Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla Named NL All-Stars

Juanky · July 6th, 2008, 02:42 PM

Ramirez is First Player Voted in as a Marlin

The last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium will be first in some ways for the National League.

The starting eight for the Senior Circuit, announced Sunday by Major League Baseball, includes the first rookie catcher -- Geovany Soto of the Cubs -- to start a Midsummer Classic for the NL. The 79th All-Star Game will also see the first pair of NL rookies in the lineup in Soto and Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.

Soto and Fukudome are part of a wave of young NL stars heading for New York that also includes two other starters who will make their All-Star debuts: shortstop Hanley Ramirez of Florida and outfielder Ryan Braun of Milwaukee.

They'll have plenty of company.

Other first timers named to the NL roster are San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Pittsburgh outfielder Nate McLouth, St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick, Cincinnati pitcher Edinson Volquez, Colorado's Aaron Cook and San Francisco's Brian Wilson and Tim Lincecum. At least 35 percent -- and possibly more pending the outcome of the Final Vote -- of the players on this year's 32-man National League All-Star team will be first timers.

Houston first baseman Lance Berkman, Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones and Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano are the other elected NL starters for next week's Classic in New York.

Utley, an All-Star starter for the third consecutive year, is the only returning NL starter from last year's All-Star Game in San Francisco.

The 29-year-old leads the Major Leagues with 24 home runs and led the NL with 3,389,602 online votes. No Phillies player had finished with the most votes since fans were given back the ballot in 1970.

Berkman ranks among the top five in baseball in batting average, home runs and RBIs. An All-Star for the fifth time, Berkman is the sixth Astros player to win the fan balloting at any position. He joins Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, Cesar Cedeno and Lee May.

Jones, who leads the Major Leagues with a .385 batting average entering play on Sunday, made the All-Star team for the sixth time and will be making his fifth start. It will be Jones' first All-Star appearance since the 2001 season. The Braves will also be represented by catcher Brian McCann, one of the manager selections.

Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Mets closer Billy Wagner and pitchers Dan Haren (D-backs), Cook (Rockies) and Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) were the other NL manager selections.

Soto and Fukudome are the first two rookies in an All-Star Game starting lineup since Tom Tresh, Dave Stenhouse and Rich Rollins started the second 1962 Midsummer Classic for the American League at Wrigley Field. In those days, two All-Star Games were played each season.

Dozens of rookies have made the All-Star team over the years, including catchers Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Mike Piazza, Gary Carter and Jason Kendall. But until the 25-year-old Soto won the assignment this year, the only rookie backstop to start an All-Star Game was Cleveland's Sandy Alomar Jr. for the AL in 1990.

The 31-year-old Fukudome, among the top 10 in the league in on-base percentage, runs and walks, joins Soto and Soriano to give the Cubs three players in the starting lineup of the All-Star Game for the first time since 1937.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez (player choice) and pitchers Ryan Dempster (player), Kerry Wood (player) and Zambrano give the Cubs a franchise-record seven All-Stars. No other NL team has more than two representatives.

Soriano, the MVP of the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston, has not played since June 11 because of injury. The Cubs left fielder has begun taking practice and hopes to be cleared to make his seventh All-Star appearance and fifth start.

Hanley Ramirez is only the second Marlins player in franchise history to win the fan balloting at any position. Gary Sheffield was elected by the fans to start at third base in 1993, though Sheffield began that season with San Diego. Ramirez held off a challenge from Houston's Miguel Tejada in what was the closest campaign in either league. Uggla will be making his second All-Star trip as a result of his selection by the players.

Tejada, the MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game, also made the team as a player selection.

Braun, in his second season with the Brewers and first as an outfielder, was in 10th place in the NL balloting on June 1. Since then, the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year received more than 2 million votes to climb all the way to second place behind Soriano in the outfield race. Braun received 3,835,890 online votes -- more than any NL player except Utley.

Braun is only the second Brewers player to win the fan balloting at a position, following first baseman Prince Fielder last year. Braun is joined by Brewers ace Ben Sheets, who is 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA and will be making his fourth trip to the All-Star Game as a player selection.

