Halo’s Saunders: A-Rod No All-Star
Via Tom Singer -
As Alex Rodriguez worked his way back to the Majors following surgery on his right hip, and finally arrived, the Yankees third baseman received mostly encouragement and sympathy from his peers.
Don’t include Angels left-hander Joe Saunders in his support group.
In fact, Saunders would probably like for A-Rod’s name to be recalled from ballots for the 2009 All-Star Game.
Following an offseason of steroid revelations and confessions, Saunders said he would not vote for Rodriguez, regardless of whatever compelling numbers he puts up.
As Saunders put it to the Los Angeles Times, “It’s over for him.”
Speaking following Saturday night’s game against Kansas City, flush with his 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten sensation Zack Greinke, Saunders didn’t buy that fans are greeting the returning Rodriguez with a “forgive-and-forget” attitude.
“I think the fans do care,” Saunders said. “Pretty much everybody wants a game without cheating.”
Saunders went on to say that the stain of steroid allegations aside, he considered Evan Longoria the American League’s most deserving All-Star candidate at third base, and that he would get his vote, regardless.
It’s an interesting question. Should Alex Rodriguez be on the 2009 A.L. All-Star squad this year? What do you think – and why?
Doesnt really matter what we think..the most deserving player often does not get in. Will Arod make it? Possibly. There’s also a good chance that Manny and Ortiz make the All Star Team too.
(thinking about this without the players involved, and just as a general if u get caught cheating should u be on the all star team) i thought the game counted now…shouldn’t we want the best players on the field regardless of whether they got caught? If not, the game shouldn’t count…now talking about the actual situation, i think Longoria is on fire and if he keeps it up i think he deserves to be the starting 3B regardless as well, but to not put a-rod on the team at all doesn’t make sense if this game is supposed to count
It’s a moot point unless A-Rod goes on enough of a tear for six weeks to make himself a viable candidate. It’s hard to imagine him closing the performance gap with Longoria, and I’m imagining he would have to take a significant lead to overcome the votes he’d lose to those angry about the PEDs. But then again, I’m forgetting how silly the fan vote usually is. It tends to favor name recognition, which A-Rod has plenty of. Of course, maybe Longoria picks up some votes from “Desperate Housewives” fans.
How nice of Joe Saunders to weigh in on the topic when he shares a locker-room with Gary Matthews Jr. Did he conveniently forget that or is this just one more example of ripping on A-Rod for pure sport? Would he speak up against his own teammate in the (unlikely) event that Matthews made the All-Star team?
It cracks me up that players can be so judgemental of their peers, especially since we know how rampant and widespread the use of PED’s was in the game.
The All-Star game, despite the whole “Now it Counts” nonsense is an exhibition…which is why the fans are allowed to pick the starters. The players the most fans want to see are in the game. If the fans want to see him, he’ll be there. Even if he he’s not picked as the starter, he probably should be because he’s one of the biggest stars of the game.
Looking at it with an unbiased eye, of course Longoria is the most deserving right now, and considering his ridiculous start, probably would be even if A-Rod had played all season. But how often has the most deserving player been snubbed at the All-Star game. Answer: Very.
Should be on the team…not should be a starter. Sorry
bfriley76 wrote:
regardless of the fans, a-rod will be on the team…we all know this…i think the question here is really whether a-rod should be kept off of it or not
MJ wrote:
Exactly!
Only in America can we get all indignant about a potential A-Rod All-Star appearance but completely ignore that a few years ago the incorrectly spelled Shawne Merriman was voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the same season he ws suspended four games for using an anabolic steroid.
@ sean mcnally:
Well-put.
OK, as far as anyone’s been able to prove, A-Rod has (admitted ) using steroids in 2001-3.
1) Why does that have anything to do with whether he’s an All-Star in 2009? Ron Leflore served time for armed robbery, yet was still allowed to appear in the 1976 All-Star game.
2) As mentioned above, the best players are NOT always chosed for the All-Star teams.
3) Also as mentioned above, it’s very unlikely that A-Rod can re-establish himself as worthy of being chosen in time to win the vote; odds are at least 50/50 that he won’t be chosen as a backup either. Longoria seems the very likely fan vote winner. Michael Young looks like the backup, along with Lowell, possibly. Inge and Teahen are also viable right now, possibly DeRosa and Rolen as well.
4) However, if he performs well, and the fans vote him in, I don’t see any reason he should not be on the team. It’s supposed to be the fans’ game; let them make the call. Now, if he’s suspended for any reason, then obviously no, he shouldn’t be on the team. But, failing that, if chosen, he should be. And personally, I hope he is, because if he is, it’d mean that he had a hot streak from here to the Break.