AZ Snake Pit - 2014 MLB All-Star GameAn unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2014-07-15T23:57:25-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/56396542014-07-15T23:57:25-04:002014-07-15T23:57:25-04:00NL All-Stars 3, AL All-Stars 5: It counts.
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>Technically, a lot of players played in the game tonight, and most of them deserve more attention than I'm going to give them in this recap, but, let's be honest, you came her to find out how Goldschmidt and Montero did, didn't you?</p> <h3><span>Paul Goldschmidt</span></h3>
<p>It wasn't the best game ever for America's First Basemen. In fact, if it hadn't said Goldschmidt on the back of his jersey, I probably would have thought it was someone else. In the first inning, he came up with two outs and a runner on third. Sadly, Goldschmidt did not happen, and he softly grounded out to third base. He got robbed in his next at-bat, which took place in the third inning. He smashed a line drive up the middle, but unfortunately, it was right at <span>Robinson Cano</span>, who snagged it, once again to end the inning. For his fifth inning at bat, he probably got what was his worst result offensively on the night, a three pitch strike out, also to end the inning.</p>
<p>Defensively, he did much better on the night. Apart from the usual plays a first basemen makes throughout a game, he also made a great diving catch to start off the fifth inning. Other than that, his night was pretty quiet, and we was replaced by <span>Freddie Freeman</span> in the sixth inning.</p>
<h3><span>Miguel Montero</span></h3>
<p>Miggy warmed the bench for most of the game, only coming in as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth inning. Behind the plate, he didn't do anything to embarrass himself, but didn't do anything to set himself apart, either.</p>
<p>At the plate, he only only faced two pitches in the top of the ninth, flying out to center field on the second pitch of his at bat.</p>
<h3>The Rest of the Game</h3>
<p><span>There was a lot of Jeter. Then there was some more Jeter. And then a dash more Jeter just to top it all off.</span></p>
<p>Seriously, though, the AL wasted no time getting on the board. <span>Derek Jeter</span> lead the bottom of the first off with a double. He was quickly brought home by a <span>Mike Trout</span> double, who was then himself brought home two batters later by a <span>Miguel Cabrera</span> home run, making the score 3-0 at the end of the first inning.</p>
<p>The NL fought back in the second and fourth innings, though. In the second, <span>Aramis Ramirez</span> scored on a <span>Chase Utley</span> double, and then Chase Utley himself scored on a Johnathon Lucroy double, making the score 3-2, still in favor of the American League, until the fourth, when Lucroy hit another RBI double to tie the game at three.</p>
<p>It wasn't to last, however. The AL scored another two runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a Mike Trout RBI double, and then a <span>Jose Altuve</span> sac fly. That was our final score, and, thanks to it really and truly counting this time, the American League will have home field advantage in the World Series. Mike Trout managed to win MVP over Cabrera, which is a sign of the apocalypse.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span><iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2014-07-15&team=American%20League&dh=0" scrolling="no" style="border:1px solid black;" frameborder="0" height="450" width="450"></iframe><br><span>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-07-15&team=American%20League&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Paul Goldschmidt, -9.3%</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Miguel Montero, -3.7%</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">336 comments in the GDT at time of post, spread between nineteen posters, with myself taking the lead, and Clefo and Hotclaws in second and third respectively. All present were:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">4 Corners Fan, AzDbackfanInDc, BrokeNBattleX, Clefo, DeadmanG, GuruB, James Attwood, Jim McLennan, LUKEthe1st, MrMrrbi, SongBird, Umbrella24, asteroid, benhat, freeland1787, hotclaws, imstillhungry95, luckycc, soco</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Comment of the night goes to a great American hero, an unnamed heckler who, after forty minutes of Jeter Worship, including a five minute standing ovation before the bottom of the first could start, chanted Over-rated, loud enough that it could be heard on the television broadcast. Granted, the timing kind of sucked, as Jeter immediately lined a double to right field, but it's the thought that counts.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">After this brief hiatus, normal baseball activities will resume on Friday with a 6:40 game between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> at Chase field. See you then!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/15/5903697/nl-all-stars-3-al-all-stars-5-no-really-it-does-count-this-timeImstillhungry952014-07-15T20:06:08-04:002014-07-15T20:06:08-04:00All-Star Gameday thread
