bad second half of the season.

I think that this contest really screws up players swings.   

Hey, I got Cabrera in my fantasy league, I am ruling the league. Don't wish ill on me will ya!

WELL.........IN THAT CASE.........

[TheGame]

Sorry Game,

But for the White Sox sake, I hope that Miguel Cabrera wins it.

It seems like every year, whoever ends up winning or doing well in the is thing, has a bad second half of the season.

I think that this contest really screws up players swings.   

Chris Young is your champ.
His swing has more holes than OJ Simpsons alibi.
his swing is perfect for this

Now for your Sox.
Please save this thread.
They will not win the Central. When Leyland retires. Ozzie will take over.
Tigers will trade for Haren and Drew from Zona

Mark it down !

[HOVA]

ALL STAR GAME

07/13/10   545   NATIONALLEAGUE     +110      +1.5 (-180)      Over 8.5 (-115)   
20:30 ET   546   AMERICANLEAGUE     -120      -1.5 (+160)      Under 8.5 (-105)   



SORRY OSCAR, I DIDN'T SEE A 5 INNING LINE YET. 

[HOVA]

Ubaldo Jimenez has been named the National League's starter for Tuesday's All-Star Game.

David Price will start Tuesday's All-Star Game for the American League.

[HOVA]

AL Starting Lineup

Ichiro Suzuki RF
Derek Jeter SS
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Josh Hamilton CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Evan Longoria 3B
Joe Mauer C
Robinson Cano 2B
Carl Crawford LF

NL Starting Lineup

Hanley Ramirez SS
Martin Prado 2B
Albert Pujols 1B
Ryan Howard DH
David Wright 3B
Ryan Braun LF
Andre Ethier CF
Corey Hart RF
Yadier Molina C