The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.

Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. had risen to second place in the NL outfield balloting behind Soriano a week ago, but a tide of late support boosted Braun and Fukudome at the polls, dropping the newest member of the 600 home run club out of the starting lineup.

Griffey, a 13-time All-Star selection who was the NL's leading vote-getter last season with 2,916,818 votes, has been elected by fans to start the All-Star Game more times than any player except Ripken (17) and Rod Carew (15). Since the start of his Major League career in 1989, Griffey has received the most votes of any player in the history of fan balloting.

The change in the NL All-Star landscape was most evident in the NL West, where a first of another kind may be set unless one of the division's pitchers, perhaps Arizona's Brandon Webb, is named as the starter.

Russell Martin of the Dodgers, the NL starter at catcher last season, made the team again this year. Martin joins Gonzalez, Webb, Lincecum, Wilson, Haren and Colorado's Cook and Matt Holliday among the eight NL West team representatives.

San Diego's Jake Peavy was the starting pitcher for the NL last July and Brad Penny of the Dodgers got the start for the Senior Circuit in the 2006 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.

Unless Webb, Lincecum or Cook makes it three straight starters for the division, this will be the first time since the leagues split into two divisions in 1969 that the All-Star Game won't have at least one player from the NL West in the starting lineup.

Newcomers make waves in ASG voting | MLB.com: News

Chewie · July 6th, 2008, 02:50 PM

Finally, after all these years, we have someone voted in, and we get Dan Uggla in as a bonus.

Juanky · July 6th, 2008, 02:52 PM

You have to think that Hanley is slated to bat either first or second for the NL.

Also, I know Pujols will probably be the pick, but I think Uggla has an outside shot at being the DH.

Hugg · July 6th, 2008, 03:10 PM

Uggla won't be the DH because he's the only other 2B on the roster.

Ralph · July 6th, 2008, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Hugg

Uggla won't be the DH because he's the only other 2B on the roster.

Which is also a good thing because he'll play the whole back end of the game. Utley 5 innings Uggla last 4. DH will likely be PH for early with all the OF's and corner players.

Ralph · July 6th, 2008, 10:13 PM

Uggla in the derby.

FishFanInPA · July 6th, 2008, 10:21 PM

At first i was pissed about Uggla in the derby but he's already an all-or-nothing hitter that i dont think this would screw up his swing too much.

Hugg · July 7th, 2008, 12:53 AM

Hanley wants to do it too, we'll see if they ask him.

"Yeah, why not? To be with Uggs. Me and him, we can go to the finals," Ramirez said.

Home Run Derby will pack punch | MLB.com: News

Flum · July 7th, 2008, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by Hugg

Hanley wants to do it too, we'll see if they ask him.

"Yeah, why not? To be with Uggs. Me and him, we can go to the finals," Ramirez said.

Home Run Derby will pack punch | MLB.com: News

Even as part of me worries about it affecting Hanley's swing, I'd piss my motherfucking pants.

Hugg · July 7th, 2008, 12:58 AM

One of these years I'd just like to see an event with guys perfectly suited no matter how good they really are.

Jake would absolutely destroy in this event.

FishFanInPA · July 7th, 2008, 12:59 AM

Yeah, no thanks to Hanley doing it....that's just we need for him to do is screw up his swing.

Hugg · July 7th, 2008, 01:00 AM

I personally think more of Hanley than to worry about him participating in the derby.

He spends most of his ABs trying to hit home runs anyway.

Count Bass D · July 7th, 2008, 01:05 AM

It doesn't screw up swings. Miguel did it last year and was fine.

Swift · July 7th, 2008, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by Count Bass D

It doesn't screw up swings. Miguel did it last year and was fine.

Miguel didn't do it last year.

Count Bass D · July 7th, 2008, 01:08 AM

Sorry.....2006.

FishFanInPA · July 7th, 2008, 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by Count Bass D

It doesn't screw up swings. Miguel did it last year and was fine.

