Chris Rock inspired a post about the All Star Team

In the DVD extras for The Tenth Inning, Chris Rock talked about “Affirmative Action Home Runs.” He was referring to the level of play in baseball before integration and how major league baseball’s all white competition lowered the level of the game. He asked us to imagine the All Star Game with no black players and no Latino players.



“David Wright would be the best player in baseball.”



The staff here at Sully Baseball had made this point a few years ago when I posted about “Jackie Robinson and today’s talent pool” and lamented the lost opportunity for great moments with “A Dream Team in honor of Dr. King.”



Beyond the social injustice of segregation, history was denied great baseball!



I thought about what Chris said about the All Star team and it got my obsessive compulsive list making fires burning.



What would the current American League and National League All Star Teams look like if baseball were still segregated?



And what would an All Star roster look like if it consisted SOLELY of players who would not have been allowed to play.



And remember segregation would have kept Latin players out as well as Asians.



So I created 4 All Star Rosters…

An American League and a National League made up of only white players.



And an American League and National League team using players who would have been shut out.



Using All Star Rules, each team is represented in the rosters (it was tough finding a Cleveland or Arizona All Star of ANY race!)



So let’s take a look at the alternate universes and see the segregated All Stars

All White American League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – JOE MAUER, Twins











Starting First Baseman - MARK TEIXEIRA, Yankees











Starting Second Baseman – DUSTIN PEDROIA, Red Sox











Starting Shortstop – REID BRIGNAC, Rays











Starting Third Baseman - EVAN LONGORIA, Rays











Starting Left Fielder – LUKE SCOTT, Orioles











Starting Center Fielder - JOSH HAMILTON, Rangers











Starting Right Fielder – NICK SWISHER, Yankees











Starting Pitcher – JON LESTER, Red Sox













ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



DAVID AARDSMA, Mariners ANDREW BAILEY, Athletics CLAY BUCHHOLZ, Red Sox TREVOR CAHILL, Athletics ZACK GREINKE, Royals CLIFF LEE, Rangers JONATHAN PAPELBON, Red Sox MITCH TALBOT, Indians JUSTIN VERLANDER, Tigers JERED WEAVER, Angels





Reserve Players



JOHN BUCK, Blue Jays MICHAEL CUDDYER, Twins MARK ELLIS, Athletics J. J. HARDY, Twins PAUL KONERKO, White Sox NICK MARKAKIS, Orioles JUSTIN MORNEAU, Twins KEVIN YOUKILIS, Red Sox MICHAEL YOUNG, Rangers

Minority American League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – VICTOR MARTINEZ, Red Sox











Starting First Baseman - MIGUEL CABRERA, Tigers











Starting Second Baseman – ROBINSON CANO, Yankees











Starting Shortstop – DEREK JETER, Yankees











Starting Third Baseman – ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Yankees











Starting Left Fielder – CARL CRAWFORD, Rays











Starting Center Fielder – TORII HUNTER, Angels











Starting Right Fielder – ICHIRO SUZUKI, Mariners











Starting Pitcher – FELIX HERNANDEZ, Mariners











ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



FAUSTO CARMONA, Indians NEFTALI FELIZ, Rangers GIO GONZALEZ, Athletics FRANCISCO LIRIANO, Twins DAVID PRICE, Rays MARIANO RIVERA, Yankees C. C. SABATHIA, Yankees ERVIN SANTANA, Angels JOAKIM SORIA, Royals RAFAEL SORIANO, Rays



RESERVE PLAYERS



ELVIS ANDRUS, Rangers JOSE BAUTISTA, Blue Jays ADRIAN BELTRE, Red Sox ORLANDO HUDSON, Twins ADAM JONES, Orioles JORGE POSADA, Yankees ALEXI RAMIREZ, White Sox VERNON WELLS, Blue Jays DELMON YOUNG, Twins

All White National League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – BRIAN McCANN, Braves











Starting First Baseman – JOEY VOTTO, Reds











Starting Second Baseman – CHASE UTLEY, Phillies











Starting Shortstop – TROY TULOWITZKI, Rockies











Starting Third Baseman – DAVID WRIGHT, Mets











Starting Left Fielder – MATT HOLLIDAY, Cardinals











Starting Center Fielder – COLBY RASMUS, Cardinals











Starting Right Fielder – HUNTER PENCE, Astros











Starting Pitcher – ROY HALLADAY, Phillies











ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



TIM LINCECUM, Giants ADAM WAINWRIGHT, Cardinals CHRIS CARPENTER, Cardinals JOSH JOHNSON, Marlins TIM HUDSON, Braves MAT LATOS, Padres EVAN MEEK, Pirates BRIAN WILSON, Giants HEATH BELL, Padres BRAD LIDGE, Phillies





RESERVE PLAYERS



COREY HART, Brewers BUSTER POSEY, Giants AUBREY HUFF, Giants DAN UGGLA, Marlins STEPHEN DREW, Diamondbacks RYAN ZIMMERMAN, Nationals RYAN BRAUN, Brewers JAYSON WERTH, Phillies ADAM DUNN, Nationals