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>Paul Goldschmidt and Miguel Montero represent the Diamondbacks, on the National League roster, for the All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis. </p> <p>It's the first time since 2001 there has been an Arizona position player in the starting line-up.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/15/5903371/all-star-gameday-threadJim McLennan2014-07-15T18:31:52-04:002014-07-15T18:31:52-04:00All-Star Game preview: this time, it...whatever
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<img alt="Selfie. #Dbacks #ASG " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_WzzzJDJAWazs9EQRS5zV81xaRA=/0x309:768x821/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35652416/monterogoldie.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Selfie. #Dbacks #ASG | <a href='https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/489165971945295872'>@Dbacks, via Twitter</a></figcaption>
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<p>The National League takes on the American League, in a rerun of the previous 84 games. If I was in the other leagues, I'd be getting a bit upset about this. </p> <p>
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<h5>
<br><span>Adam Wainwright</span><br>RHP, 12-4, 1.83</h5>
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<br><span>Felix Hernandez</span><br>RHP, 11-2, 2.12<br>
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<h4>National League Lineup</h4>
<p> </p>
<ol>
<li> <span>Andrew McCutchen</span>, CF <br> </li>
<li> <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, RF <br> </li>
<li> <span>Troy Tulowitzki</span>, SS <br> </li>
<li> <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span>, 1B <br> </li>
<li> <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span>, DH <br> </li>
<li> <span>Aramis Ramirez</span>, 3B <br> </li>
<li> <span>Chase Utley</span>, 2B <br> </li>
<li> <span>Jonathan Lucroy</span>, C</li>
<li> <span>Carlos Gomez</span>, LF<br>+ <span class="sbn-auto-link">Adam Wainwright</span>, SP</li>
</ol>
<h4>American League Lineup</h4>
<ol>
<li> <span>Derek Jeter</span>, SS</li>
<li> <span>Mike Trout</span>, CF</li>
<li> <span>Robinson Cano</span>, 2B</li>
<li> <span>Miguel Cabrera</span> 1B,</li>
<li> <span>Jose Bautista</span>, RF</li>
<li> <span>Nelson Cruz</span>, DH</li>
<li> <span>Adam Jones</span>, CF</li>
<li> <span>Josh Donaldson</span>, 3B</li>
<li> <span>Salvador Perez</span>, C<br>+ Felix Hernandez, SP</li>
</ol>
<p>History would seem to favor the American League, because, going back to 1964, if you simply predicted "same winner as last year", you'd have been right more than three-quarters of the time (39 out of 50). Hopefully, it'll be a bit more offensive-minded than last year, although the Home Run derby yesterday didn't exactly seem like a good omen on that front. The three total runs scored in the 2013 version, was the lowest since the AL prevailed 2-0 in 1990. The American League manager for that one, was the man who is now the Diamondbacks' Chief Baseball Officer, Tony La Russa.</p>
<p>It will mark Derek Jeter's last All-Star Game, so don't be surprised if a) there's something special done to acknowledge this event, like they did in Cal Ripken's last ASG, and b) he wins MVP, even if he goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and boots a couple of groudballs. See Mariano Rivera last year: I haven't checked, but I suspect he is probably the only All-Star MVP to win for converting an eighth-inning hold opportunity. He was certainly the only pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 1999. So, I'd wager a small house on Jeter, even if the AL loses and Goldschmidt goes 4-for-4 with three home-runs.</p>
<p>Grant Brisbee had a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/7/15/5899841/2014-mlb-all-star-game-rosters">good analysis of the rosters</a> - the one which stood out to me was this one:</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2286602/ASG-DRAFT-ROUNDS.jpg"><img alt="Asg-draft-rounds_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2286602/ASG-DRAFT-ROUNDS_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>If you can tell from the lovely symmetricality of the above, this year, the number of All-Stars picked in the first round is the same as the number picked in all the rounds after the second combined. Goes to show: scouting prospects isn't an exact science, but it certainly isn't throwing darts at the map either. The latest pick is Mark Buerhle who was 38th-round selection, or as Grant puts it, "a pick after Shaun Skrehot, who is reading this right now because he googled his name. Hi, Shaun!" Skrehot was last seen playing two seasons in the Italian League, in 2007-08. Mark Buerhle... Not so much.</p>
<p>Of course, we'll be most interested to see how the Diamondbacks taking part do. Perhaps not just the obvious, current ones in Miguel Montero and Goldschmidt, but also those with a more tangential connection to the team, such as Ian Kinsler, Max Scherzer and Julio Teheran. However, this is more a relaxed celebration of baseball as a whole, and should be enjoyed as such. Fire up the barbecue, break open the apple pie and enjoy watching the best players the game has to offer, plying their skills. Because, regardless of what Bud may say, it really doesn't count that much. <br id="1405462172174"></p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/15/5902951/all-star-game-previewJim McLennan2014-07-14T19:42:16-04:002014-07-14T19:42:16-04:00Home-run Derby Gameday Thread
