2008 MLB All-Star Game

[HedleyLamarr]

Ideally, what we see is Utley bat 9th, and be replaced defensively by Uggla in the bottom of the 1st. Lidge doesn't pitch, and no Phillies get hurt. That's part of the reason I never want to see any Phillies in the All-Star Game.

It is Utley's duty, as well as Hurdle's, to have Utley bat at least once, if not twice, as he was voted in by the fans to start, unless he's clearly injured to begin with.

And Kerry Wood should be replaced by the best reliever available, as the NL has a small pool of relievers to begin with.

[WJMorris3]

It is Utley's duty, as well as Hurdle's, to have Utley bat at least once, if not twice, as he was voted in by the fans to start, unless he's clearly injured to begin with.

A claim of an injury could always be made.

[Cujo]

Kerry Wood has a blister on his hand, so Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol will be taking his spot on the All-Star team.

Wow. Marmol and his 4.13 ERA actually made the All-Star Game.

I'm sorry, but he shouldn't be going to NYC over relievers such as Brandon Lyon or Takashi Saito.

Or a handful of starters that could go and pitch out of the pen, two being Cole Hamels and Kyle Lohse.

Here's why Marmol got picked above everyone else according to ESPN.com:

Marmol (2-3, 4.13 ERA, 3 saves) was picked because he was the relief pitcher with the highest vote on the player ballot.

Honestly though, it doesn't really matter to us Cubs fans who goes to New York in place of Wood. I just hope his blister problem doesn't turn into the one Josh Beckett had for the first five years of his career.

[DarkJourney]

Milwaukee's Ben Sheets & Cleveland's Cliff Lee to be starting pitchers for game

[KDubK414]

That's awesome news for Benny, though I thought your guy Lincecum was gonna be starting or Volquez from Cincinnati.

[CC97]

Ideally, what we see is Utley bat 9th, and be replaced defensively by Uggla in the bottom of the 1st. Lidge doesn't pitch, and no Phillies get hurt. That's part of the reason I never want to see any Phillies in the All-Star Game.

It is Utley's duty, as well as Hurdle's, to have Utley bat at least once, if not twice, as he was voted in by the fans to start, unless he's clearly injured to begin with.

Yet when Vince Carter (initially) decided to start because the fans voted him in rather than step aside for Michael Jordan he was panned for it.

[Shumway]

Apparently, Brandon Webb won't be participating, due to his 100-plus pitches against the Sillies on Sunday.

I'm sure this isn't uncommon,b ut does he get replaced now, or just sit the bench all game?

[CC97]

I'm sure this isn't uncommon,b ut does he get replaced now, or just sit the bench all game?

bench

[WJMorris3]

Well, the starting lineups are out...

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Hanley Ramirez, Florida, 6

2. Chase Utley, Philadelphia, 4

3. Lance Berkman, Houston, 3

4. Albert Pujols, St. Louis, DH

5. Chipper Jones, Atlanta, 5

6. Matt Holliday, Colorado, 9

7. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee, 7

8. Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago, 8

9. Geovany Soto, Chicago, 2

P. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee, 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, 9

2. Derek Jeter, New York, 6

3. Josh Hamilton, Texas, 8

4. Alex Rodriguez, New York, 5

5. Manny Ramirez, Boston, 7

6. Milton Bradley, Texas, DH

7. Kevin Youkilis, Boston, 3

8. Joe Mauer, Minnesota, 2

9. Dustin Pedroia, Boston, 4

P. Cliff Lee, Cleveland, 1

Personally, I think Clint Hurdle is doing the NL a disservice by both batting Utley there instead of 9th, and by putting Albert Pujols in at DH (IMO, that nod probably belongs to Adrian Gonzalez of San Diego). Trust me, if he batted Utley 9th, and defensively subbed in Uggla in the first, the outcry might - key word, MIGHT - be heard in Philadelphia, but to sacrifice one city for the better chance to win the game is no big deal.

[Jigga]

Well, the starting lineups are out...