Minority National League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – CARLOS RUIZ, Phillies











Starting First Baseman – ALBERT PUJOLS, Cardinals











Starting Second Baseman – BRANDON PHILLIPS, Reds











Starting Shortstop – HANLEY RAMIREZ, Marlins











Starting Third Baseman – PLACIDO POLANCO, Phillies











Starting Left Fielder – MARLON BYRD, Cubs











Starting Center Fielder – MICHAEL BOURN, Astros











Starting Right Fielder – CARLOS GONZALEZ, Rockies











Starting Pitcher – UBALDO JIMENEZ, Rockies











ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



FRANCISCO CORDERO, Reds YOVANI GALLARDO, Brewers JAIME GARCIA, Cardinals LIVAN HERNANDEZ, Nationals HONG-CHIH KUO, Dodgers CARLOS MARMOL, Cubs RICKY NOLASCO, Marlins JONATHAN SANCHEZ, Giants JOHAN SANTANA, Mets



RESERVE PLAYERS



PEDRO ALVAREZ, Pirates ANDRE ETHIER, Dodgers PRINCE FIELDER, Brewers ADRIAN GONZALEZ, Padres JASON HEYWARD, Braves RYAN HOWARD, Phillies OMAR INFANTE, Braves YADIER MOLINA, Cardinals JOSE REYES, Mets JUSTIN UPTON, Diamondbacks









Of the four rosters, I would have to say the Minority American League Roster is the best… 3 legit Cy Young candidates, power from both sides of the plate and a defensive outfield of Crawford, Hunter and Ichiro which would cut down doubles against any team.



Each team has its strengths and weaknesses, but one thing is certain:



Baseball is better with these 4 rosters combined into 2… and I am NOT talking about the Whites of both leagues versus the Minorities.



Once again, we can give thanks to Jackie Robinson, Monte Irvin, Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe for paving the way… lament that Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, Oscar Charleston and Cool Papa Bell never had their shot… and be happy that we don’t have to wonder what it would be like to see Joe Mauer face Mariano Rivera.



I’m sure Chris Rock would agree.

5 Reasons Why I Am Happy Omar Infante Is An All Star

When Charlie Manuel put Omar Infante on his All Star Roster while leaving players like Billy Wagner, Jaime Garcia, Stephen Strasburg and Joey Votto off, the uproar from columnists and bloggers was so loud that you would have thought he punched Yogi Berra in the face right after tearing down Wrigley Field and ordering that "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" be replaced by Lady Gaga's Pokerface.

I even got mail and comments saying "When are you going to say something about Omar Infante?"

Yes, it was a surprising choice.

And a quick glimpse at the Braves Baseball Reference page for 2010 doesn't even list Infante as a starter. There is a Brave player who has started more games at each position than Infante, whose position is listed as UT. In other words a utility man is an All Star.

Well I must say, while I admit he wasn't on MY All Star Ballot, I don't mind that he is an All Star. And let me tell you why...

1. HE'S MULTI TALENTED

While he can't be listed at one position, he IS a starter for the Braves... he's someone who has started a six different positions in the field.

There are some players, like my beloved Big Papi, who can't even play one position on the field. Maybe the inclusion of Infante can help make the super versatile players more valued by teams and players will try and move around the diamond in hopes of making the All Star team.

2. HE ACTUALLY WILL BE USEFUL IN THE GAME

Remember the last time the National League won the All Star Game, the Yankees were in a 18 year World Series title drought, the Macarena was considered cool and there was hope for the new Star Wars prequels.

The National League hasn't had homefield in the World Series since 2001... when the Diamondbacks won in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7.

Flashy or not, it is useful for Charlie Manuel to have a guy who can fill in all around the diamond when he makes pinch hitting decisions and defensive switches.

Who knows? Maybe he can pitch and we can avoid another tied All Star Game catastrophe.

3. YOU NEED A SCRAPPY JACK OF ALL TRADES WHEN ASSEMBLING A TEAM

I'm not just talking about a baseball team. When Kobyashi was putting together The Usual Suspects or Professor Xavier was assembling the X-Men or Lee Marvin was picking The Dirty Dozen or the team from Munich was being recruited... They can't all be the cool leading man. You need that smaller and less imposing guy who can get stuff done.

Remember when Costner was putting together The Untouchables? The last one he put on the team was Oscar the accountant. He wasn't the leader like Costner or the wise Connery or the bad ass shooter like Andy Garcia... but it was his brains that came up with the idea of pinning Capone on tax evasion. They NEEDED him.

The American League is Capone. Maybe Infante will bring them down.

4. WHY THE FUSS? THIS IS FAR FROM THE WORST ALL STAR SELECTION OF ALL TIME

Kosuke Fukudome got elected to the All Star Game and he has yet to have an above average season. Josh Hamilton started when he was having a mediocre season. Jason Giambi was elected in a year where he was so horrible that Joe Torre left him off the playoff roster.

Jose Rosado made a pair of All Star teams and Roger Pavlik made the 1996 All Star Team with a 4.82 ERA... and Pavlik wasn't a "We need at least one player from each team" selection. He was on a Rangers team.

