Seal Island

   I as just watching a segment on ESPN about Seal Island, off the coast of South Africa, and the chain of command down there.  The dense population of fur seals is what leads to the prevalence of great white sharks.  Heading into the water down there would be insanity - something I would never even consider doing.  Just seeing those beasts flying out of the ocean and snagging a meal mid-air is amazing.


   Speaking of getting thrown into the sharks, here is my list of 2010 All-Star game snubs.  These are the guys who fell off the vote-boat.  (Answers will be at the bottom)


   1.  Position Player Snub:
   1.  Player A:  .318 BA, 21 HR, 59 RBI, .599 SLG%, 1.017 OPS
   1.  Player B:  .305 BA, 20 HR, 60 RBI, .567 SLG%, .981 OPS
   1.  Player C:  .291 BA, 16 HR, 51 RBI, .517 SLG%, .902 OPS
   1.  Player D:  .296 BA, 15 HR, 59 RBI, .502 SLG%, .852 OPS


   Three of these players are on the squad and one is not, an to me, it's not even close.  There is one guy (Player A, cough cough...) that should have been a lock.  Fans don't know players in smaller markets, and it's sad because this players team is actually competing for a change.

   I mean the Marlins tried to bribe fans with 2 free tickets to a game if you punched all Marlins to the All-Star Game on at least 200 ballots.  Doofs!



   2.  RHP Starter Snub:  9-4, 2.62 ERA, 91 K, 0.96 WHIP, .193 BAA


   His team is at the top of it's division and he has the lowest WHIP in his league and the lowest BAA in baseball.  His stuff is dirty and he's a huge dude (6'6", 225 lbs.)


   3.  Reliever Snub: 
   3.  Player A:  2-0, 22 SV (2 BS), 2.04 ERA, .241 BAA
   3.  Player B:  3-0, 17 SV (2 BS), 2.02 ERA, .231 BAA
   3.  Player C:  3-1, 12 HLD, 2 SV (1 BS), 1.03 ERA, .122 BAA, ZERO HITS to LHH


   Granted you want closers in the game, and seeing how the Pirates are so bad that their lone rep was a middle man (Evan Meek), I guess there was no room for a guy who knows how to shut down an inning to get it to the closer.  Plus, he's had four arm surgeries - this guy is known as "The Cockroach" in the clubhouse.   This guy hasn't let up a hit to a LHH - all year - in 10.1 IP.  He is a specialist.  I hope Player A or B comes in when a LHH comes up and serves one up - if only Player C was available.  Or they'll use their only other LHP, who's like 100 years old.



   That is all I have time for today, but these are three of the guys I feel got thrown to the sharks off the coast of Seal Island.  Two are in lesser markets, one is in a big market, but either way, the best players should get in.  (I'm not going to make a push for Stephen Strasburg, because he has just six appearances under his belt and I feel that although he does give the NL a good chance to win, he hype doesn't get you in to an All-Star Game)


   Oh yeah, here are the answers and players listed above:


   #1 - Position Player Snub:  Player A - SNUBBED - JOEY VOTTO, Player B - Albert Pujols (STL), Player C - Adrian Gonzalez (SD), Player D - Ryan Howard (PHI)



   #2 - RHP Starter Snub:  Mat Latos (SD)


   #3 - Reliever Snub:  Player A - Brian Wilson (SF), Player B - Jonathan Broxton (LAD), Player C - SNUBBED - HONG-CHIH KUO (LAD)


   Alright, time to go.  I hope you don't get snubbed.  And remember, if you want to see sharks up close, stand two feet from your television during Shark Week on Discovery Channel.


   Happy 34th Birthday 50 Cent, G-Unit, we in here, party like it's your birthday.  If you see him in the club, bottle full of bub.  Word, yo.