AL Relievers for All-Star Team

NOSEtoRAVE

Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Oct 9, 2006

June 24, 2008 3:04 pm

Score: 92

Since today seems to be poll starting day, I decided to come up with one of my own. Is Papelbon an all-star this year?

How stats rank right now among closers -

1. Francisco Rodriguez - 31 saves - 2.06 ERA - without a doubt a no brainer for the AL all-star team.

2. George Sherrill - 25 saves - 2 wins - 2 losses - 3.21 ERA - debatable I guess, but 25 saves and a decent ERA as well as being even in other stats like hits, k's, and walks with k-rod I'd give him the nod. Biggest drawback is 12 earned runs.

3. Mariano Rivera - 21 saves - 2 wins - 2 losses - .76 ERA - In save opps he's been lights out. His only struggles have come in games when he comes in and it's tied giving up a few homers, but only 3 earned runs on the year in 35.1 innings is ridiculous. No brainer for the all-star team

4. Jonathan Papelbon - 21 saves - 3 wins - 2 losses - 2.16 ERA - Has struggled in one run save opps this season, blowing 4 of them. Is an 80% save percentage worthy of an all-star nod?

5. Joakim Soria - 20 saves - 1 loss - 1.32 ERA. This guy has been very good this year. Averaging a k an inning, has only given up 5 earned runs, and allowed 18 hits in 34 innings.

Last year the AL had 4 relievers on the all-star roster (not counting Okajima who was voted in by the fans I think). So I ask, if the AL takes four relievers again this year, which one does not get an invite?

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AL Relievers for All-Star Team -
NOSEtoRAVE Reputation:79 Level:Pro Since:Oct 9, 2006
	June 24, 2008 3:06 pm Score: 92
	Is Papelbon an all-star this year? Meant to remove this from the original posting as I did not want this to be another Rock type thread where we applaud our guy and hate on the other. That said, I voted for Paps to be voted off simply for the blown saves. 80% save percentage is not worthy of an all-star nod.
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AL Relievers for All-Star Team -
CHIEFSAREIN Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Jan 3, 2007
	June 24, 2008 3:08 pm Score: 97
	Soria going 20 for 21 in save opputunities is the 2nd most impressive closer on the list. But since he plays for KC he'll get snubbed and Guillen whose 2nd in RBI's and 1st in extra base hits will get the lone representative from the Royals, can you say Carlos Beltran.
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AL Relievers for All-Star Team -
DukFuke2thaMax Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Jan 17, 2008
	June 24, 2008 3:12 pm Score: 93
	It is between Sherrill and Paps for "last man out." I voted Paps because Sherrill has 1 less blown save and most of the damage against him was done by the Yankees in a non-save situation (2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB). Also, Paps has allowed 5 unearned runs in 33 IP. While that is an indictment of the Sox defense, it also says that he has some trouble picking up his teammates.
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AL Relievers for All-Star Team -
pittbaster Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Jan 15, 2007
	June 24, 2008 3:13 pm Score: 97
	I would've voted Sherrill, but somebody from the O's has to go because of a rule that is, IMHO, really stupid. Love what he's done for the birds, but I dunno about All-Star. The more deserving reliever, Jim Johnson, would never get it because he's not a closer. Since he doesn't pitch for Boston or NY, fans won't vote for him on the "last in" crap despite his awesome numbers. Of course, there might also be someone more deserving than him on the last-spot ballot, since we don't know what that looks like yet.
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