All-Star Game: Mistakes (opinion thread)

[nolanryan5714]

I'm going to start this early, even before the game is over, because I've seen a couple that I'd like to see taken back from the N.L. standpoint.

Clemens should have started. Period.

Roy Oswalt should NOT have been inserted when he was. The heart of the lineup approaching, and his first ASG - I just wouldn't have played that card.

Willis should have gone in at the time Roy did.
Since I can't turn back the clock, Clemens should have pitched 2 innings, on top of that.

Ensberg should have batted in the 6th. His RBI bat is too hot to waste.


My thoughts are becoming a skewed mess.
Anyone else?

[Reed Johnson]

Shea Hillenbrand should be allowed to bat!
Kenny Rogers should not be playing.
I also agree with you in that Clemens should have started the game and then Carpenter.

[nolanryan5714]

I could just cry...but, as we all know, there's no crying in baseball.



If the pitching mixup would have been different, we would most likely be tied at the moment.

Sheeeesh......

[efin98]

Clemens should have gone in in the fourth after Willis and Carpenter.

Hernandez should have been yanked as soon as he got in trouble.

Oswalt should have been held back as a "long reliever". "His first All Star Game" isn't a good excuse since he played in the playoffs- much harder to pitch there than in the All Star Game.

I would have held off sending out every starting pitcher, keep at least one in relief just in case the game ends up like 2002...probably Oswalt and Rogers.

[nolanryan5714]

Originally Posted by efin98

Oswalt should have been held back as a "long reliever". "His first All Star Game" isn't a good excuse since he played in the playoffs- much harder to pitch there than in the All Star Game.

Sorry, I know it sounded like I was making an excuse, but I wasn't thinking that. I thought strategically, in the mindset, it would be better to put in Willis ahead of Oswalt.

This game was fun to watch, but ultimately has much to be desired. ESPECIALLY in the management department.

[efin98]

Originally Posted by nolanryan5714

Sorry, I know it sounded like I was making an excuse, but I wasn't thinking that. I thought strategically, in the mindset, it would be better to put in Willis ahead of Oswalt.

Not really, Oswalt is a righty and Willis is a lefty. Damon and Ortiz are lefties and have trouble facing them...in the best interest of the NL to have him in over Oswalt

This game was fun to watch, but ultimately has much to be desired. ESPECIALLY in the management department.

I think it was well coached considering the teams only know each other for two days.

[Reed Johnson]

The 2 guys I wanted to see most (Bay and Hillenbrand) never even got to bat! I think if every team is gonna be represented then there player should get to bat. Like I would understand if it was the red sox, Rangers, or Cardinals but come on. Were Bay and Hillenbrand the only player who didnt get to bat?

[Kastofsna]

Well Danys Baez didn't get to pitch, so I feel for ya!

[nolanryan5714]

Originally Posted by efin98

Not really, Oswalt is a righty and Willis is a lefty. Damon and Ortiz are lefties and have trouble facing them...in the best interest of the NL to have him in over Oswalt.

I don't think so, because 1) they are unfamiliar with him, and 2) he can shut down lefties with the best of them.

And as we saw...

Anyway, I stick by my thoughts.

[efin98]

Originally Posted by nolanryan5714

I don't think so, because 1) they are unfamiliar with him, and 2) he can shut down lefties with the best of them.

And as we saw...

Anyway, I stick by my thoughts.

The obvious Astros scew aside: Considering you said so yourself that it was his first All Star Game and considering he is a rightie, any manager would choose Willis over Oswalt. Familiarity has nothing to do with it, they play each other during Spring Training so they are familiar with him.

[Perseas]

It may sound biassed but Andruw Jones should have been the starting Centerfielder for the NL.

[nolanryan5714]

Originally Posted by efin98

The obvious Astros scew aside: Considering you said so yourself that it was his first All Star Game and considering he is a rightie, any manager would choose Willis over Oswalt. Familiarity has nothing to do with it, they play each other during Spring Training so they are familiar with him.

Not by much. Not enough to affect the ASG.

Efin98, you are a great poster. I don't expect you to agree with me all of the time...however, Oswalt could have been inserted into a better slot in the game.

Tough pill for all N.L. fans.

[efin98]

Originally Posted by nolanryan5714

Not by much. Not enough to affect the ASG.

Efin98, you are a great poster. I don't expect you to agree with me all of the time...however, Oswalt could have been inserted into a better slot in the game.

Tough pill for all N.L. fans.

