Some BS about A's All-STar Selection in New Gammons Article

by dchu on Jul 9, 2005 2:34 AM PDT

BTW, Gammons is now insider only. Luckily my friend lets me use his account, but still.

The one part that relates to the A's:

"He picked Bartolo Colon over Timlin and Matt Clement for the All-Star team. Did, under pressure, he make a mistake in his clubhouse? Unquestionably. Francona should have picked Danny Haren instead of Justin Ducscherer from Oakland and taken Timlin, a giant the last two Octobers and a man revered by his Boston teammates."

A.) He misspelled "Duchscherer."
B.) I don't think anyone who follows the A's believes that Haren deserves to be an All-Star, at least not at the expense of Duke.
C.) As of today, Duke has posted a better WHIP, a better BAA, a better K total/rate, and more saves than Timlin. Plus he's pitched more innings. Granted he wasn't a "giant of the past two Octobers," but it's about what you did this season, not what you might do after the break; elsewise Chavvy would be there every year.
D.) Boston already has four guys at the All-Star Game, and Torii Hunter probably deserves Damon's spot.

I typically have a lot of respect for Gammons, but occasionally he just writes stuff that makes you scratch your head.

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Gammons

Perhaps he isn't saying that Haren deserved to go over Duchscherer but that Francona may have made a strategic psychological mistake by not taking Timlin. I don't know if they have a relatively set number of starters and relievers to take for the game but if so taking Haren might have opened a relief spot for Timlin.

by Larry E on Jul 9, 2005 6:45 AM PDT reply actions

I know

That's what he's saying. But the bottom line is, Duchscherer deserves to go more than either Haren or Timlin based on his performance this season. The ONLY possible argument you can make is if Timlin has never ever been to the All-Star Game before. And I can't say I would like the All-Star manager making decisions to make his particular team happy.

by dchu on Jul 9, 2005 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Remember that...

For all the love Gammons gives the A's, he's still a Boston homer at heart. I think LarryE's interpretation was correct-- Gammons was saying "take Haren instead of Duchscherer so that Francona could put Timlin (another Red Sox) onto the roster." Or, to put it another way, Gammons doesn't really give a crap about choosing the better candidate to represent the A's as long as he can get more Red Sox onto the team.

by LoveDemAs on Jul 9, 2005 7:38 AM PDT reply actions

for the record

I would support Haren over the Duke. No disrespect for him... but I think good starters contribute more than good relievers.

by Apricot on Jul 9, 2005 8:16 AM PDT reply actions

I agree...

he was my vote for A's all star before we found out Duke was going. I think Duke is a great selection, and I know Haren will be there many times, but Haren's been incredible lately.

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." ~Rogers Hornsby

by ZeroIndulgence on Jul 9, 2005 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions