I know a lot of you don't especially care, but here are my picks for the All-Star game 2002. Try not to criticize my AL choices, since I'm an NL watcher and don't see a lot of AL games. I just went by stats for the AL.

American League

1B) Carlos Peña - OAK: This kid seems like he's having a big year. I know Giambi is good, but this kid's got more RBI and stolen bases.
2B) Alfonso Soriano - NYY: Soriano's having a career year so far, despite the strikeouts. Hands down the best numbers.
3B) Shea Hillenbrand - BOS: The guy is hitting some insane BA and has a lot of RBIs.
SS) I submitted two ballots to MLB for this, since I think Nomar and Jeter are both excellent players, but overall numbers point to Nomar Garciaparra - BOS.
C) Sandy Alomar - CWS: I've been following those White Sox and Sandy's having a hell of a year.
OF1) Manny Ramirez - BOS: No contest here.
OF2) Torii Hunter - MIN: This kid's hitting big, and has some impressive numbers. Another exorbitant BA.
OF3) Kenny Lofton - CWS: Dear lord, even Rickey's gonna have trouble stealing more bases than this guy!

National League

1B) Eric Karros - LA: He's baaaaaack! Look out, folks.
2B) Jose Vidro - MON: Watching these Expos play this year, it's like they're a different team. Vidro is playing much better under Frank Robinson.
3B) Scott Rolen - PHI: He's got a hell of a swing, and he's fast, too.
SS) Rafael Furcal - ATL: The Braves may not be doing well, but Furcal's still the best NL shortstop.
C) Mike Piazza - NYM: Do we need an explanation?
OF1) Barry Bonds - SF: Again, no explanation needed.
OF2) J.D. Drew - STL: Hitting better than Sosa and far less prone to the strikeout. He's also not afraid to snag a base.
OF3) Vladimir Guerrero - MON: Best player in the NL. Hands down. This kid's got it all, homers, ribbies, stolen bases, batting average, and one hell of an arm.

I'm sure I'll get some flak about choosing Nomar over Jeter, but I'm not going by past performances here. I'm going by how said person is doing this year, which is what you're supposed to do. Nomar's got better numbers this year so far. If that changes, I can always send another ballot in.

Calliander - Keepin' it fresh for '02, YOU SUCKAS!

I know, umm, probably about 80% of you don't give a damn and hate this kind of post, so I'll keep it short. I love baseball. This season is going so well so far, after a terrible first game with Pedro. So, far, in the last three games, including tonight: Wakefield got his first win, with 0 walks, and has taken the fifth starter position for now; Pedro pitched extremely well in his second outing of the season, and he had the old Pedro attitude; and then, perhaps best of all, two games ago the sequence of Rickey Henderson-Johnny Damon-Nomar worked perfectly, with Henderson getting on, sneaking his way out to third when Damon got on base, and then Nomar hitting a home run, it was fucking great.

Other than that...I'm really bored - one of the reasons that I entered this stupid post. I'm dreading the upcoming few weeks, and I miss my girlfriend. That's all, I think.

Stone 3000

It should be illegal to be cold and/or snow after March 15th. And while we're on the subject of making things we can't control illegal, AIDS should be illegal, too. That fuckin shit kills people, we can't allow that motherfucker to keep doing what it's doing, put AIDS under arrest. Lock that shithead up. Damn it.

My real purpose of writing is this: New York starter Jeff D'Amico fired seven shutout innings against the Tigers on Monday. The right-hander allowed only three hits and no runs, walked one and struck out four. After allowing a bunt single to Jose Macias in the first D'Amico retired 13 in a row. Only two baserunners made it as far as second against D'Amico and one of them, Wendell Magee, who doubled in the sixth, was picked off by D'Amico. (Preceding info from mlb.com.)

Damn. I guess Stone was right about this kid. If he continues to do this stuff (he pitched pretty much the same game his last time out) through the year, and doesn't get injured, that could be helpful since the Mets have a shitty shitty shitty shitty pitching rotation without solid work from at least one starter. This kid D'Amico is insane.

Okay, that's enough, sorry for the baseball talk. =)

Really well played game tonight, and it ended with the Patriots winning! Great stuff.

Stone

Sorry for those of you who find this topic boring.

Well, after sitting and watching five weeks of the Mets' general manager basically send a team of people out to acquire seven things the team was missing the whole season, it's interesting to think about the chances they'll have this coming year. I think, after such an abysmal season they had (82-80), it really can only get better. The only problem is that they're hedging on a lot of potential, not proven talent. Like, if so-and-so does well... and etc. explanations. I think the GM, Steve Phillips, has a few more moves up his sleeves.

Personally, I'd leave the team alone now. I've heard people say they want Rick Reed back, and to trade Steve Trachsel for him. Shea stadium is a pitcher's heaven. When Rick Reed left, his ERA inflated. Once Steve Trachsel got back on track, his ERA was a little bit lower than his career average, which means one important thing: The man is a consistent pitcher no matter where he's pitching. Again, we're hedging on expected performance, though. Another matter is Rey Ordonez. The Mets have been transformed into a team that can get on base and produce runs, theoretically. Rey Ordonez, however, is a very light hitter. One thing that stands out for Rey is that he's probably, if not the best, the second-best shortstop defensively. I think the lineup can afford a number 8 hitter who is mainly there to get on base so the other team can get the pitcher out.

It's funny, because here's the team that's been sent out so far:

1B) Todd Zeile - not the best, but not bad
2B) none
3B) Robin Ventura - still a great player
SS) Desi Relaford - really got better with the Mets, stole 13 bases, a good spark plug
CF) Matt Lawton - a quick, decent-hitting outfielder
LF) Tsuyoshi Shinjo - an incredible clutch hitter (8 game-winning HRs, among other important hits) and a defensive wizard
RF) David Justice - not great, but still good
DH) Benny Agbayani - a hit with the crowd, and a decent hitter
PH) Lenny Harris - currently the pinch-hit leader, great off the bench
SP) Kevin Appier - a former all-star and still a good pitcher
SP) Glendon Rusch - shaky at times, but when he's on, he's fantastic
RP) Jerrod Riggan - watch this kid, he's got Seaver 2 written all over him, struck out Bonds two games in a row
AAA Player) Alex Escobar - should, with development, be a great outfielder

Get some more pitchers and a second basemen... That team could beat the Devil Rays in their sleep. Hehe. Possibly the Royals and last year's Rangers.

One thing that's funny is that the Yankees really only made one big move this offseason in Giambi. Yeah, they got Wells back, but that wasn't so big and the rest of their moves were just fills. Look forward to another World Series featuring everyone's favorite team and possibly some Mets action in the post-season.

The game is still fixed, though. Suck it. =P

I hit the enter button while typing the title of that last post. Anyway, The campus is all in an uproar at the possibility of a Philadelphia/Pittsburgh Superbowl. My roommate was so jazzed about the Steelers game yesterday he drank a 12 pack to his dome throughout the course of it.

Normally,I wouldn't care... but I get to go home for Super Bowl weekend! YAY! So strike up the band and gather the troops... I'm coming home.

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Boston, in general, is a really nice place. It's extremely pleasant and although the weather can be crappy during the winter, it's nice for the rest of the year. The people are nice, it would just be difficult to deal with the Boston sports fans if you happen to like the New York teams. But that's the way it is anywhere, really. Oh well. Still a nice place. Hope you feel better, Caniprokis. =)

How long has baseball been as fake as wrestling? Am I just so stupid I'm only noticing it now?

I haven't done any stupid posts in a while:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1217547.html

KNUCKLEBALL!

Stn