Fan Email of the Week, Vol. 3

In response to our podcast double o ocho, we received an email from Paul C. up in Belcamp, MD. He is both informative and incredulous:

Two comments, first, the meniscus in the knee is the cartilage the sits basically on top of your tibia that cushions the impact from your femur (thing bone) and tibia (larger of the lower leg bones) rubbing. Without meniscus you basically have bone on bone contact.

Well now I know, and knowing is half the battle. Go Joe!

For seconds, what are your feelings about including a player from each team? I think that is a stupid rule in my opinion, the rule points to the fact MLB acknowledges the fact the all-star game is not for the best players in each league. Thoughts?

Personally I think that is the best rule in all of MLB, gameplay included. The game is a representation of the best players in the league, sure. But it also a representation of the league itself. How could you eliminate entire sections of the country by telling the fan base their team stinks and they have no good players? Without that rule, it would be a Yankees/Red Sox All Star game, and most sane people do not want to see that. We see it everyday on television. Contrary to standard beliefs, statistics in baseball is driven more by the team than by the individual. Does the number 9 hitter on a great team have the same opportunities for accumulating stats than the 9 hitter on a bad team? Case in point, my favorite former Nat Ryan Church. He was having an all star caliber season until he slid incorrectly trying to break up a double play. Would he hit like that, statistically, in Washington? Doubtful.

Now that I am thinking about it, I think only one player from each team should make the squad. It would eliminate all this phony garbage of popular votes. 14 in the AL, 16 in the NL. Deal with it. Don’t like the numbers? Alter the league structures. Hmm, lets see, how about leagues with equal teams in it? I know it is a crazy idea. And if they want the game to mean something, then play it like a game. And stop using 6 freakin’ closers to round out a pitching staff. Let the pitchers pitch in the game, like it was a real game. How many players get used during a regular game anyways? I say no more than 14.

One per team. That’s it. That is my stance from here on out. Take away the supply and it increases the demand. Especially when those losers in big markets get nominated because every kid under the age of 15 votes 11,372 times. You do know the players get bonuses for appearances right? Imagine if they actually had to EARN that appearance. Another novel idea, getting what is deserved. Oh, and one more thing, you can’t have the game be fun and serious at the same time. It never works. You play a pickup sport with that attitude, someone gets hurt. You watch a sporting event with that attitude, everyone loses. Quality sucks. Decrease the supply.

Raphonomics.

FYI: Hart over Burrell?? Go to MLB.com and look at batting stats for NL, he’s top 5 in HR, BB and OBS, and if you look at everyone above and below him, they all made the all-star game except him. And dont say its the park, if you havent watched him, he hits bombs!!!!

Does he hit bombs in the bottom of the 8th off of mop-up relievers when the score is 10-3? How is it possible to have 54 RBIs on 22 HRs? For the record, I wouldn’t vote for Hart either. That was Dewey. I would say Carlos Lee, personally.

So thanks for the email Paul and keep tuning in. I know its hard being a Phillies fan. Maybe this year they will live up to the expectations. Or at the very worst, have another MVP. That would be a record. Three different MVPs from the same team for three years in a row. It is always good to have records.

CORRECTION: “As for 3 different MVPs from one team 3 straight years, that has happened 3 other times,’38,’39,’40(Reds); ‘41,’42,’43(Stankies), and ‘61,’62,’63(Stankies). Need a stat man???” - Paul C.

I did not say the record would be in sole possession of the Phillies, just that it is record. But thanks for the information. Yes, we do need a stat man. Interested?