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The home-run derby will be starting around 5pm. Well, 5pm-ish. Very "ish". Here are the details and participants this year. Take a drink every time Chris Berman says "Back". We are not responsible for any resulting liver transplants.</p> <h4>The rules</h4>
<p>It's a different format this year. In the first round, the five American League and five National League participants start off in the first round by each going up, alternating between the leagues - in all the rounds this year, hitters get seven outs apiece. The hitters from each league with the most home-runs move on to the semi-finals. In the second round, the second- and third-placed hitters for each league face off against each other. The winner goes on to the semi-final, to face the top hitter from their league, as decided in the first round. The winner of each league will then face off in the final, so we are guaranteed an AL vs. NL match-up. Any ties are decided by a three-swing shootout, extended as necessary to single swings.</p>
<h4>The participants</h4>
<h5>American League</h5>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd header">
<td></td>
<td>Team</td>
<td>HRs</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><span>Jose Bautista</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a></td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Yoenis Cespedes</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a></td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><span>Adam Jones</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a></td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Brian Dozier</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a></td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><span>Josh Donaldson</span></td>
<td>Oakland Athletics</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h5>National League</h5>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd header">
<td></td>
<td>Team</td>
<td>HRs</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><span>Troy Tulowitzki</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a></td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Yasiel Puig</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a></td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><span>Giancarlo Stanton</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a></td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Todd Frazier</span></td>
<td><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Cincinnati Reds</a></td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><span>Justin Morneau</span></td>
<td>Colorado Rockies</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/14/5899885/home-run-derby-gameday-threadJim McLennan2014-07-14T15:37:49-04:002014-07-14T15:37:49-04:00Goldschmidt bats clean-up in NL line-up
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>The National League starting line-up was just announced, and the D-backs' Paul Goldschmidt will hit fourth</p> <p>Here's the full line-up:</p>
<ol>
<li> <span>Andrew McCutchen</span>, CF <br> </li>
<li> <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, RF <br> </li>
<li> <span>Troy Tulowitzki</span>, SS <br> </li>
<li> <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span>, 1B <br> </li>
<li> <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span>, DH <br> </li>
<li> <span>Aramis Ramirez</span>, 3B <br> </li>
<li> <span>Chase Utley</span>, 2B <br> </li>
<li> <span>Jonathan Lucroy</span>, C</li>
<li> <span>Carlos Gomez</span>, LF<br>+ <span>Adam Wainwright</span>, SP</li>
</ol>
<p>Goldschmidt is the first Diamondback to bat fourth in the starting line-up for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/national-league-all-stars" class="sbn-auto-link">National League All-Stars</a> - mind you, since he's only the fourth position player in franchise history, that's not too much of a surprise. <span>Matt Williams</span> and Jay Bell were fifth and ninth respectively in the 1999 series, while <span>Luis Gonzalez</span> hit leadoff during the 2001 game. Which is kinda odd, because Gonzo only started there once for the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Diamondbacks</a>, during his 1,194 games with Arizona. Weirder still, Gonzalez was the NL <i>center-fielder</i>, a spot he never filled for even a single inning with us. I guess it's a bit like <span>Justin Upton</span> playing LF in 2009. Guess we should be grateful Goldie isn't catching. :).</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/14/5899157/goldschmidt-bats-clean-up-in-nl-line-upJim McLennan2014-07-14T14:00:03-04:002014-07-14T14:00:03-04:00Paul Goldschmidt, fan voting and the All-Star Game
