Tuesday, July 13, 2010

All-Star Game Thread, 5p

Andre Ethier answers media questions yesterday.

If you haven't heard, Andre Ethier is starting in center field tonight. From Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times' Dodgers Blog:

Asked why Andre Ethier is starting in center field for the National League in the All-Star game, Manager Charlie Manuel offered this response:
The reason he's playing center field is because when we did the fan voting and the player voting, we uh, [Corey] Hart had the, he was ahead of the outfielders, he has to start, he was supposed to start the game, and Ethier's the one I chose to play center field because I remember he played there a lot. We do not have what they call a true center fielder right now. We have some our roster, at the same time that was the reason why he started in center field.

Here's our attempt to translate what Manuel said:

Because Hart was third in player voting among NL outfielders, he was pushed into the lineup when Jason Hayward pulled out of the game. Manuel looked at his three starting outfielders and remembered that Ethier has played "a lot of center field" -- even though Ethier has never played the position in the major leagues.

But Ethier's college teammate, Dustin Pedroia, said Ethier played center field at Arizona State.

"He's a baseball player, man," Pedroia said. "He'll be fine."

We sure hope so — we'd hate to see Ethier go all Uggla on us.

And an amusing All-Star Anecdote: Kuo interviews players about Kuo (Tony Jackson, ESPNLosAngeles.com)

photo via @DodgertownUSA

269 comments:

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Fred's Brim said...

they just had Kim Ng on Sportscenter talking about Steinbrenner who hired her as an assistant GM when she was 29

Kyle Baker said...

H Ramirez, SS
Prado, 2B
Pujols, 1B
Howard, DH
Wright, 3B
Braun, LF
Ethier, CF
Hart, RF
Molina, C

Kyle Baker said...

And fuck the AL.

Kyle Baker said...

Damn, now I need to re-subscribe to the LA Times so that I can cancel it in a fit of rage, again:

http://tinyurl.com/289v3dx

MR.F said...

Go NL. Please?

rbnlaw said...

Well, the All-Star Game is here I couldn't be more excited. Really, I couldn't because I haven't cared about this exercise in mistaken idol worship since Pete Rose ended Ray Fosse's career.

Well, I was happy that proud papa, The Garv was the game's MVP after his wife and friends got Steve-O in the game with a gazillion write-in votes. This year's version, Nick Swisher, undoubtedly took note of The Garv in his Twitter campaign.

Nonetheless, I hope Ethier goes 3 for 3, although the chances of Charlie "uh, um, er, what?" Manuel leaving in Dodger for more than an inning seems slim. Good luck to Raffy, HLACK, and Brox in their limited appearances as well.

I'll be at the soccer field for a good part of this "Classic."

rbnlaw said...

In reading my last comment, I must apologize for missing commas.

I know DB expects more.

How about a drinking game during the ASG? Every time McCarver says something inane, we drink.

Everyone will be plowed by the National Anthem.

Kyle Baker said...

*dashes home really quickly so as to avoid a DUI as the drinking game commences*

Kyle Baker said...

Media note: Excellent refutation of that fat slimesucking dutchbag Plashcke's recent harangue re: DS can be found here:

http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2010/07/dodger_stadium_vs_angel_stadiu.php

Thanks, LA Observed!

Kyle Baker said...

@RB

I can overlook the comma issue given the hilarity of your saying "HLACK" instead of just "HCK." because now I'm picturing Sons reader HLACK participating in the ASG, not our wily lefty out of the pen.

Josh S. said...

The only upside of the passing of Steinbrenner is that the oft-neglected Yankees will finally get talked about on a national broadcast.

karen said...

George Steinbrenner has always been the man I love to hate. I'm sorry to see him go.

Thoughts go out to his family

karen said...

Not sending out any love to the hated Yankees. Just sayin' this goes beyond baseball

Fred's Brim said...

I don't like Chris Rose as a broadcaster. He reminds me of Ted from How I Met Your Mother

Fred's Brim said...

and one of the Glee kids will be singing something before the game

Josh S. said...

