The vote goes to Fransisco Liriano. Liriano has mowed down each team he has faced. His ERA is a microscopic 1.99. At the rate he's going, we're looking somewhere around the area of 20-3 with a 1.75 ERA to end the season. Yes, Verlander has pitched well, and he deserves to make the All-Star team, but not in the place of Liriano. Maybe Ozzie Guillien should have been less selfish and not tabbed Mark Buehrle. Sure, his numbers are good, but Verlander's are better. A starting
pitcher should not be allowed on the All-Star team if he has given up
more hits than innings pitched. It should be a rule. Before anyone goes and says that Buehrle doesn't walk anyone, keep in mind that neither does Verlander. Hits aside, Verlander's WHIP is a stingy 1.12 to Buehrle's 1.31. Verlander has a shutout. Buehrle does not. Verlander has more strikeouts than Buehrle. After tonight, he may be all alone at the top in wins for American League pitchers. But all of these points are moot. A case can be made for both pitchers to play in the game. The most important point, however is that people want to see Verlander. In a year of great rookie pitchers, from Liriano to Papelbon to Zumaya to Verlander and on, true baseball fans want to see this kid with the blazing fastball that has already beaten Santana, Carpenter and Pettitte in his young career. They want to see the most deserving players, not Ozzie Guillen's friends.
Mr. Guillen, you were a good player for a long time and and three-time-all-star in your own right. I'm sure you feel you deserved to be on all three of those teams. How would you feel if you knew there was someone better and more deserving? From what's been shown of you by the press, you probably wouldn't care, but many players do. All in all, the game does not mean that much, and is a mid-season spectacle for the fans to enjoy. But you seem to have forgotten about that. You are a selfish man and as much as I want the Tigers to win the World Series, I would take the White Sox not making it back just so you can't make AT&T Park your living room next year like you are doing with PNC this season. If you want to spend time with your friends, take them fishing.
Unfortunately, however, as much as Justin Verlander deserves to be on the All-Star team as opposed to Mark Buehrle, he does not deserve the spot over Francisco Liriano--the man who gets my vote. As much of a case you can make for Verlander, Joel Zumaya, or even Nate Robertson, you can make a better one for Liriano. Verlander will have to wait another year.
