Tough to Find a Cubs All-Star?
The comparisons of this year’s Cubs team to last year’s repeat division-winning team have been constant this season, and at times stifling. It says a lot that you can hear an audible groan in our episodes whenever Mark DeRosa’s name is uttered. I thought that all the “what would have been”-type talk would die down by the end of April, but it’s still going strong until June. Here’s hoping it ends as soon as possible.
It’s been a strange season in a lot of ways. The injuries. The ejections. The suspension. That poor Gatorade machine. However, what’s most interesting to me is that one player (or several, but I’m not trying to be greedy) hasn’t gone All-World for the Cubs yet this season. Sure, we’ve seen some awesome performances:
* Ted Lilly’s no-hitter through 6 2/3 on a frigid April day
* Dempster’s 7 shutout innings in Saturday’s outing vs. the Dodgers
* Reed Johnson’s RBI method clinic that same Saturday
* Tuffy Rhodes’ 450th HR in Japan
* Soriano’s 2 HR game in Houston and his HR on the 2nd pitch he saw this season
We’ve also seen a good amount of suckitude, and I won’t make that list for a variety of reasons. Still, nobody pops out (poor terminology) on this Cubs roster as a runaway All-Star, even despite cleverly titled articles on the flagship Cubs site such as Soriano, Fukudome making All-Star impact.
I’ll vote for those players and will hope they make it, but if All-Stars are chosen based on a rounded game from April through June, I think Kosuke Fukudome is the only deserving Cub. Soriano can get hotter than a car on a desert highway any given game or week, but the fact that his average has dropped nearly 30 points in May doesn’t bode well for his selection. He’s still obviously one of the most feared home run threats in the league, and that counts for something to a lot of players.
Last years Cubs All-Stars: Kosuke Fukudome, Soriano, Soto, Wood, Dempster, Ramirez and Zambrano.
Is anyone more deserving in your opinion that Fukudome? Post a comment and let us know.
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Tags: Alfonso Soriano, All-Star Game, Fukudome
5 Responses
Eric R. Hale June 2nd at 2:08 pm
My nominations:
- Rick Fuchs – the fastest and most accurate scoreboard controller guy in the world.
- Ed Hartig – the Cubs statistician capable of presenting the most obscure information and stats (Batting .383 with runners in scoring position, on Tuesday day games, when the temperature is above 80°, in June, against a Central Division team, with a record above 500, and a left handed pitcher on the mound.)
- Gatorade Machine – toughest drink dispenser in the league.
- Levy Restaurants – for having most profitable concessions with lowest quality food.
- Cindy Fosco – the best beer vendor in the stadium (first-base side, outfield). Fast cold beer. Noted for saying my 2nd favorite two words: “Fresh Case” (My 1st favorite two words: “Cubs Win”)
- Bee the ticket vendor. Always fast and friendly.
- Wayne the usher. Never hassles me for my ticket. Keeps the riffraff out of my section.
Those are my All Stars!
Adam June 2nd at 2:12 pm
The thing that makes Fukudome slightly less deserving than others is the fact he’s platooning with Reed Johnson. But I’d still vote for him. Ryan Theriot, though, has been really good this year. Even after a slump in the heart of May, Theriot is in the top 5 among shortstops in pretty much every major offensive category. Does he deserve to start? Eh. But, he definitely deserves some serious votage.
Sheps June 2nd at 4:05 pm
Yeah, I think Adam nailed it, Fukudome not being everyday hurts his argument, but if only one Cub goes, I think it’s got to be him unless Soriano gets out of this slump.
Lou June 2nd at 4:06 pm
@Eric – Levy Restaurants has been an All-Star in that category for a number of years. Hopefully we’ll trade for an All-Star soon and replace them.
@Adam – Theriot definitely deserves a look. It’s admittedly petty, but his bad baserunning auto-disqualifies him in my mind. However, in the out by half a step category, he’s the one Cubs that is All-World this season.
Ted Lilly Fan Club June 9th at 8:09 am
Easy. Ted. BAMF. Lilly.