Chris Rock inspired a post about the All Star Team

In the DVD extras for The Tenth Inning, Chris Rock talked about “Affirmative Action Home Runs.” He was referring to the level of play in baseball before integration and how major league baseball’s all white competition lowered the level of the game. He asked us to imagine the All Star Game with no black players and no Latino players.

“David Wright would be the best player in baseball.”

The staff here at Sully Baseball had made this point a few years ago when I posted about “Jackie Robinson and today’s talent pool” and lamented the lost opportunity for great moments with “A Dream Team in honor of Dr. King.”

Beyond the social injustice of segregation, history was denied great baseball!

I thought about what Chris said about the All Star team and it got my obsessive compulsive list making fires burning.

What would the current American League and National League All Star Teams look like if baseball were still segregated?

And what would an All Star roster look like if it consisted SOLELY of players who would not have been allowed to play.

And remember segregation would have kept Latin players out as well as Asians.

So I created 4 All Star Rosters…

An American League and a National League made up of only white players.

And an American League and National League team using players who would have been shut out.

Using All Star Rules, each team is represented in the rosters (it was tough finding a Cleveland or Arizona All Star of ANY race!)

So let’s take a look at the alternate universes and see the segregated All Stars

All White American League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – JOE MAUER, Twins

Starting First Baseman – MARK TEIXEIRA, Yankees

Starting Second Baseman – DUSTIN PEDROIA, Red Sox

Starting Shortstop – REID BRIGNAC, Rays

Starting Third Baseman – EVAN LONGORIA, Rays

Starting Left Fielder – LUKE SCOTT, Orioles

Starting Center Fielder – JOSH HAMILTON, Rangers

Starting Right Fielder – NICK SWISHER, Yankees

Starting Pitcher – JON LESTER, Red Sox

ADDITIONAL PITCHERS

DAVID AARDSMA, Mariners ANDREW BAILEY, Athletics CLAY BUCHHOLZ, Red Sox TREVOR CAHILL, Athletics ZACK GREINKE, Royals CLIFF LEE, Rangers JONATHAN PAPELBON, Red Sox MITCH TALBOT, Indians JUSTIN VERLANDER, Tigers JERED WEAVER, Angels

Reserve Players

JOHN BUCK, Blue Jays MICHAEL CUDDYER, Twins MARK ELLIS, Athletics J. J. HARDY, Twins PAUL KONERKO, White Sox NICK MARKAKIS, Orioles JUSTIN MORNEAU, Twins KEVIN YOUKILIS, Red Sox MICHAEL YOUNG, Rangers

Minority American League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – VICTOR MARTINEZ, Red Sox

Starting First Baseman – MIGUEL CABRERA, Tigers

Starting Second Baseman – ROBINSON CANO, Yankees

Starting Shortstop – DEREK JETER, Yankees

Starting Third Baseman – ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Yankees

Starting Left Fielder – CARL CRAWFORD, Rays

Starting Center Fielder – TORII HUNTER, Angels

Starting Right Fielder – ICHIRO SUZUKI, Mariners

Starting Pitcher – FELIX HERNANDEZ, Mariners

ADDITIONAL PITCHERS

FAUSTO CARMONA, Indians NEFTALI FELIZ, Rangers GIO GONZALEZ, Athletics FRANCISCO LIRIANO, Twins DAVID PRICE, Rays MARIANO RIVERA, Yankees C. C. SABATHIA, Yankees ERVIN SANTANA, Angels JOAKIM SORIA, Royals RAFAEL SORIANO, Rays

RESERVE PLAYERS

ELVIS ANDRUS, Rangers JOSE BAUTISTA, Blue Jays ADRIAN BELTRE, Red Sox ORLANDO HUDSON, Twins ADAM JONES, Orioles JORGE POSADA, Yankees ALEXI RAMIREZ, White Sox VERNON WELLS, Blue Jays DELMON YOUNG, Twins

All White National League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – BRIAN McCANN, Braves

