Hey lets vote our local MLB Player Josh Willingham into the 2010 All Stars game. He is on fire right now and is very deserving. He is listed under the NL in the outfield. You can vote up to 25 times.
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quote:You can vote up to 25 times.
and this is fair.....
quote:Originally posted by barbaros45:quote:You can vote up to 25 times.
and this is fair.....
I would say it is, since EVERYBODY can vote 25 times.
The MLB All Star game is nothing more than a publicity contest. You don't have to be the best player, only the most popular. Not dissing Willingham, he's a good player, but he's batting under .270 with 6 homers and 20 RBI's in 100 at bats. While these numbers are better than some, they certainly don't make you an allstar. Neither does being from Florence or going to UNA.
You're kidding right??? I like Josh, and try to follow him as much as possible, but he's not even an everyday player. Good player yes, All Star...I'm sure even Josh would tell you he's not deserving of that honor.
Not an everyday player? Wrong. He's played in all 33 games this year, and he played in 133 games last year.
He's the everyday left fielder. Rarely does anyone play 162 games. People need a day off here and there, unless you're Cal Ripken.
Willingham might not be a lock for the All Star game, but he's one of the five best left fielders in the NL easy.
The lesson? Think before you post.
He's the everyday left fielder. Rarely does anyone play 162 games. People need a day off here and there, unless you're Cal Ripken.
Willingham might not be a lock for the All Star game, but he's one of the five best left fielders in the NL easy.
The lesson? Think before you post.
Go Nats!
To further clarify, here are Willingham's stats compared to other NL left fielders...
tied for 3rd in RBIs
tied for 2nd in HRs
tied for 6th in hits
1st in walks
6th in batting average
3rd in plate appearances
And he hasn't grounded into a double play once this season.
Again, not an all-star lock, but he's in the discussion.
tied for 3rd in RBIs
tied for 2nd in HRs
tied for 6th in hits
1st in walks
6th in batting average
3rd in plate appearances
And he hasn't grounded into a double play once this season.
Again, not an all-star lock, but he's in the discussion.
Like I said earlier, not dissing Willingham, but if I had one vote for the best LF in MLB today, JW wouldn't be it, Braun would. IMO a fan should get one vote for whomever he thinks are the best players at their positions. If someone thinks JW is the best they should vote for him based on his on field performance, not on where he's from.
Right, but no one said he's THE BEST left fielder in the MLB. Just that he should be in the discussion to be named to the NL All Star team. After all, they do take more than one left fielder.
JW may make the all-star team as a reserve, which are chosen by votes of other players and choices of the managers. Fans chose eight position player starters. On fan all-star ballots, fans can vote for 3 outfielders to comprise the starting OF in the all-star game. All I'm saying is, while he may very well make it as a reserve, fans can only vote for three outfielders, and as of right now, IMO he doesn't deserve a spot among the top three.
Agreed. He's not a top 3 OFer in the NL. But for someone -- not you -- to just spout off pure ignorance about him not even being an every day player, well, that's just ignorant.
Again, the lesson, as usual, is think before you speak/post.
Again, the lesson, as usual, is think before you speak/post.
I think ballotting should just list "outfield" anybody that knows baseball knows that your left field resident is your weakest defensive ballplayer( unless you happen to have a "Green Monster" and a leftfielder named "Yaz"! Nothing against Willinggham though he seem's like a really good guy!
Balloting DOES list just outfield.
Yes, JW has started 31 out of 34 games...so he's pretty much an every day player. He has decent power, as he will hit better than 20 HR's. He needs to be more consistent. He's very streaky. He's usually red hot or ice cold. He may go 10 for 20 with 4 homers one week, and 0 for 20 the next.
That's an example of why I said the all-star voting was a publicity contest. You end up with people that don't follow baseball that closely voting 25 times for a player like JW because he's from Florence.
That's an example of why I said the all-star voting was a publicity contest. You end up with people that don't follow baseball that closely voting 25 times for a player like JW because he's from Florence.
Honestly, though, who cares? The All Star game is a joke anyway, especially with the new rules put in place last week.
I knew it used to just list outfield but i haven't looked at a ballot in a few years and thought it might have changed
quote:Originally posted by NatsFan:
Agreed. He's not a top 3 OFer in the NL. But for someone -- not you -- to just spout off pure ignorance about him not even being an every day player, well, that's just ignorant.
