There really were no pinch runners left?

A lot of people are asking why Alex Rodriguez wasn't brought in by Joe Girardi in the 9th inning (as if John Buck and Ian Kinsler were chumps.

I just wonder why there was nobody left to pinch run in the 9th.

Seriously, every day it seemed like there was 3 or 4 more people added to the roster every day, are you telling me there wasn't ONE DUDE who could go from first to second on a bloop to the outfield?

Yeah, I know Ortiz was in a pickle and he couldn't just take off to second or run back to first. I know he couldn't tag up.

But there must have been ONE player on the damn roster who could have waited midway through and dashed to second when the ball dropped by Marlon Byrd.

If the Yankees are on the road for Game 7 of the World Series, I wonder if Joe Girardi would think to himself "Man, maybe I shouldn't have used three third basemen in a 9 inning game."

There really were no pinch runners left?

A lot of people are asking why Alex Rodriguez wasn't brought in by Joe Girardi in the 9th inning (as if John Buck and Ian Kinsler were chumps.

I just wonder why there was nobody left to pinch run in the 9th.

Seriously, every day it seemed like there was 3 or 4 more people added to the roster every day, are you telling me there wasn't ONE DUDE who could go from first to second on a bloop to the outfield?

Yeah, I know Ortiz was in a pickle and he couldn't just take off to second or run back to first. I know he couldn't tag up.

But there must have been ONE player on the damn roster who could have waited midway through and dashed to second when the ball dropped by Marlon Byrd.

If the Yankees are on the road for Game 7 of the World Series, I wonder if Joe Girardi would think to himself "Man, maybe I shouldn't have used three third basemen in a 9 inning game."

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!

Baseball swings and misses with Strasburg and the All Star game

Stephen Strasburg is not on the All Star roster.
Of course he isn't.
Why would he be? It would just make the All Star Game more electric, more fascinating and exciting.

Why would baseball want to do something like that?

Why would you want to have a phenom who has faced virtually NOBODY on the A.L. All Star team and have some fascinating head to head match ups?

Why would you want to have a moment where the player that is filling up stands in places like Cleveland and Washington play on the grandest stage while the interest of him is at a peak?

Why would you do something like that? Why would baseball want TO DO SOMETHING SMART?

And spare me talking about his win loss record. The Nationals have scored a grand total of 3 runs for him in his last 4 starts COMBINED!

And I don't want to hear about how the All Star Game roster spot needs to be for a truly accomplished player. The fans voted in Kosuke Fukudome one year.

Jose Offerman is a 2 time All Star. Tyler Green made an All Star team.

Were fans glued to the TV thinking "Oh boy, I hope Jose Rosado gets into this game."

And also spare me the whole "He'll make the All Star Game later" nonsense.
He will NEVER have this sense of mystery and freshness. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to have Strasburg face the A.L. All Stars for the first time... and they blew it to give Matt Capps a spot on the team.

No offense to Matt Capps... but what do you think will be a more memorable moment...

Strasburg versus Jeter, Guerrero and Mauer
Capps versus Ty Wigginton?

You blew it baseball.
Swing and a miss.

Baseball swings and misses with Strasburg and the All Star game

Stephen Strasburg is not on the All Star roster.
Of course he isn't.
Why would he be? It would just make the All Star Game more electric, more fascinating and exciting.

Why would baseball want to do something like that?

Why would you want to have a phenom who has faced virtually NOBODY on the A.L. All Star team and have some fascinating head to head match ups?

Why would you want to have a moment where the player that is filling up stands in places like Cleveland and Washington play on the grandest stage while the interest of him is at a peak?

Why would you do something like that? Why would baseball want TO DO SOMETHING SMART?

And spare me talking about his win loss record. The Nationals have scored a grand total of 3 runs for him in his last 4 starts COMBINED!

And I don't want to hear about how the All Star Game roster spot needs to be for a truly accomplished player. The fans voted in Kosuke Fukudome one year.

Jose Offerman is a 2 time All Star. Tyler Green made an All Star team.

Were fans glued to the TV thinking "Oh boy, I hope Jose Rosado gets into this game."

And also spare me the whole "He'll make the All Star Game later" nonsense.
He will NEVER have this sense of mystery and freshness. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to have Strasburg face the A.L. All Stars for the first time... and they blew it to give Matt Capps a spot on the team.

No offense to Matt Capps... but what do you think will be a more memorable moment...

Strasburg versus Jeter, Guerrero and Mauer
Capps versus Ty Wigginton?

You blew it baseball.
Swing and a miss.

Sully Baseball Picks THE AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL STAR ROSTER

The All Star rosters are going to be announced today and inevitably there will be a lot of people ticked off at the results.

And there will be people angry at the popularity contest that is the fan votes.

And also people will hate that every team needs to be represented.

All predictable reactions…
But I am not going to bitch and moan. Or at least not yet. I am going to assemble my All Star Roster for the American League and post it before the real one is announced.

And I will use the current All Star rules.
In other words the starting line up will be as voted by the fans and each team will indeed have a representative.

I'll pick 24 reserves and pitchers for the AL.