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Hanley Ramirez, Florida, 6

2. Chase Utley, Philadelphia, 4

3. Lance Berkman, Houston, 3

4. Albert Pujols, St. Louis, DH

5. Chipper Jones, Atlanta, 5

6. Matt Holliday, Colorado, 9

7. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee, 7

8. Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago, 8

9. Geovany Soto, Chicago, 2

P. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee, 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, 9

2. Derek Jeter, New York, 6

3. Josh Hamilton, Texas, 8

4. Alex Rodriguez, New York, 5

5. Manny Ramirez, Boston, 7

6. Milton Bradley, Texas, DH

7. Kevin Youkilis, Boston, 3

8. Joe Mauer, Minnesota, 2

9. Dustin Pedroia, Boston, 4

P. Cliff Lee, Cleveland, 1

Personally, I think Clint Hurdle is doing the NL a disservice by both batting Utley there instead of 9th, and by putting Albert Pujols in at DH (IMO, that nod probably belongs to Adrian Gonzalez of San Diego). Trust me, if he batted Utley 9th, and defensively subbed in Uggla in the first, the outcry might - key word, MIGHT - be heard in Philadelphia, but to sacrifice one city for the better chance to win the game is no big deal.

1. Give it up already...we know you don't want any of your beloved Phillies getting hurt, we get it.

2. I might be crazy, but I think Clint Hurdle is actually trying to win the game. He really is doing the NL a disservice by putting the league's best hitter in the cleanup spot.

[LMU]

I am just thrilled that Lee got the starting nod over Rivera. I've had it up to HERE with all the Yankee homers wanting Rivera to play out of his usual role due to the venue. Now, I just hope he doesn't get the save opportunity, since homerism aside, K-Rod is going for the save record, so it's only fitting that he get the ball in the 9th.

[Epiphanic]

I just hope [Rivera] doesn't get the save opportunity

Me too. I'm hoping the National League wins.

[FiddySicks]

Lee and Sheets got the start? That doesn't seem right. I'd have picked Volquez or Lincecum over Sheets in a heartbeat and probably would've given the AL start to Santana.

[See Red]

I am just thrilled that Lee got the starting nod over Rivera. I've had it up to HERE with all the Yankee homers wanting Rivera to play out of his usual role due to the venue. Now, I just hope he doesn't get the save opportunity, since homerism aside, K-Rod is going for the save record, so it's only fitting that he get the ball in the 9th.

Number of saves is something Mo has very little control over, though. Rivera has been the best closer in baseball this year... his numbers in save opportunities are unreal.

[Cujo]

The Derby goes down later this evening. Here's a list of the eight participants:

- Lance Berkman (HOU)

- Ryan Braun (MIL)

- Josh Hamilton (TEX)

- Evan Longoria (TB)

- Justin Morneau (MIN)

- Grady Sizemore (CLE)

- Dan Uggla (FLA)

- Chase Utley (PHI)

And just for the hell of it, I'll go with Berkman to win it tonight.

[HedleyLamarr]

I suppose I'll be rooting for Longoria, but I guess Hamilton will win it.

[Gary]

Dear Mitch Williams (since he said this after today's Phils game)

Ryan Howard should not be an All-Star this year, he strikes out too much.

Yet he has 25 HRs (Tied for 1st)

and 57 Runs (#5)

and 80 RBI (#1)

I'm not sure about his errors, but offensively, he's damn good.

I'll be honest, there is no deserving Phillie for this year's All-Star team. There is NEVER a deserving Phillie for the All-Star team (and I'm a Phillies fan). Trust me, I'd rather see Dan Uggla in at 2nd. Perhaps they can bat Utley 9th and make a defensive sub, letting Uggla in at the bottom of the 1st?

(this is where I would note that had I been blessed with the talent to be a major league baseball player, I'd be ideally on a 20 year contract worth a total of $1M, with provisions that would prohibit selection for All-Star teams, as well as prohibition of accepting awards such as MVP and Cy Young, as they are pointless.)

Lets see what h appens when you actually do become a MLB player! I doubt you'd take a 20 year contract with for $1 Million. Plus I highly doubt you wouldn't want an award that you "EARNED" as you called them "POINTLESS". This has got to be the worst argument yet for the Phillies and Allstar selections since Memphis not deserving to be number 1. Next thing you'll tell me is Notre Dame shouldn't even play a down because they are an Independent Football Team

[WJMorris3]

Dear Mitch Williams (since he said this after today's Phils game)

Ryan Howard should not be an All-Star this year, he strikes out too much.

Yet he has 25 HRs (Tied for 1st)

and 57 Runs (#5)

and 80 RBI (#1)

I'm not sure about his errors, but offensively, he's damn good.