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EAFeBEyhTaobef-TqkmOgvr3SDk=/4x0:3995x2661/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35571334/20140709_jla_ak4_201.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>When one family can vote more than a quarter of a million times, should we rethink the process?</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Meet Larry Hoff. He and his wife punched a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dbacks?src=hash">#Dbacks</a>-record 252,100 (!!) ballots to help get Goldy to the <a href="https://twitter.com/AllStarGame">@AllStarGame</a>. <a href="http://t.co/YBe8R3QVnL">pic.twitter.com/YBe8R3QVnL</a></p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/statuses/486976269972951042">July 9, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>To show our appreciation, we had Larry Hoff throw out today's ceremonial first pitch. <a href="http://t.co/YZqXmSNDdJ">pic.twitter.com/YZqXmSNDdJ</a></p>
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/statuses/486977774922772483">July 9, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I have to confess to being somewhat in two minds about this.There's no doubt that <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> absolutely and fully deserves his position as the starting first-baseman. He's the best in the league, and it was great to see him being recognized as such. But does the very laudable end justify the means? It's one thing to imagine Goldschmidt elected due to a nationwide (<a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2014%2F07%2F06%2Fdiamondbacks-goldschmidt-all-star-game%2F12263245%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2014%2F7%2F14%2F5897013%2Fpaul-goldschmidt-fan-voting-and-the-all-star-game" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">or even global</a>) appreciation of his skills, charm and good looks. But when you realize a single, highly-focused household was responsible for virtually 10% of his support, it does kinda take some of the sheen off the achievement.</p>
<p>Does it set a dangerous precedent, with the team itself not just tacitly nodding at stuffing ballot boxes, but actively encouraging it, and rewarding those who do so? Because it's very much a double-edged sword, that works just as well to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2012/7/2/3132641/the-giants-are-that-team-now">promote players who shouldn't be selected</a> as, in this case, one who should be there on merit. And, as ever, it's a tool which will only benefit the bigger markets like Los Angeles and New York if they choose to leverage it too. It's an arms race which we can't hope to win. On a personal level, it pretty much killed my interest. I mean, what's the point of filling out one ballot or even a hundred, with people like the Hoffs turning it into an industrial process?</p>
<p>Of course, you could argue it's an entirely harmless bit of fun. To which, I reply with one of of Bud Selig's worst ideas: "This time, it counts." Now that home-field advantage for the World Series is at stake - hardly a trifle, as we experienced ourselves in 2001 - getting the best team on the field for your league actually matters. Rather than, say, one selected by by a combination of rampant homerism with behavior that borders on the obsessive-compulsive. As an aside, it doesn't help that voting opens in April, with teams having to submit player names for ballots earlier than that. Unexpected stars like <span>A.J. Pollock</span>, or <span>Gerardo Parra</span> in 2011, don't have a chance as a result.</p>
<p>Admittedly, ballot-box stuffing is positively an American tradition, especially in some districts of Chicago, and other All-Star Game voting has been <a target="_blank" href="http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2007/01/rorygate.html">vulnerable to rigging efforts</a>. In baseball, this goes back more than half a century. Aided by pre-printed ballots in the local papers, the 1957 balloting created a starting line-up of seven Cincinnati players and Stan Musial; the campaign there also allegedly including bars reportedly refusing to serve alcohol to customers until they filled out a ballot. There's an idea to file away for next year, Mr. Hall. Commissioner Ford Frick replaced Gus Bell and Wally Post, and voting was entirely taken away from fans for more than a decade.</p>
<p>In the modern, technologically-savvy age, the problem is multiplied (though the Hoffs' eschewed any of that new-fangled online voting, doing it the old-fashioned way, involving a slightly-pointed object and a hanging chad). We saw the potential issues earlier this year, with the Twitter-based <i>Face of MLB</i> contest, which saw <span>Eric Sogard</span> (who?) of the A's make his way through the bracket, defeating <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/national-league-all-stars">All-Stars</a> <span><span><span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, <span>Troy Tulowitzki</span> and </span></span><span><span><span><span><span>Jose Bautista</span>, plus St. </span></span>Buster of Posey, before going down by the narrowest of margins, to <span>David Wright</span> in the final, a result </span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/02/28/as-fans-claim-conspiracy-as-sogard-narrowly-misses-face-of-mlb-title/">seen as suspect</a><span><span> by some in the Bay Area. Goldie was eliminated in the second round. <br></span></span></p>