Starting First Baseman – JOEY VOTTO, Reds

Starting Second Baseman – CHASE UTLEY, Phillies

Starting Shortstop – TROY TULOWITZKI, Rockies

Starting Third Baseman – DAVID WRIGHT, Mets

Starting Left Fielder – MATT HOLLIDAY, Cardinals

Starting Center Fielder – COLBY RASMUS, Cardinals

Starting Right Fielder – HUNTER PENCE, Astros

Starting Pitcher – ROY HALLADAY, Phillies

ADDITIONAL PITCHERS

TIM LINCECUM, Giants ADAM WAINWRIGHT, Cardinals CHRIS CARPENTER, Cardinals JOSH JOHNSON, Marlins TIM HUDSON, Braves MAT LATOS, Padres EVAN MEEK, Pirates BRIAN WILSON, Giants HEATH BELL, Padres BRAD LIDGE, Phillies

RESERVE PLAYERS

COREY HART, Brewers BUSTER POSEY, Giants AUBREY HUFF, Giants DAN UGGLA, Marlins STEPHEN DREW, Diamondbacks RYAN ZIMMERMAN, Nationals RYAN BRAUN, Brewers JAYSON WERTH, Phillies ADAM DUNN, Nationals

Minority National League All Star Team

Starting Catcher – CARLOS RUIZ, Phillies

Starting First Baseman – ALBERT PUJOLS, Cardinals

Starting Second Baseman – BRANDON PHILLIPS, Reds

Starting Shortstop – HANLEY RAMIREZ, Marlins

Starting Third Baseman – PLACIDO POLANCO, Phillies

Starting Left Fielder – MARLON BYRD, Cubs

Starting Center Fielder – MICHAEL BOURN, Astros

Starting Right Fielder – CARLOS GONZALEZ, Rockies

Starting Pitcher – UBALDO JIMENEZ, Rockies

ADDITIONAL PITCHERS

FRANCISCO CORDERO, Reds YOVANI GALLARDO, Brewers JAIME GARCIA, Cardinals LIVAN HERNANDEZ, Nationals HONG-CHIH KUO, Dodgers CARLOS MARMOL, Cubs RICKY NOLASCO, Marlins JONATHAN SANCHEZ, Giants JOHAN SANTANA, Mets

RESERVE PLAYERS

PEDRO ALVAREZ, Pirates ANDRE ETHIER, Dodgers PRINCE FIELDER, Brewers ADRIAN GONZALEZ, Padres JASON HEYWARD, Braves RYAN HOWARD, Phillies OMAR INFANTE, Braves YADIER MOLINA, Cardinals JOSE REYES, Mets JUSTIN UPTON, Diamondbacks

Of the four rosters, I would have to say the Minority American League Roster is the best… 3 legit Cy Young candidates, power from both sides of the plate and a defensive outfield of Crawford, Hunter and Ichiro which would cut down doubles against any team.

Each team has its strengths and weaknesses, but one thing is certain:

Baseball is better with these 4 rosters combined into 2… and I am NOT talking about the Whites of both leagues versus the Minorities.

Once again, we can give thanks to Jackie Robinson, Monte Irvin, Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe for paving the way… lament that Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, Oscar Charleston and Cool Papa Bell never had their shot… and be happy that we don’t have to wonder what it would be like to see Joe Mauer face Mariano Rivera.

I’m sure Chris Rock would agree.

5 Reasons Why I Am Happy Omar Infante Is An All Star

When Charlie Manuel put Omar Infante on his All Star Roster while leaving players like Billy Wagner, Jaime Garcia, Stephen Strasburg and Joey Votto off, the uproar from columnists and bloggers was so loud that you would have thought he punched Yogi Berra in the face right after tearing down Wrigley Field and ordering that “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” be replaced by Lady Gaga’s Pokerface.

I even got mail and comments saying “When are you going to say something about Omar Infante?”

Yes, it was a surprising choice.

And a quick glimpse at the Braves Baseball Reference page for 2010 doesn’t even list Infante as a starter. There is a Brave player who has started more games at each position than Infante, whose position is listed as UT. In other words a utility man is an All Star.

Well I must say, while I admit he wasn’t on MY All Star Ballot, I don’t mind that he is an All Star. And let me tell you why…

1. HE’S MULTI TALENTED

While he can’t be listed at one position, he IS a starter for the Braves… he’s someone who has started a six different positions in the field.

There are some players, like my beloved Big Papi, who can’t even play one position on the field. Maybe the inclusion of Infante can help make the super versatile players more valued by teams and players will try and move around the diamond in hopes of making the All Star team.