And seeing that homefield advantage in the World Series is on the line, I am putting together a teamwith a shot to win.

So let's put together the 2010 American League All Star Team...

THE 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL STAR TEAM
(As Picked By The Staff of Sully Baseball)

STARTING LINEUP
(Based on Current Voting Standings)

CATCHER - JOE MAUER, Minnesota

FIRST BASEMAN - JUSTIN MORNEAU, Minnesota





SECOND BASEMAN - ROBINSON CANO, New York





SHORTSTOP - DEREK JETER, New York





THIRD BASEMAN - EVAN LONGORIA, Tampa Bay





LEFT FIELDER - CARL CRAWFORD, Tampa Bay





CENTER FIELDER - JOSH HAMILTON, Texas





RIGHT FIELDER - ICHIRO SUZUKI, Seattle





DESIGNATED HITTER - VLADIMIR GUERRERO, Texas





PITCHERS and RESERVES
(As selected by the Staff of Sully Baseball)

STARTING PITCHER - DAVID PRICE, Tampa Bay





ADDITIONAL PITCHERS

ANDREW BAILEY, Oakland
CLAY BUCHHOLZ, Boston
TREVOR CAHILL, Oakland
FELIX HERNANDEZ, Seattle
CLIFF LEE, Seattle
JON LESTER, Boston
COLBY LEWIS, Texas
ANDY PETTITTE, New York
MARIANO RIVERA, New York
CC SABATHIA, New York
JOAKIM SORIA, Kansas City
JARED WEAVER, Los Angeles



ADDITIONAL POSITION PLAYERS

ELVIS ANDRUS, Texas
ADRIAN BELTRE, Boston
JOHN BUCK, Toronto
MIGUEL CABRERA, Detroit
TORII HUNTER, Los Angeles
IAN KINSLER, Texas
PAUL KONERKO, Chicago
NICK MARKAKIS, Baltimore
MIKE NAPOLI, Los Anegeles
SHIN-SOO CHOO, Cleveland
VERNON WELLS, Toronto
KEVIN YOUKILIS, Boston



There you have it.
Each team is represented and each position has an able back up. The rotation and bullpen are deep and there is a pair of reserve catchers.

You might be asking, "Now dear Sully, why are you only doing the American League?"

Because I am tired and I want to go to bed.

Sully Baseball Picks THE AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL STAR ROSTER

The All Star rosters are going to be announced today and inevitably there will be a lot of people ticked off at the results.

And there will be people angry at the popularity contest that is the fan votes.

And also people will hate that every team needs to be represented.

All predictable reactions…
But I am not going to bitch and moan. Or at least not yet. I am going to assemble my All Star Roster for the American League and post it before the real one is announced.

And I will use the current All Star rules.
In other words the starting line up will be as voted by the fans and each team will indeed have a representative.

I'll pick 24 reserves and pitchers for the AL.

And seeing that homefield advantage in the World Series is on the line, I am putting together a teamwith a shot to win.

So let's put together the 2010 American League All Star Team...

THE 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL STAR TEAM
(As Picked By The Staff of Sully Baseball)

STARTING LINEUP
(Based on Current Voting Standings)

CATCHER - JOE MAUER, Minnesota

FIRST BASEMAN - JUSTIN MORNEAU, Minnesota





SECOND BASEMAN - ROBINSON CANO, New York





SHORTSTOP - DEREK JETER, New York





THIRD BASEMAN - EVAN LONGORIA, Tampa Bay





LEFT FIELDER - CARL CRAWFORD, Tampa Bay





CENTER FIELDER - JOSH HAMILTON, Texas





RIGHT FIELDER - ICHIRO SUZUKI, Seattle





DESIGNATED HITTER - VLADIMIR GUERRERO, Texas





PITCHERS and RESERVES
(As selected by the Staff of Sully Baseball)

STARTING PITCHER - DAVID PRICE, Tampa Bay





ADDITIONAL PITCHERS

ANDREW BAILEY, Oakland
CLAY BUCHHOLZ, Boston
TREVOR CAHILL, Oakland
FELIX HERNANDEZ, Seattle
CLIFF LEE, Seattle
JON LESTER, Boston
COLBY LEWIS, Texas
ANDY PETTITTE, New York
MARIANO RIVERA, New York
CC SABATHIA, New York
JOAKIM SORIA, Kansas City
JARED WEAVER, Los Angeles



ADDITIONAL POSITION PLAYERS

ELVIS ANDRUS, Texas
ADRIAN BELTRE, Boston
JOHN BUCK, Toronto
MIGUEL CABRERA, Detroit
TORII HUNTER, Los Angeles
IAN KINSLER, Texas
PAUL KONERKO, Chicago
NICK MARKAKIS, Baltimore
MIKE NAPOLI, Los Anegeles
SHIN-SOO CHOO, Cleveland
VERNON WELLS, Toronto
KEVIN YOUKILIS, Boston



There you have it.
Each team is represented and each position has an able back up. The rotation and bullpen are deep and there is a pair of reserve catchers.

You might be asking, "Now dear Sully, why are you only doing the American League?"

Because I am tired and I want to go to bed.