For some it does

2006

Ryan Howard

Pre ASB: .278 AVG 28 HR 71 RBI
Post ASB: .355 AVG 30 HR 78 RBI

David Wright

Pre ASB: .316 AVG 20 HR 74 RBI
Post ASB: .305 AVG 6 HR 42 RBI

2005

Bobby Abre

July 6th, 2008, 02:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Juanky I'm cool Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 2,537 T&B $: 15,001 Reputation: 959812 My Teams:	Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla Named NL All-Stars Ramirez is First Player Voted in as a Marlin The last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium will be first in some ways for the National League. The starting eight for the Senior Circuit, announced Sunday by Major League Baseball, includes the first rookie catcher -- Geovany Soto of the Cubs -- to start a Midsummer Classic for the NL. The 79th All-Star Game will also see the first pair of NL rookies in the lineup in Soto and Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Soto and Fukudome are part of a wave of young NL stars heading for New York that also includes two other starters who will make their All-Star debuts: shortstop Hanley Ramirez of Florida and outfielder Ryan Braun of Milwaukee. They'll have plenty of company. Other first timers named to the NL roster are San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Pittsburgh outfielder Nate McLouth, St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick, Cincinnati pitcher Edinson Volquez, Colorado's Aaron Cook and San Francisco's Brian Wilson and Tim Lincecum. At least 35 percent -- and possibly more pending the outcome of the Final Vote -- of the players on this year's 32-man National League All-Star team will be first timers. Houston first baseman Lance Berkman, Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones and Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano are the other elected NL starters for next week's Classic in New York. Utley, an All-Star starter for the third consecutive year, is the only returning NL starter from last year's All-Star Game in San Francisco. The 29-year-old leads the Major Leagues with 24 home runs and led the NL with 3,389,602 online votes. No Phillies player had finished with the most votes since fans were given back the ballot in 1970. Berkman ranks among the top five in baseball in batting average, home runs and RBIs. An All-Star for the fifth time, Berkman is the sixth Astros player to win the fan balloting at any position. He joins Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, Cesar Cedeno and Lee May. Jones, who leads the Major Leagues with a .385 batting average entering play on Sunday, made the All-Star team for the sixth time and will be making his fifth start. It will be Jones' first All-Star appearance since the 2001 season. The Braves will also be represented by catcher Brian McCann, one of the manager selections. Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Mets closer Billy Wagner and pitchers Dan Haren (D-backs), Cook (Rockies) and Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) were the other NL manager selections. Soto and Fukudome are the first two rookies in an All-Star Game starting lineup since Tom Tresh, Dave Stenhouse and Rich Rollins started the second 1962 Midsummer Classic for the American League at Wrigley Field. In those days, two All-Star Games were played each season. Dozens of rookies have made the All-Star team over the years, including catchers Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Mike Piazza, Gary Carter and Jason Kendall. But until the 25-year-old Soto won the assignment this year, the only rookie backstop to start an All-Star Game was Cleveland's Sandy Alomar Jr. for the AL in 1990. The 31-year-old Fukudome, among the top 10 in the league in on-base percentage, runs and walks, joins Soto and Soriano to give the Cubs three players in the starting lineup of the All-Star Game for the first time since 1937. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez (player choice) and pitchers Ryan Dempster (player), Kerry Wood (player) and Zambrano give the Cubs a franchise-record seven All-Stars. No other NL team has more than two representatives. Soriano, the MVP of the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston, has not played since June 11 because of injury. The Cubs left fielder has begun taking practice and hopes to be cleared to make his seventh All-Star appearance and fifth start. Hanley Ramirez is only the second Marlins player in franchise history to win the fan balloting at any position. Gary Sheffield was elected by the fans to start at third base in 1993, though Sheffield began that season with San Diego. Ramirez held off a challenge from Houston's Miguel Tejada in what was the closest campaign in either league. Uggla will be making his second All-Star trip as a result of his selection by the players. Tejada, the MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game, also made the team as a player selection. Braun, in his second season with the Brewers and first as an outfielder, was in 10th place in the NL balloting on June 1. Since then, the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year received more than 2 million votes to climb all the way to second place behind Soriano in the outfield race. Braun received 3,835,890 online votes -- more than any NL player except Utley. Braun is only the second Brewers player to win the fan balloting at a position, following first baseman Prince Fielder last year. Braun is joined by Brewers ace Ben Sheets, who is 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA and will be making his fourth trip to the All-Star Game as a player selection. The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game. Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. had risen to second place in the NL outfield balloting behind Soriano a week ago, but a tide of late support boosted Braun and Fukudome at the polls, dropping the newest member of the 600 home run club out of the starting lineup. Griffey, a 13-time All-Star selection who was the NL's leading vote-getter last season with 2,916,818 votes, has been elected by fans to start the All-Star Game more times than any player except Ripken (17) and Rod Carew (15). Since the start of his Major League career in 1989, Griffey has received the most votes of any player in the history of fan balloting. The change in the NL All-Star landscape was most evident in the NL West, where a first of another kind may be set unless one of the division's pitchers, perhaps Arizona's Brandon Webb, is named as the starter. Russell Martin of the Dodgers, the NL starter at catcher last season, made the team again this year. Martin joins Gonzalez, Webb, Lincecum, Wilson, Haren and Colorado's Cook and Matt Holliday among the eight NL West team representatives. San Diego's Jake Peavy was the starting pitcher for the NL last July and Brad Penny of the Dodgers got the start for the Senior Circuit in the 2006 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. Unless Webb, Lincecum or Cook makes it three straight starters for the division, this will be the first time since the leagues split into two divisions in 1969 that the All-Star Game won't have at least one player from the NL West in the starting lineup. Newcomers make waves in ASG voting \| MLB.com: News __________________ Have a dispute with an Administrator, Mod, or User on the site? Question/Issue with something on the site? Need conversation on a lonely night? PM Me