Willis was never going to go in later than the third or fourth inning, Oswalt wasn't going in before the fifth inning. Willis is having the better year, there's no way LaRussa would have not inserted him in before Oswalt. Not in a tight game.

Also how about this: Oswalt pitched last Saturday, Willis last Friday. Willis had the more rested arm.

[nolanryan5714]

Well, you have heard my side of the story.


What would you have proposed, then?

[efin98]

Originally Posted by nolanryan5714

Well, you have heard my side of the story.


What would you have proposed, then?

Looking at the schedules, Willis should have been in second behind Carpenter. Clemens third, then Hernandez fourth. Oswalt kept in relief since he had pitched the closest to the game.

[nolanryan5714]

How about batting?

You intrigue me with your insight...might as well keep it going.

Just don't get mad, or I'll QUACK at you.

[efin98]

Originally Posted by nolanryan5714

How about batting?

You intrigue me with your insight...might as well keep it going.

Just don't get mad, or I'll QUACK at you.

Batting's not my area of strength, but I would have had the NL stars running more. Try to get something going when they were down 5-0, had they done that maybe they would have come back earlier instead of in the seventh and eighth inning...

[CuriousBoston]

That Clemens didn't start. I think the game would have been very different. Clemens is always awesome, do not understand that at all.

Damon was thrown out at first. He's not usually thrown out. The Nationals infield fielding was very nice to watch, I kept thinking of Bellhorn and Renteria.

I just hope that Franncona is able to use the home field advantage!

[BoofBonser26]

Here's a mistake: they let FOX televise the game. What was with those slanted stat bars? They were illegible!

And starting Carpenter seemed like an odd choice, but I really don't feel strongly about it.

[west coast orange and black]

Originally Posted by BoofBonser26

Here's a mistake: they let FOX televise the game.

agreed, man.

i can not tolerate the incessant background swoosh and swish noises used to accompany their graphics, so i watched the tube but listened to the radio.

[west coast orange and black]

moises alou had the audacity to hit a double when he could'a hooked up with his dad, coaching first, with a single.

he almost had another crack at it but was left in the on deck circle at game's end.

[jamze132]

Well for starters, I am a Mets fan and was rather annoyed to see Beltran and Piazza have as many at bats as they did. There where far more deserving players who should have took their roster spot.

We all remember what happened to Roger Clemens last year in Houston don't we? Maybe that's why he didn't start.

I still hate Roy Oswalt.

[GiambiJuice]

Originally Posted by CuriousBoston

That Clemens didn't start. I think the game would have been very different. Clemens is always awesome, do not understand that at all.

Are you forgetting that Roger gave up 6 runs in the first inning of last year's all-star game?

[moviegeekjan]

Originally Posted by GiambiJuice

Are you forgetting that Roger gave up 6 runs in the first inning of last year's all-star game?

and Carpenter gave up 0 this year

I'm just confused why so many are taking this game seriouisly... it's still an exhibition, no matter how much they promote "now it means something"

[PopTop]

I've always enjoyed this game, and never really cared about the outcome. I root for a few of my favorite players in the contest, hope they do well, and that's it.

The biggest mistake is having the game count for anything besides dollars in MLB's cash box. It's ridiculous that the ASG decides ANYTHING! On top of that, even though it does decide something, both managers nearly screwed the pooch and set the game up for another tie like a few years back. Part of me feels sorry for them since they're in the position to get everyone in the game yet now have the World Series home field advantage having over their heads. What if the NL ties it up and it goes extra innings last night? Francona still had Baez and Duchscherer while La Genius had Isringhausen and Fuentes in reserve. But how could either MGR have justified throwing those guys more than an inning each? And what would Osama bud Selig have done when the two managers came to him in the 11th inning and said they were out of arms? Would he have shrugged it off and made the decision to call it a tie and have 4 games in the AL park and 4 games in the NL park for the World Series?

Speaking of La Genius, what was the deal with Ensberg playing first base? Why not have one of his extra outfielders --- Jason Bay who never batted comes to mind --- DH and hold Pujols back to replace Derrek Lee at 1B with Ensberg spelling Aramis Ramirez down at 3B? I know, silly me, trying to be logical and have players perform at their natural positions

The game should be an exhibition, period!

I also agree with the previous poster who mentioned having FOX involved in any way was a mistake. Except that I hit the mute button as soon they treated Ernie Harwell with disrespect. You invite a man like Harwell on your show and ask him a question, you need to give him time to answer it. Not just walk all over him and cut him off like they did. Very disrespectful, in my opinion.