Defending the All-Star Teams

Every year there are complaints about who was left off the All-Star roster and how the manager picked his own players. The complaints may be a bit louder this year, with Joe Torre picking everyone from the Yankees including his left-handed setup man and Bobby Valentine picking his own Rick Reed over Greg Maddux. But it’s easy to make a fuss over the rosters. There are always players who deserve to go that don’t get selected by either the fans or the coaches.

Torre and Valentine know that Mike Stanton and Rick Reed have had solid careers but will never make the All-Star team unless picked by their own coaches. I would expect a manager to take care of his players, and nothing less should be expected. Even though players like Maddux and Cliff Floyd are conspicuously left off the roster, the All-Star selections are fine. As a matter of fact, my biggest surprise among the selections was Greg Vaughn being the token Devil Ray selection instead of Fred McGriff. McGriff is batting .323-15-49.

Have the Red Sox begun to fall apart? Pedro won’t pitch until August. Garciaparra won’t play either. Carl Everett has an injury that no one understands, including Trot Nixon. Nixon was quoted as questioning the injury, rehab efforts, and desire of Everett. The Red Sox have performed better than anyone could have expected, but they have big problems that they must come together to work out.

Here are my half-season awards: AL MVP 1. Manny Ramirez 2. Juan Gonzalez 3. Ichiro Suzuki

AL Cy Young 1. Joe Mays 2. Pedro Martinez 3. Freddie Garcia

NL MVP 1. Luis Gonzalez 2. Barry Bonds 3. Ryan Klesko

NL Cy Young 1. Greg Maddux 2. Randy Johnson 3. Curt Schilling

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