I'll be honest, there is no deserving Phillie for this year's All-Star team. There is NEVER a deserving Phillie for the All-Star team (and I'm a Phillies fan). Trust me, I'd rather see Dan Uggla in at 2nd. Perhaps they can bat Utley 9th and make a defensive sub, letting Uggla in at the bottom of the 1st?

(this is where I would note that had I been blessed with the talent to be a major league baseball player, I'd be ideally on a 20 year contract worth a total of $1M, with provisions that would prohibit selection for All-Star teams, as well as prohibition of accepting awards such as MVP and Cy Young, as they are pointless.)

Lets see what happens when you actually do become a MLB player! I doubt you'd take a 20 year contract with for $1 Million. Plus I highly doubt you wouldn't want an award that you "EARNED" as you called them "POINTLESS". This has got to be the worst argument yet for the Phillies and Allstar selections since Memphis not deserving to be number 1. Next thing you'll tell me is Notre Dame shouldn't even play a down because they are an Independent Football Team

$1 million over 20 years is fair payment for a major league player.

[Gary]

Dear Mitch Williams (since he said this after today's Phils game)

Ryan Howard should not be an All-Star this year, he strikes out too much.

Yet he has 25 HRs (Tied for 1st)

and 57 Runs (#5)

and 80 RBI (#1)

I'm not sure about his errors, but offensively, he's damn good.

I'll be honest, there is no deserving Phillie for this year's All-Star team. There is NEVER a deserving Phillie for the All-Star team (and I'm a Phillies fan). Trust me, I'd rather see Dan Uggla in at 2nd. Perhaps they can bat Utley 9th and make a defensive sub, letting Uggla in at the bottom of the 1st?

(this is where I would note that had I been blessed with the talent to be a major league baseball player, I'd be ideally on a 20 year contract worth a total of $1M, with provisions that would prohibit selection for All-Star teams, as well as prohibition of accepting awards such as MVP and Cy Young, as they are pointless.)

Lets see what happens when you actually do become a MLB player! I doubt you'd take a 20 year contract with for $1 Million. Plus I highly doubt you wouldn't want an award that you "EARNED" as you called them "POINTLESS". This has got to be the worst argument yet for the Phillies and Allstar selections since Memphis not deserving to be number 1. Next thing you'll tell me is Notre Dame shouldn't even play a down because they are an Independent Football Team

$1 million over 20 years is fair payment for a major league player.

$50,000 a year??? I mean $1 Mill a year I can understand, but why $50,000? If i'm a famous man who is making the team better I think $1 Mill a year is understandable, but anymore $50,000 is Middle Class

[WJMorris3]

Dear Mitch Williams (since he said this after today's Phils game)

Ryan Howard should not be an All-Star this year, he strikes out too much.

Yet he has 25 HRs (Tied for 1st)

and 57 Runs (#5)

and 80 RBI (#1)

I'm not sure about his errors, but offensively, he's damn good.

I'll be honest, there is no deserving Phillie for this year's All-Star team. There is NEVER a deserving Phillie for the All-Star team (and I'm a Phillies fan). Trust me, I'd rather see Dan Uggla in at 2nd. Perhaps they can bat Utley 9th and make a defensive sub, letting Uggla in at the bottom of the 1st?

(this is where I would note that had I been blessed with the talent to be a major league baseball player, I'd be ideally on a 20 year contract worth a total of $1M, with provisions that would prohibit selection for All-Star teams, as well as prohibition of accepting awards such as MVP and Cy Young, as they are pointless.)

Lets see what happens when you actually do become a MLB player! I doubt you'd take a 20 year contract with for $1 Million. Plus I highly doubt you wouldn't want an award that you "EARNED" as you called them "POINTLESS". This has got to be the worst argument yet for the Phillies and Allstar selections since Memphis not deserving to be number 1. Next thing you'll tell me is Notre Dame shouldn't even play a down because they are an Independent Football Team

$1 million over 20 years is fair payment for a major league player.

$50,000 a year??? I mean $1 Mill a year I can understand, but why $50,000? If i'm a famous man who is making the team better I think $1 Mill a year is understandable, but anymore $50,000 is Middle Class

Trust me, no team would have any problems paying one of their players $50,000 a year. It just means that I wouldn't be able to be in the Players Association, most likely, which is okay with me.