You're Bruce Bochy and you're picking your reserves for the NL All-Star team. Do you pick Yasiel Puig even though he has only played in 19 games so far? Under normal circumstances I know that wouldn't be a consideration but since this game "counts" and determines home field advantage in the World Series it raises a good question: Is Puig good enough that you need him to help win the game and home field advantage? Or do you go with players that have played in more games?

It would be the biggest joke ever if he did. Picking him you'd be leaving someone like a Bruce, Cuddyer, Gomez, or Brown off the team. Guys that have done it over the course of the entire season, not just half a month.

It would be the biggest joke ever if he did. Picking him you'd be leaving someone like a Bruce, Cuddyer, Gomez, or Brown off the team. Guys that have done it over the course of the entire season, not just half a month.

 

I'd completely agree normally but the home field advantage thing makes it a much more interesting discussion. For instance, you talk about Puig only doing it for half a month (it's been a little longer than that but I get your point) but didn't Brown accumulate 11 of his 19 homers and 22 of his 50 RBIs in a 15 game span? He'd be making the team on the basis of one hot half of a month. If you were Bochy would you rather bring Domonic Brown or Yasiel Puig off the bench? Again I understand the way the team is normally picked but when it came time to take a starter out would you rather replace him with Brown or Puig?

I'd completely agree normally but the home field advantage thing makes it a much more interesting discussion. For instance, you talk about Puig only doing it for half a month (it's been a little longer than that but I get your point) but didn't Brown accumulate 11 of his 19 homers and 22 of his 50 RBIs in a 15 game span? He'd be making the team on the basis of one hot half of a month. If you were Bochy would you rather bring Domonic Brown or Yasiel Puig off the bench? Again I understand the way the team is normally picked but when it came time to take a starter out would you rather replace him with Brown or Puig?

 

Honestly, Brown. Puig hasn't proven anything yet. I mean didn't Jay Bruce start his rookie season off hitting almost .500 through his first 60-70 ABs?

No way should he be in.

Honestly, Brown. Puig hasn't proven anything yet. I mean didn't Jay Bruce start his rookie season off hitting almost .500 through his first 60-70 ABs?

Exactly, get him while he's hot!!!!

It would be terrible for the NL team and terrble for Puig if he made the team. I don't know how much chemistry means in an all star game, but there be big time resentment from the other players if Puig made the team. It also would put big time pressure on Puig as well as a target on him from other players ... nothing good in naming him to the team. Bochy would be slapping the face of every veteran NL player with a move like that.

I pick my reserves based on who I think will give my team the best chance to win.

Are we taking Cingrani too?

He's hitting .250 in his last 4 games. Clearly not much of a sample, but that's almost 20% of his total ABs. Once he starts seeing teams a second time, his average will fall. By the time the All-Star game comes around, he'll probably be under .300 IMO.

I pick my reserves based on who I think will give my team the best chance to win.

 

Consider my post above. Does adding resentment in the locker room help your team win? What makes you think Puig can perform under the pressure he would be under?

Consider my post above. Does adding resentment in the locker room help your team win? What makes you think Puig can perform under the pressure he would be under?

 

Just exactly how much harmony do you think a locker room made up of players thrown together for 3 days has anyway? I mean you're going to have players from the Diamondbacks and Dodgers on there--they were all trying to kill each other a couple of weeks ago. I don't think Brandon Phillips and Yadier Molina/Adam Wainwright are exactly buddies either. I can't imagine team chemistry meaning anything in an All-Star game.

Just exactly how much harmony do you think a locker room made up of players thrown together for 3 days has anyway? I mean you're going to have players from the Diamondbacks and Dodgers on there--they were all trying to kill each other a couple of weeks ago. I don't think Brandon Phillips and Yadier Molina/Adam Wainwright are exactly buddies either. I can't imagine team chemistry meaning anything in an All-Star game.

 

Good point. So maybe as I questioned in my first post above, team chemistry means nothing in an all star game.

Are we taking Cingrani too?

 

Why would Cingrani make it? He's been very good but not great over his small sample size. Sure his strikeouts per 9 and WHIP looks great but he's allowed 8 homers in 42.1 innings and would not even be in the Top 10 in ERA if he had pitched enough innings to qualify. Puig has been otherworldly.

Consider my post above. Does adding resentment in the locker room help your team win? What makes you think Puig can perform under the pressure he would be under?

 

I made no comment about who should be selected; just - in the words of Herm Edwards - you play to win the game.

 

If he thinks Puig can perform and if he thinks that the locker room/dugout won't be an issue - pick Puig. If not, pick somebody else.