Paulie Cee

If he's not voted in and La Russa leaves him off the roster he instantly becomes my hero. But he'd never do it...



La Russa won't say if he'd pick Bonds as All-Star alternate

By DOUG TUCKER, AP Sports Writer
June 12, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Barry Bonds could become the home run king and fail to appear in an All-Star game in his own home park in the same season.

Although he's slowly closing in on Hank Aaron's career record, Bonds dropped into fourth place this week among NL outfielders in voting by fans, who will select the eight starters.

Players will elect eight more position players and eight pitchers for the game on July 10 in San Francisco's AT&T Park. Then St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, in conjunction with the commissioner's office, will select four pitchers and three non-pitchers.

And La Russa isn't saying what he might do if Bonds, a 13-time All-Star, is left out by players and fans.

"I'm not going to get into whether Barry Bonds is in," he said Tuesday. "He might get voted in. I'm not going to get into that."

La Russa helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series title last season, earning the right to manage the All-Star team with their victory in the NLCS.

"I'll get input from our coaches and MLB, whatever," he said. "The more people who are involved, the better chance you don't miss somebody."

In the latest balloting results released Monday, Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs had opened a 42,009-vote lead over Bonds. Mets standout Carlos Beltran led with 1,017,795 votes, followed by Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. with 759,484.

Bonds hit his 747th career home run Monday night, leaving him eight behind Hank Aaron's major league record 755. It was only his second homer since May 8.

"You try to make the best choice you can for the last picks," La Russa said.


http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

NickPapagiorgio

Based on how he has played he doesn't deserve to make it. I am sure Larussa will eventually cave especially since the game is in SF.

Voodoo

Does he endear himself to enough players to get their votes? Or might it really come down to LaRussa's decision?

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Anxiously awaiting Omar's brilliant offseason strategy

Led, the Revenge

I have a feeling that the fraternity mentality will ensure he gets in - there aren't enough players like Smoltz (say) who are willing to openly speak out loudly against steroid use.

If (and it's a big if) LaRussa were to have the balls to do this, how long 'til he has Jesse flinging bricks through his window?

Voodoo

After this article, Jesse will probably camp out infront of his house just to be ready just incase.

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Anxiously awaiting Omar's brilliant offseason strategy

SteveJRogers

Or Bud will have to step in.

"Uh Carlos, that knee of yours looked kind of gimpy Sunday in Houston. You should take the break off. Barry, you're in!"

Its happened before. IIRC the year was 2003 and they really wanted Rajah in the ASG in what was assumed to be his final (HA!) apperance, but he failed to even make the manager's pick cut, so Barry Zito came down with some mysterious aillment (never DL'ed) and Roger Clemens made the All Star Game.

METSSC

he has the highest OPS in the league

he's also 7th in HRs


I'd say he deserves it more then Beltran right now

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GET THE PIECE OF CRAP McGimpy OFF MY TEAM NOW!!!!!

The McGimpy does most things upside down: eats, sleeps (an average of 23 hours per day), mates, and gives birth. Because of the McGimpy's upside down life, many of the McGimpy's internal organs (liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas) are in different positions from other mammals. McGimpy sometimes lets out a cry or hissing sound.

During the rare times the McGimpy goes down to the ground (such as to change trees for food), it moves very slowly.

MrHat

LaRussa will hold a contest to determine the last alternate. He's going somewhere to get wasted the night before the game. The first MLer to jump in his truck while he's passed out at a stop light, gets to go!