OH MY GOD JOE BUCK'S HAIR!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

RAFFY!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

BROXTON!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

KUO!!!

Josh S. said...

Who's booing my Dodgers?! I WILL CUT YOU!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

HAH! Wilson gets the most boos out of the NL!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Angel fans don't quite care for the Red Sox.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Jeez, the Angels can't even get the last introduction?

Fred's Brim said...

nice shoes, Hanley

karen said...

Is tonight the night for the NL finally? We must focus our world reknown positive energy force on our team for the good of baseball as we "know" it

Fred's Brim said...

DRE!!!!

Josh S. said...

Nice ovation for Dre.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They couldn't keep Ichiro away from these things if they wanted to.

Josh S. said...

Crap. I meant to update my avatar to something All-Starry. I'll stick with the uncrowned All-Star.

Josh S. said...

Price and Ubaldo look like brothers.

Fred's Brim said...

ALMA!!!

Josh S. said...

Joe Buck's ego runs completely unchecked at this thing, doesn't it?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

SALMA!!!

Fred's Brim said...

thanks for shaving, Ben

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ew, who invited Ben Affleck?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ELY!!!

Josh S. said...

Ely!

Fred's Brim said...

Alright, alright, alright!

Kyle Baker said...

SALMA!!!!

Need to turn on the AC.

Josh S. said...

Yes, yes, these people are wonderful. Baseball please.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

HAN!!!

Kyle Baker said...

@Karen

I like how you're treading the fine line between respect and hate for Steinbrenner and the Yankees.

As I've often intoned: Feel the hate!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Or, KIMBLE!!!

Kyle Baker said...

I have time to get a beer during all this feel-good drivel.

Fred's Brim said...

jeez - don't say "Please stand" and show the lady in the wheelchair. Nice work, FOX

Josh S. said...

Mercedes!!!

Fred's Brim said...

I think Jeter just threw up in his mouth

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Okay, seriously, what is the point of this singing?

Kyle Baker said...

Don't sing "You are beautiful" then show ugly people, either.

[I kid, I kid]

Josh S. said...

OK, that's just cool.

MR.F said...

LOL @ DB.

Fred's Brim said...

In the love pack there, I saw Ichiro pass something to Lincecum when they shook hands...

Josh S. said...

I'd have less of a problem with all of this if they did it at 4:30 instead of saying the game will be on at 5.

Kyle Baker said...

I'd have less of a problem with it if our own James Fuckin' Loney were on the NL squad.

Josh S. said...

No, DB, you don't get it. Loney is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad baseball player.

Kyle Baker said...

"Once a Yankee, always a Yankee."

Exactly. Which is why I hate anyone who has ever played for them, even if they leave the team.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@DB - How can you hate Ricky Henderson?

Fred's Brim said...

remember in the 80s when "The Boss" would issue his yearly threat to move the Yankees to New Jersey?

Kyle Baker said...

@MLASF

Don't question my irrational hatred! It is by definition lacking ration.

Fred's Brim said...

and how can you hate Roberto Kelly?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I remember when Steinbrenner traded a low-level employee for chicken products.

Wait, that's not right...

Kyle Baker said...

I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew.

karen said...

@MLASF

LOL

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think McCarver tried to suppress a laugh while looking at Buck's hair.

Kyle Baker said...

That's weird for McCarver to acknowledge right off the bat that the NL exists.

Kyle Baker said...

And then of course pick the AL to win.

Josh S. said...

Why do they always neglect the year the AL didn't win either?

Josh S. said...

HOORAY. MORE SELF-INDULGENT JOE BUCK SEGMENTS PLEASE.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

"In postal news"

I thought it was going to be about you finally killing Plaschke.

Fred's Brim said...

What were you doing in the summer of 96? I was frogging around at home after graduating from college, fulfilling my Gen X responsibilities

Kyle Baker said...

