May 30, 2007
Nats Update: Who's Your All Star?
Ponder this one for a minute: Now that official online voting is open, if you had to select the Nats representative for the ’07 All Star game based on the team's first 52 games, who would it be? No National appears in the top five at any position in the early voting results, which is indicative of both the nature of the voting as a popularity contest and of the Nats' subpar 21-31 record. Somebody, though, has got to show up in San Francisco on July 10th wearing a curly W. Who will it be?
The Nats official MLB web writers already seem to be beating the drum for – believe it or not – Dmitri Young. The troubled veteran has put together a truly respectable first half, batting .298 while subbing for the injured Nick Johnson and he has been an All Star before in 2003, but come on… seriously? At the same position that includes Derrick Lee and Todd Helton (both batting over .350) and Prince Fielder (17 HR)? Not to mention fan favorites Albert Pujols and Carlos Delgado?
WaPo beat writer Barry Svrluga asked the same question on the Nationals Journal and got a surprisingly definitive answer from Brian Schneider: Jesus Colome. With Luis Ayala still out, Ryan Wagner struggling and inconsistent outings from Jon Rauch and Chad Cordero, Colome’s steady play has meant worlds to the beleaguered pitching staff. I don’t disagree with Schneider, but still, it’s a little depressing to have a long reliever as your showpiece.
Photo by Flickr user SuperTopher.
Who else would it be? Ryan Church has been the steadiest bat, but his .257 average doesn’t exactly set the world on fire. The same goes for Austin Kearns's nearly identical stats. On the pitching staff, some impressive outings by Jason Bergmann and Shawn Hill have Tom Boswell dreaming impossible dreams in today's Post, but their injury-shortened body of work will need to grow significantly before either could be considered for selection.
So who do readers think it should be, based on the season's first third? Let us know in the comments...
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Jesus saves?
The only way Dmitri's getting into the All-Star Game is if he buys a ticket. I think we'll have to wait a month to see who wants to step up and be a respectable, non-2006-Mark-Redman-like all-star.
Nick Johnson is on the ballot. I say that we vote him in!! He can play while sitting in chair at First base.
Seriously, how did he end up on the ballot this year?
OK, I think we all get that there are empty seats at RFK. If there are 20,000 people there, there are still empty sections. Can we stop running what amounts to the same photo every other week?
I'd vote for Hill. He's been stellar. And, yes, there are always a lot of empty seats at RFK... it's a gigantic fricking football stadium! Not as large as Yankee or Dodger Stadiums, but lots larger than some of MLB parks.
OK, nevermind. I checked it out and, although RFK is in the top half of MLB parks by size, there are quite a few parks bigger (including Camden Yards).
I agree with Mike-how about a picture of all the fans in the lower bowl of the stadium instead of the nosebleeds in center field (which i wouldn't even pay $5 to sit in, unless it was the playoffs). I've been to a few games this season and the atmosphere has been quite good! The Nats outfield seats are like sitting on Neptune compared to the same seats at Camden Yards.
You want to know the real reason you see these types of shots?
We rely entirely upon those that submit their photos to the DCist Flickr pool, and those photos we take ourselves. We can't use AP photos or other professional photos. Even many of the Flickr photos feature players now gone. The shots we use are usually excellent photographs, and generic enough to accompany a post that isn't game-specific.
We really appreciate the photos that Flickr users tag for our use. We would LOVE to have more! Go to the game! Take photos! Post them to Flickr and tag 'em with "DCist"! We're happy to expand the pool of photos!
All that said, the photo above is not an unfamiliar sight from my regular post over in Sec. 428...
Perhaps someone from the DCist can attend a game and actually bring a camera??? I mean, it's not like it costs all that much to go a game. Also, instead of showing empty seats, how about some photos of the actual Nats players???
Those of us watching from afar (the past two days not withstanding) can well tell that there is some talent there: Shawn Hill and Jason Bergmann got off to VERY fine starts this year before getting hurt. Since coming back from the loss of his grandmother, Chad Cordero's been lights out with his ERA down to a very nice 3.09 and now has seven saves. Ryan Church has quietly been putting up nice numbers all year - 17 doubles and a .365 on base percentage.
Brian Schneider is the Nats' MVP. Ignore the offensive numbers - Schneider has done wonders handling this tossed-together pitching staff and is one of the best defensive catchers in the game.
Felipe Lopez has made a impressive transition to second base and much-maligned Cristian Guzman has been a difference-maker at short since coming back from the disabled list.
Defense is what has made the Nats semi-respectable this year. A defensive standout should get the all-star nod.