I'm pretty much convinced that the only positive development from the All-Star game is that it gives people like us something to debate during the middle of generally uneventful summers. And of course, this year is no exception; there were many All-Star snubs. Here are some players from the NL West that definitely deserve to be in San Francisco, along with players they should have replaced (which so often is overlooked): Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks: Just compare Byrnsie and Aaron Rowand, who was named to the team, across the board. Their stats are eerily similar, as as their personalities. But one thing stands out -- Byrnes is superior (by small margins) to Rowand in almost every statistical category. They're each fan favorites and they each play with a balls out style. Given Byrne's statistical superiority this year, and the fact that the D-Backs have been far more successful than the Phillies this year, I think Byrnes over Rowand is a no-brainer.
Chris Young, Padres: Being on the final vote list is an insult to Young's mastery of NL hitters this year. Really, the fact that he wasn't selected is a total joke. Young is 8-3 with a 2.14 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 96.2 innings pitched. Opposing hitters are batting .197 against him. .197. That's lower than what Andruw Jones is hitting this year. The guy has only allowed three home runs in 16 starts. Young should be there over every starter except Brad Penny and Jake Peavy, and of course, over reliever Brian Fuentes.
Status Check is FanHouse's conversation with fans from the rest of the blogosphere. Today, we talk with Geoff Young from Ducksnorts, Anthony Trifiletti from Friar Watch, and jbox from Gaslamp Ball. Q. How far can the Padres go this season?
A. Geoff Young from Ducksnorts: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I think the Padres can go as far as they want this year. Of course, I thought that last year, so who knows. They have two studs at the front of the rotation in Jake Peavy and Chris Young, as well as veterans Greg Maddux and David Wells to pick up the back end. This mix gives opponents a lot of different looks, and even if they knock out the starters, they have to deal with -- statistically -- the best bullpen in baseball. It's popular to gripe about the Padres' offense, but Adrian Gonzalez is proving that last year was no fluke, while Mike Cameron, Khalil Greene, and Kevin Kouzmanoff all have been swinging the bat well of late. The addition of Michael Barrett, who destroys left-handed pitching, gives San Diego another weapon. The Padres really just need to stay healthy, keep executing well, and hold off at least one of Arizona or LA the rest of the way. Once the post-season starts, it's a crapshoot, but I think the Padres have put themselves in excellent position so far and should come out okay if they keep doing what they've been doing over the first 2 1/2 months of the season.
It's become headline news across all sports outlets, primarily because Hoffman is the first to do it. You know what? Justin Miller became the first known pitcher to get the words "Billy Koch" tattooed on his bum, but that doesn't mean it should be splashing headlines across the nets. Randy Johnson passing Roger Clemens for second on the all-time strikeouts list is much more significant, but that only warranted a few sentences, eight paragraphs down in the game recap on Tuesday night. Why should the news of Hoffman reaching 500 saves be as important as it's been made out to be? Was someone else going to beat him to the punch? I thought the big deal was last year when Hoffman passed up Lee Smith. Did I miss something?
The simple truth is that saves are an overrated statistic -- one of the most overrated stats in baseball. Here's all you need to know about saves: Armando Benitez has 289 of them, Danny Graves 182, some guy named Jose Jimenez grabbed 41 in a year, and it made an All-Star out of Danny Kolb and Mike MacDougal. I can name five pitchers in the Padres bullpen who have all been more effective than Hoffman this year -- Kevin Cameron, Heath Bell, Justin Hampson, Doug Brocail, and Scott Linebrink. But none of them get any recognition because you don't stamp an "S" next to their name in the boxscore. Moreover, any pitcher who can't get three outs before they allow three runs (which is all it takes to earn a save) doesn't belong in the big leagues. You follow me?
The fact that Trevor Hoffman has 500 of them tells me two things -- he's been closing for a long time, and done a very good job of it. And the fact that nobody else has done it reminds me that closers only became a serious part of the game around 25 years ago. That's it. I can still name you another reliever I would've preferred in my bullpen for every year he was in the majors. When you break it all down, Trevor Hoffman is a very good player whose only measuring stick is a vastly overrated, and highly insignificant statistic. I am impressed that Hoffman has been able to perform at such a high level for such a long period of time, especially when other relievers are blowing out arms or losing mental stability left and right. But it still doesn't change the fact that saves are an overrated statistic.