I like how that little girl gave special mention to our own Andre Ethier.

MR.F said...

Summer of 96 was probably when things went downhill for me.

Kyle Baker said...

@FB

Working on the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign figuring out how we could crush Dole-Kemp without even trying.

Josh S. said...

Hey! A baseball game!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm confused. How does this game make Hanley Ramirez a star?

Fred's Brim said...

let's get it out of the way:

shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows shadows

Josh S. said...

I was working at the E.T. Adventure.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Hey, Scott Boras is there!

Kyle Baker said...

@Josh

Sounds like we had very similar experiences that summer.

Josh S. said...

OK, Hanley is a star now. Sub in Furcal.

Fred's Brim said...

turn down the mic at the plate!

Josh S. said...

Damn.

Fred's Brim said...

that's ok - it just sets up the Ethier grand slam

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Take a drink every time a Taco Bell commercial appears.

Josh S. said...

Does a Heath Bell appearance count?

Kyle Baker said...

Maybe we should eat a taco every time a Taco Bell commercial comes on.

Maybe Heath Bell should.

Kyle Baker said...

Throw at Jeter!

Josh S. said...

I get the intentions behind that moment, but it seems more about Jeter than Shepperd.

Kyle Baker said...

Jesus Ubaldo.

Get this bum out of there!

Josh S. said...

Timmeh choked last year too.

Kyle Baker said...

Timmeh choked on that sticky icky icky.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nice DP.

Josh S. said...

Nice!

MR.F said...

Yay.

Josh S. said...

Sharp is racist.

Josh S. said...

Designated failure.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Manuel: That's my guy!

Josh S. said...

Hit it to Cano!

Kyle Baker said...

Cano has butter fingers tonight.

Josh S. said...

Welp...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dammit, Braun, you're better than that.

Kyle Baker said...

At this rate, the game will be shorter than the introductions.

Fred's Brim said...

At least that forces Charlie Manuel to leave Dre in for another inning, to get his 1 AB

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Vladdy still swinging at anything.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Damn that was smoked.

Kyle Baker said...

That's our E!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Even Joe Buck knows that Ethier has never played center.

Kyle Baker said...

Anyone using the GameDay thingy? Graphics are weird; look like MLB '98.

MR.F said...

Come on Dre!

spank said...

I'm saying it right now. Dre with the homerun

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ugh.

Josh S. said...

Dang.

spank said...

BOOOOOO! Lame Dre

MR.F said...

Damnit.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Pettitte makes Geico look foolish as well.

Kyle Baker said...

UghDangBooDamnit.

Josh S. said...

Worst-hitting starter gets a hit, natch.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Boy, that was a star-like groundout from Hanley right there. On the nose, McCarver, on the nose.

spank said...

Who was the last dodger with a hit in an all-star game? Emphasis on the was cause I can't remember

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

O-Dog got a hit last year. And Martin singled off Mariano Rivera at Yankee Stadium in 08.

Kyle Baker said...

Wish Dre could have another chance. He went down easier than Arjen Robben.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The graphics on At Bat are just awful. They should have just stuck with the standard images. New ones really distract the eye.

Kyle Baker said...

Throw at Jeter!

Kyle Baker said...

Seriously, MLASF. I swear I'm playing a late '90s MLB video game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It's like that guy who went to the Futures game and only threw one pitch.

spank said...

Was thinking Martin but was not sure for some reason. Must have changed channels by the time O-dog batted.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nice K by Johnson.

Kyle Baker said...

I want to hear Bob Sheppard's voice saying to Jeter "Sit down you little bitch!"

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Take a drink, everyone.

spank said...

Jeter goes down. All the West Coast cheers in exctasy.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I wonder how condescending Girardi sounded when talking to Cliff Lee.

Nostradamus said...

All over it, MLASF.

Kyle Baker said...

Way ahead of you, MLASF.

(re taking a drink)

spank said...