Again, the lesson, as usual, is think before you speak/post.
You're joking right??? Basically a career 260 - 270 BA. Has some power, but nothing elite. Fielding is solid, but again nothing great. Very streaky... Not what I would call an All Star outfielder.
What does any of that -- his batting average, power, and fielding -- have to do with the incorrect assumption that Willingham isn't an everyday outfielder?
might actually watch it this year if Josh is playing.... we know there wont be many Braves to watch....
quote:Originally posted by NatsFan:
What does any of that -- his batting average, power, and fielding -- have to do with the incorrect assumption that Willingham isn't an everyday outfielder?
Ok, he plays most every day this year, but I've noticed a few times he's come in as a PH. The fact remains that although he is a solid player on a very mediocre team, he is not All Star material in anyway. I'm not a hater. I actually like Josh, and I hope to see him in an All Star game, but he's not there yet.
I think it might help if you actually knew what you were talking about.
The reason he comes in as a PH sometimes is that everyone needs a day off. The Nats are currently in a 20 games in 20 days stretch. They're not going to use the same exact lineup for all 20 games. No team would. Ever. Aside from that, it's not uncommon for managers to let guys sit out a day game following a night game.
This isn't the NFL. These guys play 162 games. Not too many Ripken's out there.
The reason he comes in as a PH sometimes is that everyone needs a day off. The Nats are currently in a 20 games in 20 days stretch. They're not going to use the same exact lineup for all 20 games. No team would. Ever. Aside from that, it's not uncommon for managers to let guys sit out a day game following a night game.
This isn't the NFL. These guys play 162 games. Not too many Ripken's out there.
quote:Originally posted by NatsFan:
I think it might help if you actually knew what you were talking about.
The reason he comes in as a PH sometimes is that everyone needs a day off. The Nats are currently in a 20 games in 20 days stretch. They're not going to use the same exact lineup for all 20 games. No team would. Ever. Aside from that, it's not uncommon for managers to let guys sit out a day game following a night game.
This isn't the NFL. These guys play 162 games. Not too many Ripken's out there.
He's still not "All Star" material by any stretch, or would you like to make a case for that?
Please read slowly and follow along this time...
1. I never said he was an All-Star. Just that he should be in the discussion.
2. You still cannot come to grips with the FACT that he IS an everyday player. Everyday players don't have to play every single day to be called everyday players. There's a reason he PHs in some games. Same reason Derek Jeter DHs some games. Same reason some of the best players in the history of the game have DHd or PHd.
1. I never said he was an All-Star. Just that he should be in the discussion.
2. You still cannot come to grips with the FACT that he IS an everyday player. Everyday players don't have to play every single day to be called everyday players. There's a reason he PHs in some games. Same reason Derek Jeter DHs some games. Same reason some of the best players in the history of the game have DHd or PHd.
quote:Originally posted by NatsFan:
Please read slowly and follow along this time...
1. I never said he was an All-Star. Just that he should be in the discussion.
2. You still cannot come to grips with the FACT that he IS an everyday player. Everyday players don't have to play every single day to be called everyday players. There's a reason he PHs in some games. Same reason Derek Jeter DHs some games. Same reason some of the best players in the history of the game have DHd or PHd.
Ok, Ok, I concede JW is an everyday player. I often look at the box scores, and don't see his name listed, but when I went back to look, you are correct, he does play in most every game this year. Past years he has had problems with injuries that have kept him out of the line up. I still don't believe he's an "All Star". Surely you're not comparing Willingham with Jeter?
Are you for real? You think I was comparing JW with Jeter as players? No. Just that everyone -- including Jeter -- gets, and needs, a day off every now and then. I used Jeter's name for emphasis, something obviously lost on you.
Oy.
Oy.
Willingham with the walk-off home run in the 10th inning as the Nats beat the Orioles.
Josh is a very worthy all-star candidate...check the stats.
quote:Originally posted by midknightrider:
Like I said earlier, not dissing Willingham, but if I had one vote for the best LF in MLB today, JW wouldn't be it, Braun would. IMO a fan should get one vote for whomever he thinks are the best players at their positions. If someone thinks JW is the best they should vote for him based on his on field performance, not on where he's from.
If the rules say 25 votes per person , then how would it be unfair to vote for him 25 times , since that pleasure is accorded to each and every candidate ? They should have only put in one vote per person and not the 25 , very unfair advantage if people dont take advantage of their right to vote 25 times , while others do . I am not sayint is is right , I am just saying that it is their rules .