Infante is at least having a good season. And he's doing it for a surprise first place team... so he must have some value.

5. YOU KNOW HE IS GOING TO APPRECIATE IT

There is going to be no "If I Am Not Startin' I Am Not Departin'" Garry Templeton rant coming from Infante. Heck, at this point I am wondering if Infante thinks his All Star Selection was part of an elaborate of Punk'd.

I know the All Star Team isn't the Make A Wish Foundation but let's face it, it isn't life and death either. By the time Omar Infante gets in the game it will be later... when the benches are being emptied out, the likes of Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter will be in their street clothes and chances are some pitcher you've never heard of will be on the mound.

Why not have a versatile .332 hitter come to the plate?

All this attention has probably made a few Fantasy Players pick him up and hey! Now people know who he is.

Of course the greatest revenge of all could be had by Infante to his critics... and even though I am rooting for the American League, there is a scenario that I would love to see for a National League win... Infante homering in the 9th inning to give the NL the lead.

It's a stretch. But so is Infante making the All Star Game in the first place!

5 Reasons Why I Am Happy Omar Infante Is An All Star

When Charlie Manuel put Omar Infante on his All Star Roster while leaving players like Billy Wagner, Jaime Garcia, Stephen Strasburg and Joey Votto off, the uproar from columnists and bloggers was so loud that you would have thought he punched Yogi Berra in the face right after tearing down Wrigley Field and ordering that "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" be replaced by Lady Gaga's Pokerface.

I even got mail and comments saying "When are you going to say something about Omar Infante?"

Yes, it was a surprising choice.

And a quick glimpse at the Braves Baseball Reference page for 2010 doesn't even list Infante as a starter. There is a Brave player who has started more games at each position than Infante, whose position is listed as UT. In other words a utility man is an All Star.

Well I must say, while I admit he wasn't on MY All Star Ballot, I don't mind that he is an All Star. And let me tell you why...

1. HE'S MULTI TALENTED

While he can't be listed at one position, he IS a starter for the Braves... he's someone who has started a six different positions in the field.

There are some players, like my beloved Big Papi, who can't even play one position on the field. Maybe the inclusion of Infante can help make the super versatile players more valued by teams and players will try and move around the diamond in hopes of making the All Star team.

2. HE ACTUALLY WILL BE USEFUL IN THE GAME

Remember the last time the National League won the All Star Game, the Yankees were in a 18 year World Series title drought, the Macarena was considered cool and there was hope for the new Star Wars prequels.

The National League hasn't had homefield in the World Series since 2001... when the Diamondbacks won in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7.

Flashy or not, it is useful for Charlie Manuel to have a guy who can fill in all around the diamond when he makes pinch hitting decisions and defensive switches.

Who knows? Maybe he can pitch and we can avoid another tied All Star Game catastrophe.

3. YOU NEED A SCRAPPY JACK OF ALL TRADES WHEN ASSEMBLING A TEAM

I'm not just talking about a baseball team. When Kobyashi was putting together The Usual Suspects or Professor Xavier was assembling the X-Men or Lee Marvin was picking The Dirty Dozen or the team from Munich was being recruited... They can't all be the cool leading man. You need that smaller and less imposing guy who can get stuff done.

Remember when Costner was putting together The Untouchables? The last one he put on the team was Oscar the accountant. He wasn't the leader like Costner or the wise Connery or the bad ass shooter like Andy Garcia... but it was his brains that came up with the idea of pinning Capone on tax evasion. They NEEDED him.

The American League is Capone. Maybe Infante will bring them down.

4. WHY THE FUSS? THIS IS FAR FROM THE WORST ALL STAR SELECTION OF ALL TIME

Kosuke Fukudome got elected to the All Star Game and he has yet to have an above average season. Josh Hamilton started when he was having a mediocre season. Jason Giambi was elected in a year where he was so horrible that Joe Torre left him off the playoff roster.

Jose Rosado made a pair of All Star teams and Roger Pavlik made the 1996 All Star Team with a 4.82 ERA... and Pavlik wasn't a "We need at least one player from each team" selection. He was on a Rangers team.

Infante is at least having a good season. And he's doing it for a surprise first place team... so he must have some value.

5. YOU KNOW HE IS GOING TO APPRECIATE IT

There is going to be no "If I Am Not Startin' I Am Not Departin'" Garry Templeton rant coming from Infante. Heck, at this point I am wondering if Infante thinks his All Star Selection was part of an elaborate of Punk'd.

I know the All Star Team isn't the Make A Wish Foundation but let's face it, it isn't life and death either. By the time Omar Infante gets in the game it will be later... when the benches are being emptied out, the likes of Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter will be in their street clothes and chances are some pitcher you've never heard of will be on the mound.

Why not have a versatile .332 hitter come to the plate?

All this attention has probably made a few Fantasy Players pick him up and hey! Now people know who he is.

Of course the greatest revenge of all could be had by Infante to his critics... and even though I am rooting for the American League, there is a scenario that I would love to see for a National League win... Infante homering in the 9th inning to give the NL the lead.

It's a stretch. But so is Infante making the All Star Game in the first place!