2. HE ACTUALLY WILL BE USEFUL IN THE GAME

Remember the last time the National League won the All Star Game, the Yankees were in a 18 year World Series title drought, the Macarena was considered cool and there was hope for the new Star Wars prequels.

The National League hasn’t had homefield in the World Series since 2001… when the Diamondbacks won in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7.

Flashy or not, it is useful for Charlie Manuel to have a guy who can fill in all around the diamond when he makes pinch hitting decisions and defensive switches.

Who knows? Maybe he can pitch and we can avoid another tied All Star Game catastrophe.

3. YOU NEED A SCRAPPY JACK OF ALL TRADES WHEN ASSEMBLING A TEAM

I’m not just talking about a baseball team. When Kobyashi was putting together The Usual Suspects or Professor Xavier was assembling the X-Men or Lee Marvin was picking The Dirty Dozen or the team from Munich was being recruited… They can’t all be the cool leading man. You need that smaller and less imposing guy who can get stuff done.

Remember when Costner was putting together The Untouchables? The last one he put on the team was Oscar the accountant. He wasn’t the leader like Costner or the wise Connery or the bad ass shooter like Andy Garcia… but it was his brains that came up with the idea of pinning Capone on tax evasion. They NEEDED him.

The American League is Capone. Maybe Infante will bring them down.

4. WHY THE FUSS? THIS IS FAR FROM THE WORST ALL STAR SELECTION OF ALL TIME

Kosuke Fukudome got elected to the All Star Game and he has yet to have an above average season. Josh Hamilton started when he was having a mediocre season. Jason Giambi was elected in a year where he was so horrible that Joe Torre left him off the playoff roster.

Jose Rosado made a pair of All Star teams and Roger Pavlik made the 1996 All Star Team with a 4.82 ERA… and Pavlik wasn’t a “We need at least one player from each team” selection. He was on a Rangers team.

Infante is at least having a good season. And he’s doing it for a surprise first place team… so he must have some value.

5. YOU KNOW HE IS GOING TO APPRECIATE IT

There is going to be no “If I Am Not Startin’ I Am Not Departin'” Garry Templeton rant coming from Infante. Heck, at this point I am wondering if Infante thinks his All Star Selection was part of an elaborate of Punk’d.

I know the All Star Team isn’t the Make A Wish Foundation but let’s face it, it isn’t life and death either. By the time Omar Infante gets in the game it will be later… when the benches are being emptied out, the likes of Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter will be in their street clothes and chances are some pitcher you’ve never heard of will be on the mound.

Why not have a versatile .332 hitter come to the plate?

All this attention has probably made a few Fantasy Players pick him up and hey! Now people know who he is.

Of course the greatest revenge of all could be had by Infante to his critics… and even though I am rooting for the American League, there is a scenario that I would love to see for a National League win… Infante homering in the 9th inning to give the NL the lead.

It’s a stretch. But so is Infante making the All Star Game in the first place!

Baseball swings and misses with Strasburg and the All Star game

Stephen Strasburg is not on the All Star roster.
Of course he isn’t.
Why would he be? It would just make the All Star Game more electric, more fascinating and exciting.

Why would baseball want to do something like that?

Why would you want to have a phenom who has faced virtually NOBODY on the A.L. All Star team and have some fascinating head to head match ups?

Why would you want to have a moment where the player that is filling up stands in places like Cleveland and Washington play on the grandest stage while the interest of him is at a peak?

Why would you do something like that? Why would baseball want TO DO SOMETHING SMART?

And spare me talking about his win loss record. The Nationals have scored a grand total of 3 runs for him in his last 4 starts COMBINED!

And I don’t want to hear about how the All Star Game roster spot needs to be for a truly accomplished player. The fans voted in Kosuke Fukudome one year.

Jose Offerman is a 2 time All Star. Tyler Green made an All Star team.

Were fans glued to the TV thinking “Oh boy, I hope Jose Rosado gets into this game.”

And also spare me the whole “He’ll make the All Star Game later” nonsense.
He will NEVER have this sense of mystery and freshness. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have Strasburg face the A.L. All Stars for the first time… and they blew it to give Matt Capps a spot on the team.

No offense to Matt Capps… but what do you think will be a more memorable moment…

Strasburg versus Jeter, Guerrero and Mauer
Capps versus Ty Wigginton?

You blew it baseball.
Swing and a miss.