Jul 4, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour (50) pitches the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Athletics are like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield as they just aren’t getting any respect.
With the release of the ’13 American League All-Star team, a game that counts towards home field advantage of the World Series, there were some questions left to be answered.
There was the fact the Athletics got very little respect in the voting process, as they had just one player in Bartolo Colon given a ticket to New York City. Entering Sunday, the Athletics had the second most wins in the AL with 51, so the guess is they have more than one player who is all star caliber.
The biggest problem with the AL this year was the log jam at third base, and since the exhibition game does count for something, I see the point of trying to get the backup position players in spots needed.
Though my argument is if the fans, players and managers are going to select the team as they see fit, and if this game does truly mean “something,” those involved should not only select the teams in such a way, but play the game like it as well.
Do we really need every team represented for an exhibition game that secures home field for the World Series? I don’t think so, but that’s another discussion for another day.
This discussion is about the snubs or a least potential snubs for the AL, and here’s my list of AL players who could’ve, would’ve or should’ve been in the ’13 All-Star game in Citi Field.