Varitek an All-Star?

by SamYam on Jul 6, 2008 10:16 PM PDT

We all know that the all-star starter vote will always be a popularity contest. This year was no different, with a full 2/3 of the starting position players for the AL coming from the Red Sox or Yankees. Seems strange for teams who are 4 games and 9 games out of their division's lead, respectively, but not unexpected.

However, we should expect the all-star reserves to be a little bit more fair, since this does not come down to the fans' votes. Yes, every team must have an all-star, so some underachievers will make the team. But this year one selection completely and utterly blew my mind, and I have yet to hear a valid explanation.

How in the world did Jason Varitek make the all-star team?

The man has a batting average of .219. You read that correctly. That's closer to the Mendoza line than to an all-star berth.

Yeah, anyone who has ever watched ESPN knows about Varitek's "leadership" and "heart", but how could they justify putting a man with a batting average lower than Rob Bowen on the all-star roster? There is only one possible arguments that people have given me, which holds no water.

Argument: Jason Varitek manages the Red Sox pitching staff, which is one of the best in the league.

I have always felt that people tend to overrate the catcher's overall effect on managing a staff, but even so, this argument does not make sense.

There are 5 AL teams with a lower staff ERA than the Red Sox, 4 of which are over 0.2 points lower. Only one of these catchers made the all-star game, Dioner Navarro of the Rays. I'm going to do a line comparison of each of these catchers on the 4 teams besides the Rays with lower staff ERA than the Red Sox, plus Jason Varitek's, and we'll see who should make the team.

#1 .299/.338/.447 7 HR

#2 .276/.336/.359 3 HR

#3 .256/.335/.394 5 HR

#4 .204/.308/.472 12 HR

#5 .219/.301/.360 7 HR

Which of these should make the All-Star team, considering, each had similar results with their pitching staff. #1 seems like the obvious candidate. The others have underwhelming stats; #5 seems to be the most underwhelming of all. Here are the 5 players.

#1- A.J. Pierzynski (CWS ERA 3.41)

#2- Our very own Kurt Suzuki (OAK ERA 3.43)

#3 Greg Zaun (TOR ERA 3.59)

#4 Mike Napoli (LAA ERA 3.76)

#5 Jason Varitek (BOS ERA 3.83)

It is obvious that the all-star selection should have been A.J. Pierzynski, who not only has far superior stats, but managed a staff with an ERA a full 0.42 points lower than Varitek's. It cannot be argued that Varitek's management of a staff makes him deserving of a spot on the team. Any of those 4 other catchers would have been a better candidate, as would many other catchers throughout the league. I would have some sympathy if Varitek was his team's only all-star, but 6 other Red Sox made the team.

This is just another example of ridiculously obvious Red Sox favoritism.

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Comments

FYI, Varitek was voted in by the players.

That doesn’t make it any less stupid, but I thought you should know.

by mikev on Jul 6, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

I checked that out...

and ESPN.com said that Terry Francona fills out the rest of the roster. which makes it even worse.

holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan

by SamYam on Jul 6, 2008 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions

No, Varitek was voted in by the players.

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Jul 7, 2008 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions

But he's not just replacement level

He’s CAPTAIN replacement level. They had to vote him in

by nevermoor on Jul 7, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions

There need to be statistical cutoffs

I’m not suggesting the semi-heresy of actually picking the team on stats alone, but players should at least have to hit the 50th percentile in certain basic categories to be eligible for selection. You know, like “games played.” Not anything super-restrictive, just a basic floor so that obvious jokes like Ortiz and Jeter can’t be voted in by homer fanbases.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 6, 2008 11:00 PM PDT reply actions

I've come to accept the stupidity of fan voting

But there’s really no good excuse for Varitek, Tejada, Crede, Brian Wilson, etc. None. It annoys me that players and coaches are just as stupid as the fans.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 7, 2008 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

There has to be a way to make it more accurate too.

Briefly looking at the ballot in mid May I saw Denorfia and Chavez on it. I can only imagine how this applies throughout the league.

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on Jul 6, 2008 11:03 PM PDT reply actions

All Star Teams are rarely representative

We never get a true cross-section of the best players in the league, partially due to fan voting (the starters are never even 50% right), and partially due to reputations (which possibly explains Varitek, Crede got in too, which is absurd). I must say, though, that Varitek being on the All-Star team is one of the worst All Star Roster f-ups I’ve ever seen. He’s playing BELOW replacement level at Catcher. If he’s an All Star, every other catcher in the league, and half the backups should be all stars too. Just obscene.

OH, and how did the Giants get two all stars this year? I’m just saying…

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by ZeroIndulgence on Jul 6, 2008 11:42 PM PDT reply actions

Just one A on the team, which is what we figured

and it wen to the now two time All Star Justin Duscherer.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 6, 2008 11:45 PM PDT reply actions

Is Duke now the most anonymous two-time All-Star ever?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 7, 2008 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

You'd better hope so

I’d like for him to stay in Oakland.

by nevermoor on Jul 7, 2008 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions

I understand why the Giants pitcher Lincecum made the all star game. he is what, 11 years old and 10-1 with a 2.49 ERA going into tonight. Pretty impressive stuff.
As for Varitek…I was disappointed to see him voted in. The players must have been tricked into it somehow. He is having a horrid season and he comes across as a jerk half the time.

by ilovegregsmith on Jul 7, 2008 5:54 AM PDT reply actions

Ass-Jack would be the obvious choice, but maybe the other players don't like him?

Longoria should have made it – he is elite this year compared to Crede.

"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagines such events unfolding!" Bill King

by Buck Turgidson on Jul 7, 2008 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

Apparently Hawk's "Joe Crede is the best thing to ever exist on this planet" has caught on

It’s a sad day.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 7, 2008 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Varitek sucks, nice average

by HRH on Jul 7, 2008 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

I saw the All-Star Game last night

It was all Red Sox and Yankees.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 7, 2008 1:11 PM PDT reply actions

by Imaseasonticketholder on Jul 7, 2008 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

And he hasn't exactly been amazing offensively

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 7, 2008 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Varitek

If he plays, will probably get a game winning hit or something stupid, and then there will be the ESPN pundits saying this proves he should have been an all star.

by Emmett89 on Jul 7, 2008 4:45 PM PDT reply actions