Okay, so I’m posting this a little early because I’ll be at a birthday party when the announcements are made. But feel free to post your thoughts when the announcements are made at 4:00pm
UPDATE: Thanks to the idiocy of MLB that a rain delay or extra innings could effect the timing of the announcement, I was already at the game before the All Star teams were announced. Five Tigers will be on the squad, and manager Jim Leyland didn’t have to pick any of them. Starters Pudge Rodriguez (breaking the record for most starts by a catcher), Placido Polanco, and Magglio Ordonez made the team on the strength of the fans vote. Polanco and Ordonez also led the player balloting for their positions.
Carlos Guillen was the 2nd choice of the players among shortstops because like the fans the players went with Derek Jeter first.
Justin Verlander was the 5th starting pitcher selected on the players ballot.
For those hoping that either Gary Sheffield or Curtis Granderson would make the team, Leyland’s hands were tied. The players and fans agreed on the starting outfield, and the player’s 4th, 5th, and 6th choices were Torii Hunter, Grady Sizemore, and Manny Ramirez. Alex Rios and Carl Crawford are serving the role of lone representative for their team. In fact Leyland had only 7 picks and 5 of those went to lone reps and the two other picks were Victor Martinez and Johan Santana which are both hard to argue with.
Of course the Tigers may have a 6th member of the squad in Jeremy Bonderman who is eligible for that last guy in voting thing. Considering the way the Tigers fans voted (Sean Casey and Brandon Inge anyone?) and the fact he threw a sterling performance on national TV, I think he’s got a pretty good shot.
Still haven’t been made…Rain Delay in the Braves/Marlins game.
Cal Ripken said he was most impressed with Magglio and ARod. I’m pretty sure we’re going to have three starters this year.
Three starters. Five players. Ordonez, Pudge, Polly, Verlander, and Guillen. I’d say Bonderman should have been there, but they had to pick a Royal and Leyland went with Meche. Sheffield or Granderson were probably blocked by Crawford or Rios who had to be chosen. It’s so weird to be on the other side of that rule now. Remember when we’d have Higgy of Fryman be blocking a real all-star? Those were the days.
Hopefully Tigers fans can duplicate the voting prowess they had in voting in Mags, Polanco and Pudge by doing the same for Bondo. Halladay will certainly have the “name” in his favor. I’m assuming Bondo makes the team with any injury to a AL pitcher or any AL pitcher that can’t pitch because of a start too close to the game. It would be nice to guarantee it though by having him win the “last spot” vote.