Manny Missing the All Star game

[Bulldog]

I dont know guys, Im consider myself a Manny Fan, I think hes definitely one of the best pure hitters in the game, but this Im injured shit... Im just not buying it.
This would be the 3rd time the guy skips the All Star game, not to mention he's the leading vote getter.
Some guys at ESPN say, keep him out of the ballot next year and give someone else a chance
What do you guys think??

[Willie Bee]

The media will pass it off as Manny just being Manny If it was the first time he'd begged out with some seemingly lame excuse, it would be different. Just another reason why the game shouldn't count for anything more than just the exhibition that it is.

[Illusion]

Manny has made some mistakes in the past and I have always gave him the benefit of the doubt, but this is too much. Missing the game again is jjust inexcusable.

[bigboydan]

francona and ortiz both are backing manny on this one.

i'm not saying i'm agreeing with missing the all-star classic, but you gotta find it strange to miss 3 straight all-star appearences in a row in regards to his "injury"

this is the type of stuff that could be bad down the road for his HOF first ballot chances.

[tacomax]

If the frickin' coach isn't taking it seriously by "overlooking" Contreras then you can't really start having a pop at the players.

Incidentally, can someone enlighten me as to the point of the all-star game? And, if it has a point, why not just play it at the end of the season?

[isetcap]

He could miss every All Star Game for the rest of his career...his performance in games that COUNT will force the committee to put him in first ballot.

For every 162 games he plays this is what you get:

.314 BA
42 Homeruns
136 RBI
.410 OBP
.600 Slug
1.010 OPS

For his 13+ year career thus far, he has:

458 HRs
1477 RBI
2005 Hits

Since becoming a full-time player with the Indians in 1995, he has averaged over 143 games played per season. This year he is on pace to play in over 150 games for the fourth straight season. Offensively, he is playing as if he is in his prime at the age of 34. Should he play for 5 more somewhat productive seasons, he will have over 600 homeruns, over 2000 RBI and close to 3000 hits.

This year he is on pace to hit .314 with 47 HR and 128 RBI. That is taking into account a very slow start to the season.

He is one of the greatest offensive players baseball has ever seen. They won't deny him votes to the HOF just because he didn't show up for exhibition games. Just like Barry, the only way he doesn't go first time around is if he is CONVICTED of committing a crime against baseball. Skipping the All Star Game is intelligent, it's not a crime.

[isetcap]

If the frickin' coach isn't taking it seriously by "overlooking" Contreras then you can't really start having a pop at the players.

Not sure why you think Contreras should be starting when he has only gone 17-0 in his last 17 regular season decisions since last year's All Star Game. Somewhere in the middle of all that he really stunk things up by going 3-1 in the playoffs while the White Sox surged to a World Series victory. That's a piss poor 20-1 overall. Looks like Taco is playing "favorites" again.

[Willie Bee]

francona and ortiz both are backing manny on this one.

Right. This just in, my mom loves me. Of course, she could just be saying that so as not to upset our next family dinner.

Incidentally, can someone enlighten me as to the point of the all-star game? And, if it has a point, why not just play it at the end of the season?

The point of the game was strictly to give fans a chance to see the players they liked and the true stars in the game play to see just how some lifelong NL pitcher like Tom Glavine might fare against some lifelong AL slugger such as Alex Rodriguez. Those lines are blurred now, so that has cost the contest some of its luster. It's really just a monotony breaker nowadays, a big cha-ching for the owners/players/media. Having said that, I really enjoy watching the game (with sound down and some jazz or classical music on, anything but Tim McCarver).

As for why it's not played after the season, if you think players that are begging out now are wimpy, wait until you get a look at the list of stars opting out when it's being played in Pittburgh a week or so before Thanksgiving!

[Bulldog]

I agree with isetcap that Manny is a first ballot HOF all star or no all star games.

As for whats the point of the all star game I think everyone forgot... you know after it ended up in a tie.