It's a shame we wont see the leading AL HR hitter in the AS game or homerun challenge

[Baseball Guru]

Thome Homers in 7th Straight Game

NEW YORK (AP) - Cleveland Indians slugger Jim Thome homered in his seventh straight game Wednesday night, leaving him one shy of the major league record.

Thome hit a 3-2 pitch from David Wells over the fence in left-center with two outs in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees. The solo shot gave Thome an AL-leading 26 homers this season and cut Cleveland's deficit to 6-5.

The Indians lost 11-8 to the Yankees.

The major league record for consecutive games with a home run is eight, shared by Ken Griffey Jr. when he was with Seattle (1993), Don Mattingly of the Yankees (1987) and Dale Long of Pittsburgh (1956).

Thome, left off the AL All-Star team by Yankees manager Joe Torre, can tie the record Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Mike Mussina starts for New York.

Thome set an Indians record Tuesday night by homering in his sixth consecutive game, a long drive off Roger Clemens.

[rockin500]

anyone know the lineup for the home run contest.

[GiveHyzduashot]

I too think it's a shame Jay Gibbons of the now TB D'Rays won't be in the all star game or HR derby.

Seriously, it is ridiculous Thome's not going. Him and Giles get a 10 on a snubbed scale. Both, under ANY circumstances, should be there. Thome definitely should be there over Vizquel, and Giles should be there over many (Jones and Gonzalez to name a few). And not to say Mike Williams isn't deserving, but Giles is more deserving.

[sheffield_rocks]

oh ok so you think Mr. Jones is not deserving? HA I LAUGH AT THAT!

[GiveHyzduashot]

First sheffield, learn basic comprehension. I didn't say Jones WASN'T deserving. I said Giles is MORE deserving. But alas, let's ignore that you didn't comprehend my previous post (it happens) and look at some cold, hard stats.

You tell me which of the following two players are having the better year.

Giles is:
-16th in batting average (.307)
-5th in homers (22)
-t18th in RBI (53)
-t22nd in runs (49)
-t30th in hits (84)
-t22nd in doubles (18)
-7th in total bases (172)
-t29th in triples (2)
-t9th in walks (52)
-Not on the board in strikeouts (only has 37)
-5th in slugging (.628)
-7th in OBP
-5th in OPS (1.054). OPS is OBP + slugging percentage.

Giles has a .983 fielding percentage and has committed two errors. Giles has 4 OF assists and has committed two defensive DPs.

Jones is:
-Not even in the top 25, nor is he close to being there. He's 10 points off the top 25 board. (.269)
-8th in homers (19)
-t16th in RBI (54)
-t18th in runs (50)
-t27th in hits (85)
-t30th in doubles (17)
-16th in total bases (159)
-Not on the board yet in triples (0)
-t10th in walks (50)
-5th in strikeouts (76)
-22nd in slugging (.503)
-25th in OBP (.374)
-22nd in OPS (.877)

Jones has a .995 fielding percentage and has committed one error. Jones has 4 OF assists and has turned one defensive DP.

Seriously, for once in your life, take off your Atlanta Braves colored glasses.

The best player without a DOUBT is Brian Giles. Giles is superior in all BUT 3 categories and only trails those by one.

Giles also IS as good defensively as Jones is. Leftfield at PNC is very, very tough to play. There is a TON of grass to cover to even make the routine play. And if you don't believe that, then look at the numbers. They're nearly identical.

Last year, Giles almost had a higher batting average than Jones did OBP. It was .309 to .312. That should NEVER happen.

The bottom line is Giles DEFINITELY deserved to be there over Andruw Jones. The numbers don't lie. Giles should have been in the top five in OF voting, easily. It's not even close. Giles IS one of the best players in the game, regardless of position. Step out of that pro-Atlanta world that has engulfed you so much, be fair to every team, and realize how great of a talent Giles is. Top 20 at the very worst in the game, easily.

[Baseball Guru]

Very well said Josh and I agree....
Jones is a great player and having a very good year but Giles deserves to be the allstar:biggrin:

[Fullabull]

How about giving Paul Loduca a little love? He is the #1 catcher in baseball.

Athlete................AB...AVG..R..H.2B.3B.HR.RBI .BB.SO.SB.E
Paul Lo Duca, LA .....293 .324 38 95 22 1 5 38 23 13 3 3
Mike Piazza, NYM.....261 .284 38 74 13 1 18 55 35 42 0 5
Rob Fick, Det ...........294 ,293 43 86 23 1 11 37 27 44 0 3
Jorge Posada, NYY...272 .261 47 71 20 1 14 56 41 75 1 6
Scott Hatteberg, Ok.259 .270 28 70 8 3 11 35 36 30 0 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[goreds]

Lo Duca should go. Brenly is an idiot for not choosing him. Brenly has had a past of being an idiot, but this tops it.

[Baseball Guru]

I for one have been a big supporter of Lo Duca as i think he deserves to be on the team over Santiago or Miller....
Not so sure about the #1 catcher though...Average yes but thats it....

My boy Piazza has 18 HR's to his 5, 55 RBI's to his 38;) :biggrin:

[Fullabull]

[QUOTE]
Not so sure about the #1 catcher though...Average yes but thats it....

My boy Piazza has 18 HR's to his 5, 55 RBI's to his 38 [QUOTE]

Those are 2 offensive catagories.
Those catcher stats were from a fantasy site (Sandbox) and is based on total fantasy points, minus points for errors and strikeouts. You get pts for sacrafices, walks, and all the same stats you would use when choosing an All-Star player. Except for stolen bases allowed, caught stealing, fielding %, & passed balls.

Loduca ~6 pb, 47sba, 22 cs, .996 f%
Piazza ~ 3 pb, 62 sba, 10 cs .989 f%
Kendall ~ 3 pb, 39 sba, 24 cs .988 f%

Loduca & Kendall are better defensively, Piazza is embarrassing himself.