It's a peculiar thing; I couldn't care less about the actual game, but I have fits over making sure the right players are selected as participants. And I cannot tell you how much I enjoy going to the ballpark -- at least once in June -- to make sure I fill out my ballot and do my part in serving justice. With that in mind, here are the names of some NL West players next to whom you should punch holes on the All-Star ballot. (I have included pitchers I would select even though we can't vote for them)
Arizona Diamondbacks (35-24): Eric Byrnes (OF) - .314, OPS .909, 9 HR, 11 SB, and 37 runs scored Jose Valverde (RP) - 2nd in MLB with 20 saves, 26K's in 24 IP Colorado Rockies (27-31): Matt Holliday (OF) - 2nd in NL .343 average, .956 OPS, 10 HR, 44 RBIs Brian Fuentes (RP) - 16 saves, 3:1 K:BB ratio, 1.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP Los Angeles Dodgers (34-24): Russell Martin (pictured) (C) - leads all NL C with 38 runs, 9 SBs, 39 RBIs, T-1st 7 HR Takashi Saito (RP) - 16-for-16 saves, 15:1 K:BB ratio, 1.50 ERA, 0.75 WHIP Brad Penny (SP) - 7-1, 3rd best ERA in NL at 2.37, 1.24 WHIP
San Diego Padres (34-23): Adrian Gonzalez (1B) - T-5th in NL with 12 HR, .297 avg, .892 OPS, 39 RBIs Jake Peavy (SP) - 7-1, 1.68 ERA lowest in MLB 0.98 WHIP, 92 K's leads NL Chris Young (SP) - 6-3, 2.19 ERA 2nd lowest in NL, 1.14 WHIP, BAA .202 Kevin Cameron (RP) - 20.1 innings pitched, only one ER, 0.44 ERA, 1.23 WHIP San Francisco Giants (27-30): Barry Bonds (OF) - leads NL with 1.061 OPS, 57 BB, .485 OBP, 5th with 12 HR Matt Morris (SP) - 6-2, 5th in NL with 2.66 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Fans, I now leaves things up to you. Make me proud.
The slow starts of third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and left fielder Terrmel Sledge - combined with the stellar performances of right-handed relievers Heath Bell and Cla Meredith - are again raising the possibility of a Linebrink deal.
Additionally, Rule 5 draft pick Kevin Cameron has been lights out in the pen, still yet to give up a run on the season. I'm sure the Padres aren't in a hurry to get rid of Linebrink since he's a good pitcher, but the emergence of some other relievers is making a trade more reasonable. Only perpetuating this rumor is the report that Linebrink's agent says there haven't been any negotiations between himself and the team. Considering Linebrink's scheduled to become a free agent after the year, it appears more likely that the Padres will want to get something for him in a trade. Linebrink's name has always been associated in trade talks with the Red Sox, who could use some extra help in the pen. Linebrink for Wily Mo anyone?
Here's a look around the NL West and what final roster moves your team made to prepare for Opening Day:
Diamondbacks: Infielder Brian Barden and utility man Robby Hammock made the squad. Hammock showed promise in '03 and '04, but missed all of '05 because of shoulder surgery. Right handers Dustin Nippert and J.D. Durbin won the final spots in the bullpen. (via East Valley Tribune)
Dodgers: Matt Kemp made the club as the final outfielder, beating out Larry Bigbie and James Loney (who hit .414 in Spring and didn't take the news well), presumably because Kemp's a right-handed hitter while Bigbie and Loney are lefties. Wilson Valdez will replace Rafael Furcal on the opening day roster. Furcal will start the season on the DL retroactive to March 23rd. Rudy Seanez is the final pitcher on the 11 man staff. (via LA Times)
Giants: They're going with a 12 man pitching staff, the seven men in the bullpen will be Armando Benitez, Vinnie Chulk, Kevin Correia, Brad Hennessey, Steve Kline, Jonathan Sanchez, and Jack Taschner. Scott Munter and candidate for the closer job, Brian Wilson, were optioned to Triple A amongst others. Todd Linden made the team as a bench player, Mark Sweeney was placed on the DL to start the year, and Jason Ellison was traded to the Mariners. (via Giants official site and Contra Costa Times)
Padres: Mike Thompson and Kevin Cameron made the final two spots in the bullpen. Cameron is a Rule 5 draft pick from Minnesota. Paul McAnulty will be the final bench player. (via San Diego Union-Tribune)
Rockies: Veteran John Mabry (pictured) beat out Ryan Spilborghs and Alexis Gomez for the final bench spot. Mabry is a left-handed pinch hitter who can fill holes as a corner outfielder and corner infield. Jeff Baker and Steve Finley are the other bench players in the outfield. Manny Corpas and Ramon Ramirez were awarded the final spots in the bullpen as well. (via Denver Post and Rockies.com)
I'm pretty much convinced that the only positive development from the All-Star game is that it gives people like us something to debate during the middle of generally uneventful summers. And of course, this year is no exception; there were many All-Star snubs. Here are some players from the NL West that definitely deserve to be in San Francisco, along with players they should have replaced (which so often is overlooked):
Status Check
It's become 
It's a peculiar thing; I couldn't care less about the actual game, but I have fits over making sure the right players are selected as participants. And I cannot tell you how much I enjoy going to the ballpark -- at least once in June -- to make sure I fill out my ballot and do my part in serving justice. With that in mind, here are the names of some NL West players next to whom you should punch holes on the All-Star ballot. (I have included pitchers I would select even though we can't vote for them)
As Gaslamp Ball puts it, this must be a story the writers keep in their back pockets to use when they want to take an early lunch. Because 
Here's a look around the NL West and what final roster moves your team made to prepare for Opening Day:
