MVP dispute
I was texting a friend last night about the possibility of Adam Jones being named MVP of the All-Star Game. He was 0-1 with an RBI (Jones, not my friend), which doesn't usually warrant a trophy and a new car, but it was slim pickings in St. Louis.
Nobody stood out as the runaway choice, and Jones delivered the go-ahead run with his second fly ball to right field.
By the way, did anyone else think that ball was gone, or at least slamming off the wall for a double, when it left Jones' bat? It had bad intentions. I almost jumped out of my seat.
Anyway, I honestly don't have a gripe with Carl Crawford winning the honor. He had a pinch-hit single and the defensive play of the night, leaping above the fence to rob Brad Hawpe. But he also became the first non-pitcher to be named MVP without having an RBI or a run scored, so his selection is bound to draw some criticism.
I'm sure they'd be fussing in Tampa and St. Pete this morning if Crawford had been passed over.
I figured it would come down to Crawford, Jones or Curtis Granderson, who tripled and scored on Jones' sacrifice fly off Heath Bell. You really couldn't go wrong with any of them. But it would have been nice if Jones had won it, especially with "Baltimore" scrawled across his chest.
Just be glad the game didn't go 18 innings and Joe Maddon didn't force Jones to play the last 13.
I've noticed a few comments about Jones' earrings. He's had them for as long as I've known him, but I don't recall seeing them in a game. I'm looking at the cover of the most recent Orioles Magazine - just by coincidence because it's sitting here next to my laptop - and his right lobe is bare (the left one is covered by the ear flap on his batting helmet).
I guess it's just an All-Star bling thing.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Brummie_Oriole said:
Congrats to Jones for a great performance. Thanks for making us proud.
Let's hope he learned a thing or two about being a professional while he was at the game.
July 15, 2009 7:31 AM
He certainly is a lot closer to being a professional that you are to having any class.
Just posted on the last entry that I think Granderson's contribution to the winning run--a triple--is more significant than a sac fly. Nice at bat by Jones and he got the job done, but Granderson scorched that ball and hustled to third to put himself in a position to score. I don't quarrel with the game saving catch warranting the award either, but I think if anyone deserved it more than Crawford, it was Granderson. I love Jonesey, but don't think he was slighted by not being named MVP. Here's betting that one day he will be.
That ball was definitely going to the wall. He really smacked it. Somewhere along the way it lost steam or they just played him perfectly in right. Jonesy sure did look good in all that orange! I'm really digging the orange bills on the batting helmets. We stand out against the dark blues and greens of other teams.
Frankly I am just glad the game is over with and no one got hurt. The ASG used to be a really nice mid-summer celebration of baseball. Now it's an ordeal that lasts far too long.
It won't be long before ESPN gets the rights to the game and finds a way to ruin it even more than Fox already has.
One thing to note however: Last night's game proved once again that good pitching beats good hitting every day of the week. Baseball's best sluggers were in this game yet a combined seven runs scored.
Jonesy made Baltimore proud last night, and without having to punish his knees. Good on him!
Roch, have you heard any inside chatter regarding Dominican Republic prospect Miguel Sano? With the MLBs investigation of his age almost done, rumors are starting to swirl that the Pirates are definitely going to get him.
I think the O's have to go strong for this guy. He is a heck of a prospect at a position we need depth and it would further increase our footprint in the Dominican. Please tell me some encouraging news!
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If I have any news, I'll definitely pass it along. But I've always wondered why some people regarded the Orioles as the frontrunners. I never got that impression. - Roch
Last night's MVP award was kind of a wash. It was nice to see Jones get the run in, especially since they intentionally walked a guy to face him.
Last year Sherrill should have won easily, that was more frustrating. 2 good ab's for Jones last night, even though they were both outs.
He at least should of earned Co-MVP for driving in the winning run. Ah well, it's awesome that he came through in the clutch on a National stage.
I would give it to Granderson. Or Joe Nathan for that huge Howard K, even though he was getting himself out of trouble... That was by far the most interesting situation of the game.
Happy that AJ drove in the winning run, especially on such a good AB. However, I will be considerably less happy if this gives the Yankees or Sox home field advantage and they win the World Series in 7. In fact, I will probably cry.
An interesting note, the distance to the RF fence at Busch Stadium is 335 ft. (OPACY is 318) making it tied for the fifth longest distance out of all major league parks. Maybe if this game is somewhere else, Jones ball is over the fence and we all wake up this morning raving about our hometown All-Star MVP.
Oh well. It's always fun to dream.
Jones was great last night except he wore those 2 huge ear rings. They look awful and I'm glad Trembly doesn't allow that crap on his team.
"Nothing beats watching the kids grow up right before your eyes!" (forgive any mis-remembering of the exact words!)
I was so proud of him, and so happy for him. Did you see him in the dugout afterwards? That was worth a million bucks!
I've just enjoyed watching him grow and grow and represent us and was SO proud that he was called by Joe Maddon and that he came through so well, in great team-like fashion!
"He certainly is a lot closer to being a professional that you are to having any class."
Roch... this was in Brummie's post. Was that you or Brummie's comment? And what was it for? That was certainly a confusing comment
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It was a reader responding to something Brummie had written after Adam Jones hopefully learning how to act like a professional, or something along those lines. - Roch
Haha! Roch I was the same way I thought that ball was gone man I was leaping up in the air holding Jones' bobblehead but still was very excited that it was a sacrifice fly....
Then comes the MVP dispute. Once I saw that Crawford was chosen I turned off the TV because I couldn't watch that. I mean it was slim pickings but Crawford over Jones? Even over Granderson? It just another reason that MLB has the same "cloud" over them as the NBA does...it seems to favor teams. Like all the blown calls when Baltimore was playing Boston, you can hear it out of almost everybody's mouth..."It's because it is Boston".
Just like last year. Sherrill pitching as many innings as he did to save the game for another AL win and Jason Bay (A Red Sox of course) gets chosen? I wonder who in the heck is making these decisions I mean come on! They must have the AT&T Player of The Game segment where people text their vote and it seems to always get skewed with popularity. I'm surprised Tim Wakefield didn't get nominated to MVP with his story (didn't even throw a pitch! haha).
Thanks for letting me vent, Roch! I'm very proud of Jones and it is exciting to hear over and over on ESPN radio when they do their SportsCenter update "...hit in by a sac fly by Adam Jones". Keep up the great work!!
Adam looked much better at the plate last night. Of course, the NL pitchers didn't have an advance scouting report to go on that would have said you don't have to throw him strikes. Hopefully, his performance will get him back on track for the 2nd half.
Pretty sure the earrings are not allowed under team rules. Which brings up the mustaches on Huff and Roberts. Didn't take long for them to dissappear???
Brummie_Oriole said:
Congrats to Jones for a great performance. Thanks for making us proud.
Let's hope he learned a thing or two about being a professional while he was at the game.
July 15, 2009 7:31 AM
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You've done it again B_O, Seriously? You really have to spew this garbage? Man, you're really a miserable person. Don't confuse him with Pac Man. Great comment about your lack of class. Kid has worked his butt off to get where he is now, in St. Louis where he drove in the winning run in the All Star game and you're trying to bust on him? Here's hoping someone pee'd on your tea and scones today.
At least they didn't give it to Chuck Howley.
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Nicely played! - Roch
Adam should have won it, but unfortunately for him, he had Baltimore across his chest. If he had had Boston or New York, ESPN and MLB would be drooling over him and he would have won it in a snap. Oh well. That's life. That's the way it'll be until we prove ourselves again to the baseball world.
As for the earrings, I don't understand everyones surprise over them. He's always worn them in interviews, appearances, etc. Just not usually during a game. But there's nothing new about them. And for the record, they look very quite good. I hope he wears some during a game back home.
Jeez, I comment about how I hoped Jones learned a thing or two about his rising stardom and how to handle it- like knowing how many outs there are in an inning, and the wolves come out.
At least you guys are reading my comments.
Oh and Virtue: I think you meant "than" instead of "that". Prepositions are helpful when attempting to construct a coherent sentence.
I thought Jones had 2 HRs, especially on a warm night in Baltimore. In his first AB I thought it was going to get out. The ball did not seem like it carries that well to RF in St Louis.
For those of you insisting that Jones got the shaft for the MVP award and that baseball "never'' recognizes an Oriole that way, please remember that the Orioles have had five All-Star MVPs (both Robinsons, Ripken, Alomar, Tejada), among the most of any team in baseball. Besides, don't we have enough legit things to complain about?
"They look awful and I'm glad Trembly doesn't allow that crap on his team."
I think it's Angelos who sets the dress code. Isn't he the one who is holding to the no beards rule?
I would have given it to either Crawford or Granderson. I thought about Jones, buy 0-1 with a sac fly just did not seem to merit MVP tome.
Crawford's catch and Granderson's triple were both game changing plays, but Crawford's play prevented the NL from taking the lead at the time. Granderson's triple needed assistance from his team to make it worthwhile.
Hasn't baseball ever done a co-MVP in the All Star Game? I can see them not really valuing a sac fly as a "play", but it still drove in the eventual winning run, in the eighth inning. Jones didn't even get any love from the commentators except later on the postgame show.
I will agree, Roch, that the ball had the sound and look of being gone off the bat.
Jones had a very good at bat. He fouled off some tough pitches from a pretty good pitcher. I was hoping it would at least hit the wall for a double. I was surprised when he hit it--that it was catchable. But at least he got the go ahead run in. I was a little surprised that Crawford got the mvp. Hopefully all these orioles in the last couple years helping the AL to get home field advantage for the world series will be helping the orioles in the next year or two for that same advantage. I really was hoping they would of given co-mvps--I thought jones and crawford's play were equally important.
Roch,
I did the same thing, jumped out of my seat and clapped my hands. My wife yelled at me to take at easy. Thought for sure it was gone. Good job by Jones he made us proud especially with Baltimore on his shirt.
MVP went to the right person I think, it was a good game to watch. Thank God it did not go extra innings.
After watching the game, to me it was obvious there was no "stand out" player in the game. Contributions were made by many players but no one was tearing it up--just good team ball. If I had a vote for MVP I would say Granderson.
Roch, I am curious (as usual), why didn't you get to go to the ASG? MASN being to frugal or was it your choice not to attend? With the lack of ANY coverage/interview with AJ, it would have been great to have you there.
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I didn't ask. I was hoping the break would provide some sort of break for me, which it has to a degree. And didn't seem worth the expense to basically cover one player. - Roch
If I'd had an MVP vote, I'd have given it to Rivera, just on lifetime achievement, but I guess they vote before the game is over, so you can't vote for the ninth inning save guy.
If I'd had to vote before the ninth, I'd have voted for Granderson. Don't have a problem with Crawford winning the award though.
Way to go Jones, yet again the O's win it for the AL team, actually makes me remove the bag from my head ;)
OK Brummie, while you're criticizing Virtue's grammar, why don't you turn that judgmental gaze at your own sentence construction? You have a nice dangling clause at the end of your defensive comment. There are a couple ways you could fix it:
Original Construction: Jeez, I comment about how I hoped Jones learned a thing or two about his rising stardom and how to handle it- like knowing how many outs there are in an inning, and the wolves come out.
The modifier of the sentence is "like knowing how many outs there are in an inning", so it's important that it be separated from the overall construct. Since you used a hyphen on one end and a comma at the other, the "and the wolves come out" seems to just be flapping in the breeze. If it were me constructing the sentence, I'd fashion it like this:
Jeez, I comment about how I hoped Jones learned a thing or two about his rising stardom and how to handle it (like knowing how many outs there are in an inning) and the wolves come out.
In this version, you don't need the comma since the clause is completely removed from the sentence with the parentheses - nice and simple that way.
This may seem a bit over the top, but if you're going to stick your nose in the air and think you're smarter than everyone else, you had better hope that your s*** doesn't stink either. There are plenty of posters here with varying levels of spelling and grammatical ability, but we can usually understand each other regardless. Get off your high horse.
I'm just wondering who enforces the facial hair policy? Is it Angelos, Trembley, or MacPhail?
I ask because I think some players would look good with facial hair, and it would be a welcome change sometimes from the same old baby-faced look. If the team gets over .500, I think they should be allowed to have facial hair until the O's drop under .500.
Yes, I'm actually bringing this issue up because it's All-Star week! :)
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It existed before MacPhail and Trembley. - Roch
Either Crawford or Granderson (my choice). Jones at bat was followed K. Youkilis who hit a single and the run would have scored anyhow (of course this is assuming a lot of ifs/buts).
Another MVP choice in a sarcastic way would be Upton, who continues to prove his has no clue how to catch a fly ball. He has 7 errors as an OF already this year and a pitiful .950 fld avg.
Finally who would have thought that J. Werth could make plays like he did last night in CF? He has come a long way from his days as a C for the Orioles minor leagues.
hey Roch!
Adam does wear them, check out my photo album called Autographs on facebook...I believe I tagged you in an album so you can find me easily.
I actually thought Jones' first ball was gone more so than the second one, and the same thing with Tejada's shot off Papelbon that Jones caught on the track. The ball was obviously not carrying well to right field last night.
And sorry, but I'm confused by all of the whiny comments saying that if Jones played for the Yanks or Sox that he would have won the MVP. Didn't it go to a guy on the Rays? And furthermore, here is the breakdown of all-time All-Star Game MVP awards by team (they have been awarding the MVP since 1962):
O's: 6 (Ripken twice, Tejada, Alomar and both Robinsons)
Dodgers: 5
Giants: 5
Reds: 5
Red Sox: 4
Rangers: 3
Angels: 3
Expos: 3
Mariners: 2
13 others: 1
That's right, the O's have had the most, and only one Yankee (Jeter in 2000) has ever been an AS MVP. The Yanks have had fewer than the Mariners and Expos!
I think if Jones drives in the winning run with a base hit, he gets the MVP. Since it was a sac-fly, it is therefore less exciting and Crawford, with his spectacular catch, gets the trophy. It could go either way, I don't mind Crawford getting it even though I'd be thrilled if it were Jones.
I was hoping someone would post the ballpark dimensions to help us assess Adam's sac fly, and The Truth came through. Thanks! Now we just need to reconcile the total O's All-Star MVP count, since we've seen 5 and 7 here so far. Anybody for 6? Okay, okay, let me check . . .
66-Brooks
71-Frank
91-Cal
98-Roberto
01-Cal
05-Miguel
How about that, it was 6. Just shows to go ya.
Happy for Adam, of course, but surprised at the bitterness around here about an 0-1 with a sac fly not meriting an MVP award. Our poor fan base must really be beleaguered to feel slighted by this move. We certainly are an afterthought in the national media, but I'm not sure this decision was an example. Not sure why there would be a bias toward giving the award to Carl Crawford, who isn't exactly a household name. Like terpfan I'd value a triple way ahead of a sac fly. If anyone should feel slighted it's the poor Motor City. First GM and Chrysler, now this.
n.b. "Mine's Not a High Horse," by the Shins
I thought his fly ball was going out too, the way it sounded coming off his bat. Maybe if he had a great defensive play, he would've been named MVP, especially if he was blowing a bubble while doing it. He looked comfortable in right field. I also noticed the earring in his right ear lobe. A night to put on your Sunday best, I guess. Regardless, he did well last night. Could've very well been the MVP.
Had he written "than" instead of "that", as he obviously intended, Virtue actually would have been using "than" as a conjunction, not a preposition. And, if BO really was a writer instead of a attention seeker commenting from an old computer in his mother's basement, he would have known that.
I thought Crawford or Granderson deserved the award. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the game so there may have been others. I don't think a sac fly is going to get you to many MVP trophys. I also thought both of Adams hits (I didn't want to say balls) were gone, especially the second one. He had a solid game and can be proud of it, as we all can.
Steve, you said the commentators didn't give AJ any love. I have to disagree, Joe Buck was talking about AJ even before he drove in the go-ahead run. I was actually thinking just the opposite while I was watching the game. I was surprised how he went on about how good he thought Adam was, and will be.
Dummie_Oriole, your pathetic, the way you have to try to get your little digs in on everyone. You truly are an idiot, and prove it every time you post.
The O's are seen as the front-runners for Sano because the Twins have taken themselves out and the only other team left are the Pirates. A lot of people seem to think that if he is in fact between 16 and 17 years old the O's will make a strong push for him.
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They absolutely have interest. I just wonder why a phenom whose swing is compared to Miguel Cabrera's has exactly 2 teams vying for him - the Orioles and Pirates. Is that really it? Doesn't anyone else find that the least bit odd? - Roch
Re-Selig saying Manny shouldn't have played in minors-but that has to be negotiated That is why he has been the most impotent and useless commissioner of all time-any sport. BUD-suspension is no baseball in any pro league.Invoke your powers-get a backbone-Nothing to negotiate.By the way breaking the laws re hgh,steroids is not a negotiable thing either.You can't negoiate illegal acts even if you are a labor union. RETIRE,Bud.Let someone in who hasn't been gelded.
dang it roch, i could have been your remote reporter. i heard the stealth bomber fly over my house....
great game. i DID jump out of my chair thinking that was a HR (and I've watched a good amount of cards games live).
must have been the thick air (TStorms happened literally an hour later)...
True Roch. Good points. After the MLB says that he is actually 16, the Yankees will probably come out of nowhere and sign him as Jeter's future replacement.
How many people thought Jones was going to strike out when the count went to 2 strikes? I did. His at bat resembled his at bats in April rather than June and July. It was great to see. Hate the ear rings. A baseball game is not the place to wear diamond ear rings. Other than that, Adam did Baltimore proud.
It was a nice piece of hitting by AJ and yes, I did think it had a chance to go off the bat. Still think Crawford was the right choice for MVP.
I'm like you, I thought the ball was gone when Jones hit it. It was a very loud out. And a nice at bat, he fouled off 3 pitches until he got one to drive.
For me, the MVP votes go to Granderson, for getting himself to 3B, Crawford, for saving Papelbon's (and the AL's) tail, and Jones for the SF RBI.
Yes, Roch, yes it does seem odd to me that a superstar 16-year old kid would only be garnering interest from the Orioles and Pirates. There seem to be two obvious conclusions: other teams are certainly interested and keeping it quiet, or scouts have determined he's not really "all that." It may be both, depending on what is determined about his age.
How about Chapman? Any word on whether the O's would toss some money his way? 21-year old (we think) lefty that throws 100 mph? You gotta grow the arms, they say.
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Haven't heard any more about him. - Roch
After the game, I had hoped AJ would get the MVP, but I told my wife, "Granderson will probably get it." I think he would've been a better pick than Crawford. CC's catch was amazing, sure, but the HR would've only tied the game. He only recorded 1 out, while AJ recorded 3.
What burned me more was that Fox did not even interview Jones or talk about him after the game. Granderson, Rivera, and Crawford got interviews... then, after the break, Fielder got an interview!
I hope my spelling and sentence structure was correct here, as I'm sure to get a lesson if it isn't! haha!!
Steve J.,
I also think Granderson would have been a better pick.
With respect to your grammar, the spelling and sentence structure look fine, but the use of two different tenses in one sentence ("was" and "isn't") is a no no.
Roch,
I was born in Baltimore, but haven't lived there in a long time. Not for any reason than my life just didn't take me back there. I still consider myself a Baltimorean however, and I am still surprised at the inferior complex displayed my many people on this blog. 'If he were a Yankeee'...'If he didn't have Baltimore on his chest'...'If we had a better record'...'If he was from Boston'
STOP IT PEOPLE.
For goodness sakes Adam Jones lost out on the MVP to someone from TAMPA BAY!
NOT NY...NOT BOSTON...TAMPA BAY!
I don't think Baltimore is overlooked or slighted in anyway when it comes to the national media. If the O's were really good, they WOULD get attention. That's just the way it works, unless you're the Yankees.
I thought the Ravens got quite a bit of 'love' from the national outlets, but I kept reading:
'they don't talk about the Ravens because we're from Baltimore'...'they don't show us respect because it's Baltimore'.
Please stop w/ the defeatist inferiority complex thing.
It's not very becoming, and it does sound a lot like whining...it IS whining!
Donot like the earrings while playing baseball. I like that there is no facial hair other than a mustache. Franklin looks ridiculous. The hair such as the young pitcher from Sf, Manny, or Johnny Damon years ago when he played for the RedSox -shouldnot be allowed for any team. I feel they are disrespecting the sport. P.S. (I know the mustache thing is for orioles only.) This just my opinion.
Brummie_Oriole said:
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At least you guys are reading my comments.
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July 15, 2009 11:02 AM
As if ANYONE needed ANY further reason just to "scroll-the-trolls"....
I stayed awake because I thought AJ would gt the MVP.
Granderson was the one I truly thought could upset AJ. Legging out the Triple was great. BUT the SAC FLY won the game.
Either way Adam Jones is going to be great.
My goodness - you don't win an MVP for a sacrifice fly. I would have given it to Rivera for his save before Jones. He hit a fly ball for crying out loud! Granderson had the big hit - Crawfors the big defensive play...Rivera the clutch save.