What is Digg?39 Comments
- Blinker1315, on 07/15/2009, -2/+40As a Sox fan, I was looking forward to seeing Wake pitch, but I get Maddon's decision in a close game. Any catcher who hasn't handled Wake's knuckleball would be at a huge disadvantage. Wake goes with the flow, and though disappointed, he's the type of guy who probably soaked up the atmosphere and enjoyed himself.
- aperobot, on 07/15/2009, -0/+28"The knuckleball is the easiest pitch to catch. Wait'll it stops rolling, then go to the backstop and pick it up." -- Bob Uecker
- inactive, on 07/15/2009, -0/+13They use a different catcher for the Red Sox when Wakefield pitches because Varitek can't handle the knuckleball. The all star guy wouldn't have a chance in hell.
- badenglishihave, on 07/15/2009, -1/+12You're kind of missing the point. Wakefield is 42 years old and this is his *only* All-Star appearance ever. That's why it would have been nice if he had pitched.
- sancho320, on 07/15/2009, -0/+10I think many of the players would disagree. If you watched at all the last two days you would have seen the awe that even professional baseball players can display. Meeting the likes of Bob Gibson, Lou Brock and Stan the Man is a special occasion for anyone and I think any player would certainly say that getting to go is a reward.
- asubigsaxy, on 07/15/2009, -0/+9Mauer catches R.A. Dickey all the time, so he could have handled it - I'm not so sure about the Cleveland catcher though, he was in the game by the time he would have been used.
- holzp, on 07/15/2009, -1/+10He was saving wake to avoid a an embarrassment on having no pitchers left. Wake is The Pro, he was cool with it.
- rudsud, on 07/15/2009, -0/+6I wouldn't say Varitek can't handle the knuckleball. Boston just uses this as his built in day off every couple days. Tek probably doesn't like catching the knuckle, but what C does?
- sinisterouge, on 07/15/2009, -3/+8and yet he is one of only 3 pitchers with 11 wins this season...
GO SOX! - Rethcir, on 07/15/2009, -0/+4I was hoping he would maybe come out to close the game - he did close for the sox at some point.
I think the best strategic move would have been to insert him after Halliday came out - going from 94MPH cheese (to borrow an eck-ism) to 67MPH butterfly balls would have been very hard to hit. - buddahead9, on 07/15/2009, -0/+4the article was written by a guy/girl named 'Duk?
- PxCxG, on 07/15/2009, -0/+3I don't think you quite understood what I was trying to say (I wasn't all that clear). I agree that players view it as a reward, but what I was trying to say is that the All-star games shouldn't be AYSO "everybody plays" crap -- it should be the players chosen by the fans play because it is the only game of the year where the fans have input on who plays. Unfortunately, baseball has made the feelings of the players more important than the desires of the fans, and has sort of lost sight of the original intention of the all star game. Now the players feel entitled and so the starters get pulled after an inning or two so backups that weren't chosen by the fans get to play. That's great for them, but the fans kind of get screwed.
You mentioned Stan Musial, and when he played, starters played the whole game -- he had 4 or 5 at bats a game in most of his allstar games. That's the way it should be now.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost ... - decapitor, on 07/15/2009, -3/+6Wake's such a nice guy, too bad. The only one on that team who's jersey I wear.
- chesterogilvie, on 07/15/2009, -1/+4It's not ***** BAHSTIN, it's closer to Bawstin you dick. At least get your ***** impression correct.
- serif69, on 07/15/2009, -2/+4He's got a box full of your toys. They're fresh out of batteries, but they're still making noise.
- Ajajadude, on 07/15/2009, -0/+2His pitching in the postseason is just like his pitching in the regular season: either his knuckleball has good movement or it's flat and he gets hit hard. The fact remains that Wakefield is not your typical professional athlete: he sacrifices for the greater good of the team, never publicly complains/whines and takes on whatever role he's asked to fill.
While he's never going to put up the numbers of a Josh Beckett and will never be a Hall of Famer, the Red Sox are a better team with him. - Ajajadude, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1And then follow with Beckett 2 or 3 innings later with his hard stuff...that would have screwed up the NL batters real good.
- DrDragun, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1It's Duke Nukem, they cut the budget to finish his name and now he's laid off working as a sports writer
- ethanpeirce, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1Whs the First name "Long" or the last name "Dong"?
- cloudcity, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1Full of win.
- Ajajadude, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1The only time he ever has to do it is during the playoffs when they want his experience behind the plate and they want his bat (if he's having a decent year). And of course there are the times during the playoffs when they bring Wakefield out of the 'pen as a reliever and leave Tek in the game. It's always an adventure, regardless.
- MagMan68Classic, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1When was his last start?
Verlander didn't get to play, but he pitched on Sunday, so it makes sense - Rethcir, on 07/16/2009, -0/+1Weak.. and it's spelled Maddon.
- fxmulder, on 07/15/2009, -1/+1Obama called Madden and told him to keep him out. Obama knew Wakefield was in better shape then he was, and after that opening junk he threw, Barry was too embarrassed already. So the call came down to the dugout:"Mr Madden, this is the supreme leader of the universe Barack Obama. Don't let the old man from Boston in. He will show me up. There's a job as a Czar in it for you!"
- ccjrod, on 07/15/2009, -0/+0Should have put him in the outfield for half an inning... he was drafted as an outfielder. Could have been a risky move for Madden, but would have been great if it worked out.
- fxmulder, on 07/16/2009, -1/+1not really W/e
- TomT127, on 07/15/2009, -2/+0It's the thought that counts.
- c010rb1indusa, on 07/15/2009, -6/+3The all-star game determines home field advantage in the World Series, to say it's not a reward for players on playoff teams to be able to compete for that extra home game, is a gross understatement.
- jedinate, on 07/15/2009, -8/+4While I understand the reason for the decision, he should have let sentimentality win.
It's not like the game means anything. I realize it's for home field, but the NL and AL have split the last 6 world series 3-3, despite the AL having the home field in all of them, so does it matter? Let him pitch! - highlatitude, on 07/15/2009, -6/+2*****.
- cchampion27, on 07/15/2009, -11/+6He should't have been an All Star in the first place. A 4.31 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP are not exactly All Star numbers.
- johnbonham1, on 07/15/2009, -7/+2Who cares he plays for the red sox. The people to feel sorry for are freddy sanchez and zach duke wouldnt't normally be on national tv.
- dinglebutt, on 07/15/2009, -6/+0Womp womp.
- PxCxG, on 07/15/2009, -10/+4Big deal. The all-star game is for the fans, not a reward for the players.
- dontreplytome, on 07/15/2009, -7/+1And yet every tme he pitches in the post-season HE GETS P0WNED
- Adrain, on 07/15/2009, -9/+2It really surprised me that they named the lead singer of Good Charlotte as the AL manager this year. What does he know about baseball? ;)
- dontreplytome, on 07/15/2009, -8/+0And ...
- lex0429, on 07/15/2009, -13/+3F the Red Sux!
- Takfam, on 07/15/2009, -21/+7Let's take a moment to be sorry for Wakefield. Everyone else on the squad that didn't play can go ***** themselves because they don't play for "BAHSTIN!"
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