All Star Ponderings

Keep in mind as you read this that I am a life long Royals fan.  I grew up in the heyday of the 70s and 80s.  I have suffered through some of the worst team managements in the history of sports.  Despite the last quarter of a century, I still love my team and the city and area it represents.  I want my team and Kansas City to be shown in the best light possible.

As far as the process of how the All Star teams are selected, I don’t have much issue in general.  I think more thought could be put into the whole process of picking the reserves, though.  There is too much chance for selfishness.  I will hold up Ron Washington as an example of this.  I like Washington.  It can be conceded he has been good in his tenure as manager of the Rangers.  I do have a problem though with his selection of Elvis Andrus to this team.  It is not that I think Andrus is undeserving.  It is the fact that Washington added Andrus as the seventh Ranger on the team (Yu Darvish was added as the 8^th Ranger later).  For the first time in many years, the Royals had more than one legitimate candidate for this exhibition.  With the game in Kansas City, Alcides Escobar should have been selected in addition to the Royals’ best player, Billy Butler.  Escobar, the leading hitting shortstop in the majors, would not have been a pity pick.  Escobar, and the hometown Royals, deserved more than just Butler, who will probably get one pinch hit at-bat.  The Royals fans deserved more and the Rangers were already over represented as it was.

Then there is the case of Robinson Cano.  Some writers have complained about the childishness of the Kansas City fans in their relentless booing of Cano and their glee in his utter failure during the Home Run Derby.  The fans were irritated because Cano failed to select Butler for the derby.  They booed him because he said he would select Butler.  I personally heard an interview with John Kruk and Cano and the Yankee said as much.  Then he did not pick Butler.  He has since told at least two different stories on why he didn’t.  The fans booed him because he flat out lied.  Period.  He lied and has made excuses.  The derby is supposedly strictly about the fans.  Cano and MLB have proved otherwise.  The fans booed as a way to show their displeasure and that is their absolute right.  Shame on those who fail to understand that.

The Royals fans showed their class by warmly welcoming former Royals, Carlos Beltran and Melky Cabrera.  The fans appreciated their efforts on behalf of the organization and are happy for their successes.  The Kansas City natives were very warm in their greeting of Chipper Jones, playing his first ands last game in Kaufman Stadium.  The fans aren’t classless, just frustrated at the lack of things to cheer about and the lack of respect shown them by those who made decisions concerning the All Star selections.   There should be some consideration to the home team every year when it comes to the rosters and derby.  It would cost the league nothing and would mean everything to the home fans.

Check out my tv and movie reviews at jawsrecliner.com and get twitter updates @jawsrecliner