July 7th, 2008, 01:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
Count Bass D Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,755 T&B $: 1,482 Reputation: 2186076	It doesn't screw up swings. Miguel did it last year and was fine. __________________ If You Like 6'5 Quarterbacks With Laser Rocket Arms

July 6th, 2008, 02:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chewie Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,198 T&B $: 3,236 Reputation: 1569849 My Teams:	Finally, after all these years, we have someone voted in, and we get Dan Uggla in as a bonus.

July 6th, 2008, 02:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Juanky I'm cool Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 2,537 T&B $: 15,001 Reputation: 959812 My Teams:	You have to think that Hanley is slated to bat either first or second for the NL. Also, I know Pujols will probably be the pick, but I think Uggla has an outside shot at being the DH.

July 6th, 2008, 10:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ralph BITCHES BE TRIPPIN' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 1,452 T&B $: 270 Reputation: 340308 My Teams:	Uggla in the derby.

July 6th, 2008, 10:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
FishFanInPA All-Star Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7,140 T&B $: 1,019,825 Reputation: 2207540 My Teams:	At first i was pissed about Uggla in the derby but he's already an all-or-nothing hitter that i dont think this would screw up his swing too much.

July 7th, 2008, 12:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Hugg Trillion Man March Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 6,502 T&B $: 262,939 Reputation: 5750077 My Teams:	Hanley wants to do it too, we'll see if they ask him. "Yeah, why not? To be with Uggs. Me and him, we can go to the finals," Ramirez said. Home Run Derby will pack punch \| MLB.com: News

July 7th, 2008, 12:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
Hugg Trillion Man March Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 6,502 T&B $: 262,939 Reputation: 5750077 My Teams:	One of these years I'd just like to see an event with guys perfectly suited no matter how good they really are. Jake would absolutely destroy in this event.

July 7th, 2008, 12:59 AM	#11 (permalink)
FishFanInPA All-Star Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7,140 T&B $: 1,019,825 Reputation: 2207540 My Teams:	Yeah, no thanks to Hanley doing it....that's just we need for him to do is screw up his swing.

July 7th, 2008, 01:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
Hugg Trillion Man March Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 6,502 T&B $: 262,939 Reputation: 5750077 My Teams:	I personally think more of Hanley than to worry about him participating in the derby. He spends most of his ABs trying to hit home runs anyway.

July 7th, 2008, 01:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
Count Bass D Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,755 T&B $: 1,482 Reputation: 2186076	Sorry.....2006.