I had noticed when I went over to vote for the 2007 All-Star’s that the name Curtis Granderson was not there. Danny Knobler the Tigers Insider spells out why:
Here’s the problem: With the All-Star Game in San Francisco this year, there’s no room for a designated hitter on the AL ballot. That meant the Tigers had to list Gary Sheffield as an outfielder, and it meant that one of the starting outfielders had to be left off (each team is limited to three outfielders on the ballot). Magglio Ordonez was an obvious choice, and the Tigers chose Craig Monroe over Granderson for the final spot.
Boo. I wrote in Curtis and you should too. I am really surprised that the Tigers chose Monroe over Granderson for placement on the ballot. Granderson certainly has the larger following and hence the larger chance of selection, at least from where I sit.
One last response to:
And to the e-mailer who wanted Leyland to leave Zumaya in the game for the ninth, get serious. Jones has been as dependable as any closer in baseball since the middle of last season.
I wasn’t the emailer but I suggested this too, actually I said it should have been that way and I was serious. Having a closer to come into a game once the bullpen has been tapped and you need that guy you can hand the last inning over to is important. I like that idea. In this case there was no purpose to Jones entering the game, Zumaya had thrown 7 pitches and had a day off the next day. The suggestion has nothing to do with Jones dependability this year it has to do with the fact there was no purpose to his pitching today. He simply wasn’t needed.
Wow, I am really suprised they left Granderson off the ballot as well. He would definitely get my vote before Monroe, but Granderson is my favorite player.
Jones had been really good this year and I had no problem with the move to bring him in, but I have to say I completely agree with your thinking in the last paragraph. Zumaya was fireballing and had a very easy 8th, and with an off day coming no reason he couldn’t have pitched the 9th. I wonder if that automatic move to the closer in that situation has something to do with keeping the closer happy and his confidence level high.
I didn’t have a problem at the time. I thought to myself when I saw Jones coming in that I wish they’d have stuck with Zumaya but certainly wasn’t worried with a 2 run lead and Jones YTD performance.
In hindsight it is always easier and I’d agree with you that Leyland probably sticks to his guns here because he wants to show confidence (he did last year and the situation looked more grim at the time.) I just don’t really buy that reasoning though.
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