Sorry officer, I could'nt see that red light because of the shadows.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If FOX really wanted to increase ratings for the All Star Game, they should add something more fun, like a pool of acid in random places of the field where if a ball lands in it, everyone moves up a base.

Kyle Baker said...

Or they could have Jennie Finch pitch.

Naked.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Well, it is FOX...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kuo is warming up? Already?

spank said...

Or have Prince Fielder pitch.

Naked

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Damn, that was a fine catch from Braun!

Kyle Baker said...

Oh no you didn't, Spanky.

Or they could just have KFP try to run the bases. Endless entertainment.

Kyle Baker said...

Gotta go light up......



.........the charcoal in the grill.

Back in awhile.

Josh S. said...

Here we go.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Not very well played, Mauer.

spank said...

Do us right Dre

MR.F said...

Go Dre!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ANDRE!!!

MR.F said...

Whoo!!!! Single!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Damn. That was a missed chance.

spank said...

Yep

MR.F said...

McCant.

Yeah. Real creative there.

Kyle Baker said...

Year of the Pitcher, indeed.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Was that George Takei?

karen said...

It feels so not right rooting for all these enemies. But in the interest of home field advantage I'll continue to struggle through

Nostradamus said...

HCK represent!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Who was the wise guy that wanted Kuo in the All Star Game?

spank said...

Freakin' Great!

spank said...

Kuo said it was the shadows

karen said...

Well damn

Nostradamus said...

Sheet

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nice move by Hanley. Maybe McCarver has a point.

karen said...

Oh I don't want a Padre to come in and have to save us

Think HFA...Think HFA

spank said...

@ Karen
What do you mean? Like a Prayer?

karen said...

Ok guys...only 1 run. This group can make that up in a snap

Steve Sax said...

Kuo in line for the loss

karen said...

@Spanky

More like a mantra..."Think home field advantage, think home field advantage" when having to root for some players that I despise

karina said...

Epale everyone!

I'm sure Kuo won't lose this game. Go NL!

Josh S. said...

Manuel is a bonehead for using Kuo before "his guy" Halladay.

I'm just happy the overthrow wasn't Kuo's elbow disintegrating.

karen said...

Epale Karina!

We need all your good energy!

karen said...

Geez this game is going fast

karina said...

Lamest commentary of the night, as heard on ESPN Latino:

"this is the first walk that Derek Jeter receives in the All Star Game"

who cares?

I was this close to change the audio to English.

karen said...

SOB Byrd caught everything against us

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

There's no K in Capps, but there's one on Big Papi.

karen said...

So sorry Papi!! :)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nothing says baseball like Jake Gy-however you spell his name.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Everyone got pissed off for that? Dammit, Votto.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If there was ever a time to root for Matt Holliday, this is it.

karina said...

safe!

Josh S. said...

CRUSH IT, SLAPNUTS!

Josh S. said...

Oops. I wasn't paying attention.

Josh S. said...

Two straight days of CY fail.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If the NL loses, it's not because of Kuo. It's because of Geico and Young sucking it up with runners on third and one out.

karen said...

YES!!!!

spank said...

Oh Snap!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

YES WE MCCAN!!!

Nostradamus said...

National League up in this bish!

spank said...

I'm Going to Small World!!!

spank said...

C'mon Rafa

Josh S. said...

Fooky Time.

karen said...

C'mon Raffy, lets see some of your magic

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Raffy walk. That's how we do it.

MR.F said...

Whoo. Walk.

Paul said...

Epale All Stars!!

Fookie on! NL up!

I was about to make a post about how I hate the all star home field bs.

Then the national league took the lead!

Still I don't think it is right that the pitcher who blew the led can be interviewed calmly right after and yet so much is riding on the game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

What's with the no-names singing everything today?

spank said...

Plastic soul,man. Plastic soul

karina said...

200!

karina said...

@Mr LASF you always deliver with your avatars

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I do my best, Karina.

MR.F said...

On the bright side, it didn't hit Holliday in the balls.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

DAMMIT, NUTSHOT

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