General Sports Water Cooler

Jones and Johnson are obvious all-stars, but we really don't have any other candidates. Maybe Hardy, but it would be pretty unlikely that they give the Os three roster spots since they have to make sure at least 6 Yankees are on the team.

His offensive numbers are pretty immaterial.

His numbers AT the AS break last year (when he was an All-Star): 8 HR, 34 RBIs, .728 OPS

His numbers already this year: 8 HR, 21 RBIs, .789 OPS

And of course there is the whole best defensive catcher in the game thing.

I think Hammel could work himself into the conversation with a strong June. 5-1 right now with a 3.12 ERA. If he's sitting on 8 wins with a sub 3 ERA in a month he would merit consideration. Of course, the knee problem could make that difficult...........

Kids day at the ballpark. 7000 school children on a field trip.

Being deserving and actually being selected are two completely different things. I hope you're right.

The game is going to awful to listen to on the radio today. 7000 Bob Carpenters in the stands will have me thinking every crack of the bat is a 500-foot homer.

I think Wieters is more likely to make the team than Johnson, though I think they both would be on if the team was selected today.

Wieters is more of a "name", there's virtually no competition at catcher, and it helps that he's been on the team previously.

Also, when looking for an All-Star on some of the crappy teams (Royals, Twins, A's, etc.) and nobody is truly deserving, it's easy/lazy for them to just throw Capps, Broxton, or Balfour on the team because, hey, 10 saves!* Often some deserving closers get left off because of this. Though as long as Johnson is leading the league in saves and still has a sub-2.00 ERA a month from now, I can't imagine he'd get left off.

* See George Sherill, 2008.

It will be interesting. Quite a few catchers off to good starts in the AL, now that I look at it. But remember- reserves are picked by players and coaches.

The AS Manager comes from the team with the best record right? Let's just have the best record.

Maybe it is, I haven't been too concerned with that in a while.

It's WS managers. Stro must be thinking of soccer.

Then let's just win the world series this year.

In 2005, Roberts, Mora, Tejada and Ryan all made the AS team. Continue playing well, and 3 or 4 reps is certainly possible. Johnson and Jones are near locks as of now.