I never said it was unfair...but it's not right. As long as you have fans involved in the process, there will be a segment of fans who will vote for the player they think deserves it. Then you'll have a segment of fans that will vote for they're teams players regardless. Fan voting in the MLB All-star game is just a popularity contest...a publicity gimmick brought to you by MLB and Sprint.
The last time I looked the Phillies fans were out in force and who do ya think they're voting for?
When Jimmy Rollins (who hasn't played hardly any this year because of injuries) is the leading vote getter at SS over Hanley Ramirez...something's not right. When Placido Polanco is the leader at 3B...something's not right. When Jason Werth and Shane Victorino are currently two of the top three outfielders...something's not right. When Raul Ibanez is currently #8 but Josh Willingham is not even in the top 15...somethings not right. While fan all star voting may be deemed fair, it's a joke.
JW has been hot lately, and while, IMO, he might not be one of the top three OF's, he deserves to be one of the top ten. Certainly more than Raul Ibanez.
The last time I looked the Phillies fans were out in force and who do ya think they're voting for?
When Jimmy Rollins (who hasn't played hardly any this year because of injuries) is the leading vote getter at SS over Hanley Ramirez...something's not right. When Placido Polanco is the leader at 3B...something's not right. When Jason Werth and Shane Victorino are currently two of the top three outfielders...something's not right. When Raul Ibanez is currently #8 but Josh Willingham is not even in the top 15...somethings not right. While fan all star voting may be deemed fair, it's a joke.JW has been hot lately, and while, IMO, he might not be one of the top three OF's, he deserves to be one of the top ten. Certainly more than Raul Ibanez.
knightrider - who would be your top 3?
quote:Originally posted by mann:
knightrider - who would be your top 3?
In the NL, Braun is a no-brainer. A. Ethier is also unless he completely falls off the table when he returns from the DL. The last spot is a lot harder to call. A few weeks ago, I would've said Heyward, Kemp, and Werth. JW is on a torrid pace and his stock has risen significantly. Werth is ice cold now, his stock has fallen dramatically. Now I would say Heyward, Kemp and Willingham. That's why I added the caveat, as of now, in my earlier post...you never know what can happen in a few weeks (see K. Morales). If JW can keep it up he would be my choice. All this is JMO and carries absolutely no weight...hahaha
That is one thing I do hate about this process...they open up the voting way to early. There is no way anyone knows who should play in the ALL-Star game half way into May. Voting should only be open for a week, the week before they announce the teams...
That's one reason I say this fan vote is just a publicity gimmick. When fans can vote 2 months before the game and 25 times, it's a farce. As of right now you have Texeiara who's batting .221 with 8 homers as the leading vote getter at 1B over Morneau who's batting .377 with 11 homers. Why? Well it's certainly not because he's out performing him on the field, it's because he plays in New York for the Yankees and he's on TV a lot. I'm betting there are more Yankee fans than baseball fans.
I'll have to say. Ya'll just about have me convinced that JW is an All Star Candidate. I never would have believed it. My only concern is that he usually goes through a real bad slump. I hope he stays hot. Would really like to see him do well, and stay healthy.
If JW keeps playing like he has the last couple of weeks, he'll deserve a spot in the starting OF of the all-star game as much as anyone. But I seriously doubt that the fans vote him in. He doesn't get the pub and he plays for the Nats. As we see, performance on the field is not a high priority among fan voters. I think he will have to be picked as a reserve. What a shame.
Apparently we have a lot of people posting in this thread that don't know baseball very well. Right now, Josh Willingham is ranked as the number 12 player in baseball without a single outfielder ranked ahead of him. He deserves the vote. The only thing he lacks is publicity and the Times Daily is partially to blame for that. Vote him in: http://www.facebook.com/pages/...3249256691390?v=wall
Currently, he leads the Nationals in RBI, OBP, Walks, and is second in runs scored and HR. He's also batting .284 as a power hitter. Learn to check stats please.
Currently, he leads the Nationals in RBI, OBP, Walks, and is second in runs scored and HR. He's also batting .284 as a power hitter. Learn to check stats please.
Pretty strong case for Willingham to be an All Star...
http://voices.washingtonpost.c...se_for_josh_wil.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.c...se_for_josh_wil.html