He's only been on the Washington Nationals' roster for about a month, but there's already talk that Stephen Strasburg could be among the names Turner/TBS Sports may announce at 11a Sunday when the "MLB All-Star Selection Show" is announced for the 81st All-Star Game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

Last year's #1 overall pick has already been an instant box office hit. Strasburg has filled up a lot of empty seats at the Nats' relatively new ballpark in Washington, in addition to filling seats at (Not So) Progressive Field for an Interleague game vs. the Indians in Cleveland and even filled every single seat at Turner Field last night vs. the N.L. East-leading Braves in Atlanta.

Strasburg's only 2-2 with a respectable ERA of 2.27, and was on the losing end of last night's 5-0 Nats' loss in Atlanta. He allowed 4 runs, 3 earned on 6 hits, 2 BB and 7 K's in 6 1/3 innings of work. Despite the fact he's only been in the majors for a month, many national "experts" seem to think Strasburg's already deserving of an All-Star nod come Sunday when the selections will be announced before TBS' coverage of the Blue Jays/Yankees' game from the Bronx. In my opinion, hold your horses! As much as MLB would like to feature Strasburg under the national spotlight July 13th in the All-Star Game, I'm not so sure he has enough body of work to deserve consideration this year. If Strasburg's dominating hitters next year when MLB heads to Chase Field in Phoenix for the "Midsummer Classic" next July, I rest my case. Until then, easy does it with all the Strasburg All-Star talk this year!

Isn't the decision up to the NL (Phillies) staff unless he gets either the fan vote or a last minute online vote? If he gets voted in the so be it. Its just an all star game and he probably would k the side in his only inning of work.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

UMN, pitchers are NOT on the All-Star ballot. The pitchers & reserves are usually up to the All-Star managers, who are the Phillies' Charlie Manuel for the National League & Yankees' Joe Girardi for the American League. The talk about Strasburg possibly being an All-Star after just 1 month in the majors, I think, was media-driven.

Interesting. I did not know that.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

FOX Sports' crew of Kenny Albert & Mark Grace mentioned the Strasburg All-Star topic during their call of the White Sox/Cubs' game Saturday night, plus Kenny mentioned that Tim McCarver tweeted during the Yankees/Dodgers' game he & Joe Buck called for most of the country that Stephen's worthy, despite the fact that he's only been in the bigs for a month. For what it's worth, Grace felt Strasburg was worthy, but his MLB/FOX teammate Eric Karros says no.

MLB Network's Al Leiter was a guest on "The Dan Patrick Show" today, and while he understands if MLB wants to possibly showcase the Nats' pitcher in next month's All-Star Game in Anaheim, he's not so sure he has enough of a body of work to deserve consideration.

Same. Fan Voting in a game that actually has World Series implications is beyond dumb as it is.

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Team Cutler.

Bud Selig's the idiot "Commissioner" who says the All-Star Game counts...

Kerry Wood wasn't on the team in 1998 ... let me know when Strasburg strikes out 20 then we'll talk about him being an All-Star. I'll take Wood's curveball, thanks.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

And the answer is: No. Kudos, Charlie Manuel. 6 or 8 starts is not all star worthy.

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Frank, why the national talking heads even considered Stephen Strasburg on the NL All-Star team when HE'S BEEN IN THE MAJORS FOR ONLY A MONTH is beyond ridiculous. I realize Strasburg has been good to this point on the mound, and has put asses in the seats in Cleveland & Atlanta, but come on! Besides, Nats' manager Jim Riggleman plans on shutting down Strasburg after a certain time in the second half of the season. They don't want to blow his arm out and besides, Strasburg's an investment for that franchise long term.

Bigger question is where the fuck is Joey Votto and why isn't he starting at 1B for the NL?

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Because it's a popularity contest, and the guy having the best year doesn't always get the nod...

...is a joke that he's not even a reserve...

You can still cast a vote for the Reds' Joey Votto right now at MLB.com or at reds.com now through 3p Thursday. ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd, whose show "The Herd" airs on ESPNU, DIRECTV 208, has taken a very tough stand on Votto and his All-Star credentials. He feels that Votto lacks the stats considering that he plays his home games in the National League's #1 hitters' ballpark in Great American Ballpark and that guys like the Cardinals' Albert Pujols, the Phillies' Ryan Howard & even the Padres' Adrian Gonzalez have developed what Cowherd called "legacy" among those 3 first baseman who were picked. Besides, Votto got about one-fourth of the fan votes compared to Pujols & Howard when fans cast ballots at ballparks across America and at places such as Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse until a couple weeks ago.

I can also take a nail gun and make make another hole in my head.

Because the national talking heads love him due to the fact that he is the flavor of the week (and ESPN told them to), and they probably think he has Mark Prior written all over him due to his mechanics.




Colin Cowherd is a retard.

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Bud may not run the game right, but he is probably the happiest that Lebron is announcing where he's going on Thursday and not holding out until next Tuesday when the All-Star game is on.