From the Tribs Phil Rogers:
1. Got a great email from a reader about the decision to postpone naming the annual All-City baseball team until the second leg of the White Sox-Cubs series. The header was, “You probably don’t want the outrage ...,’’ and the text read “for having to pick (Bryan) LaHair over (Paul) Konerko.’’

Nah, I love the outrage. Nothing used to be more fun than picking Magglio Ordonez over Sammy Sosa and watching Sosa pout, as if Maggs was some nobody just called up from Triple-A.

But the email was spot on. Had I done the team this week, the most difficult choice would have been at first base.

And, after giving it just a little thought, and conceding that the ultra-reliable Konerko is once again raising his performance at a point in his career when production should be going the other way, I would have taken LaHair.

How could I not? Have you looked at the guy’s numbers?

While Konerko is hitting .356 with a 1.013 OPS (.435 on-base, .578 slugging), LaHair has somehow done even better. He’s hitting .339 with a 1.120 OPS (.432 on-base, .688 slugging).

How good is this?

Only two hitters have done more: Josh Hamilton and Matt Kemp. Take Kemp out of the picture and LaHair is leading the National League in OPS and slugging, while being seventh in batting average.

Impressed enough? If not, there’s this. Since the start of the 2011 season, the unassuming, late-blooming LaHair has quietly hit 65 home runs -- 12 with the Cubs, 38 for Triple-A Iowa last year (most in the minors) and 15 in Venezuela over the winter.

Dude can rake.

This is nothing against Konerko. I can’t really believe that I wouldn’t be picking him for All-City given his season. But LaHair is the same guy as Konerko in the field -- solid, not spectacular -- runs the bases a little bit better and has delivered enough more to offset his 162-strikeout pace.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

As soon as I saw that the author was Phil Rogers, that was enough for me.

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Bad.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

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Konerko is having a real good year

Just not as good as LaHair

No doubt. Konerko didn't even hit a homer in Venezuela!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I can agree with the thread title, though. LaHair is a giant BM.

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No, I mean the 2012 MLB Championship season

LaHair is having a better year.

LaHair is having a great season but its a small sample size. If I needed a 1B for the rest of this season, I would pick Konerko. You might get burned if LaHair keeps up his pace but it isnt like you could make a bad pick with either guy.

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I would find the Brent Morel or Ian Stewart choice to be much more difficult

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Death

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This is my signature...

Even for Rogers, this is a waste of everyone's time for even reading it.

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Bust your head

+ 1

Gotta give it to Paulie. 125 AB's is way to small a sample size.

I've heard the term All-Star and Bryan LaHair in the same sentence with the Cubs' first baseman...for now. I don't think he's even on the All-Star ballot.

Ok, I guess I have to point out the painfully obvious fact that were picking this based on ONLY this season's stats UP TO THIS POINT

LaHair is having a better year

Of course Konerko is the guy you take going forward

Jeez

When has an all-star team ever been about strictly the current seasons stats. Past reputation plays a huge role in all of these shit shows.

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It's hard not to argue with that last statement. There will be guys going to Kansas City in July that are terrible statistically this season, yet the fans will vote them in anyway to start the "Midsummer Classic".

Speeps' head is going to explode unless you take out the 'not' in your first sentence.

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SHARK speaks the truth.

Every year ever excluding the fan vote.


Especially for these all city teams.

Anyway, LaHair is better in 2012, so far

Guys, unless you follow Bud Selig's MLB hardcore, fans outside Chicago don't know who Bryan LaHair is. Seriously.

WHAT?

He has more HRs than any other 1B in baseball. I think people know who he is.

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By this standard the Cubs win out at every position.

Season over! Yes!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

SHARK if you're gonna use cliches, please use them correctly.

'Hard to argue...'

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I'll do my best.

Thanks buddy.

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I would still take Konerko overall. Right now,I think LaHair is the best LF on either side of town. That is where he should be playing.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

One problem...That's where Alfonso Soriano still plays for the Chicago National League Ballclub.