All four Indians selected to the All-Star team were elected by a vote of the players, managers and coaches. That means a lot. The fans who vote on the starters sometimes make mistakes (Jason Giambi) but these guys know who's playing well.
Congratulations to C.C. Sabathia, Ronnie Belliard, Matt Lawton, and Victor Martinez.
A fifth, Travis Hafner, is one of five finalists for the final roster spot to be determined by an Internet vote by fans.
I admit I'm stunned by this. Already I heard a network radio sports guy whining about the good players who didn't make it, "but we've got four Indians". I assumed that Martinez and Sabathia would be selected, but figured that C.C. might elect to rest his shaky shoulder instead, leaving us with only one representative in the game. (Had they not both been named, the investigation would by now be underway.)
And who can argue that the numbers posted by both Lawton (.317, 62 runs, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 15 SB) and Belliard (.316, 48 R, 34 RBI, 25 2B, 5 HR) aren't All-Star caliber? It's a tribute to the Indians players from their peers. That's pretty cool.
I can't post good stuff about the Indians without also acknowledging another gut-wrenching, teeth-gnashing, giveaway loss today, wasting another stellar start by Jake Westbrook. Patience, my boy.
Posted by dan at July 4, 2004 11:23 PM