<p>In a world where "fan engagement" is seen as the Holy Grail of marketing, this kind of thing is seen as laudable: witness the promotion of the Hoffs and their quarter-million ballots. But it's also a cautionary tale with regard to the future of fan voting. I'm not sure what the solution might be. Perhaps reward those who actually attend games: print a 16-character code on the back of tickets, which must be entered in order to vote online? Otherwise, there's a risk that the whole things will implode, and become little more than a joke, ripe for exploitation by 4chan or the darker corners of Reddit. Never mind Kung Fu Panda, maybe your starting 3B for the 2015 NL All-Stars will be Pedobear...</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/14/5897013/paul-goldschmidt-fan-voting-and-the-all-star-gameJim McLennan2014-07-11T17:46:16-04:002014-07-11T17:46:16-04:00Miguel Montero named to NL All-Star Team
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7fgCXBRPXM6n0bMbdAtCtuFNvm0=/0x219:2763x2061/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35499454/20140702_ajl_al8_132.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>National League All-Star manager Mike Matheny of the St. Louis Cardinals announced today, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, that Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero will replace Yadier Molina of the Cardinals on the N.L.’s active roster for the 85th All-Star Game. </p> <p>Montero is now an All-Star for the second time. He made the 2011 Midsummer Classic when it was played at his home ballpark, Chase Field. The Venezuela native is batting .265 with 11 homers, 52 RBI and 33 walks. Montero joins teammate Paul Goldschmidt on the N.L. squad.</p>
<p>Lucroy becomes the third Brewer in the N.L.'s starting lineup, joining third baseman <span>Aramis Ramirez</span> and outfielder Carlos Gomez. Molina, an N.L. All-Star for the sixth consecutive year and a fan-elected starter for the fourth time, has been placed on the disabled list. The two-time World Series Champion is invited to attend All-Star Game festivities in Minneapolis with full honors. The Puerto Rico native is batting .287 with seven home runs, 30 RBI and 16 doubles on the season.</p>
<p>The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15<sup>th</sup>. The 85<sup>th</sup> All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/11/5891985/miguel-montero-named-to-national-league-all-star-teamJim McLennan2014-07-06T19:16:06-04:002014-07-06T19:16:06-04:00Goldschmidt elected starting 1B for NL All-Stars
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AhSpaVWeXmPVwSVyCSidqS26tW8=/0x395:2895x2325/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35263340/20140703_kkt_al8_113.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Paul Goldschmidt has been elected to start at first-base for the National League in the All-Star Game in Minneapolis later this month.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_QC_izVWgHc?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="394" width="700"></iframe></p>
<p><i>Video courtesy of Arizona Diamondbacks</i></p>
<p>It will be Paul's second All-Star appearance, having also taken part in the game last year, and his first as a starter. Indeed, it's the first time a Diamondback player has been voted into the starting line-up since <span>Luis Gonzalez</span> made it as the third outfielder in 2001, and Goldschmidt becomes the first Arizonan to win his position since Jay Bell and <span>Matt Williams</span> did so in the 1999 season.</p>
<p>There's no doubt that Goldschmidt is having another tremendous year at the position, hitting .310/.398/.554, with his 16th home-run coming earlier today against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>. Paul's season has been the brightest spot in what has, overall, been a very disappointing year for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, and he has also been far and away the best player at the position in the National League. Here is how his stats rank alongside the other potential candidates at first for the Senior Circuit in this season so far.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<td data-stat="ranker" class="tooltip ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center">Rk</td>
<td data-stat="player" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="left">Player</td>
<td data-stat="WAR_bat" class="tooltip" align="center">WAR</td>
<td data-stat="age" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center">Age</td>
<td data-stat="team_id" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center">Tm</td>
<td data-stat="PA" class="tooltip" align="center">PA</td>
<td data-stat="AB" class="tooltip" align="center">AB</td>
<td data-stat="R" class="tooltip" align="center">R</td>
<td data-stat="H" class="tooltip" align="center">H</td>
<td data-stat="HR" class="tooltip" align="center">HR</td>
<td data-stat="RBI" class="tooltip" align="center">RBI</td>
<td data-stat="BB" class="tooltip" align="center">BB</td>
<td data-stat="SO" class="tooltip" align="center">SO</td>
<td data-stat="SB" class="tooltip" align="center">SB</td>
<td data-stat="CS" class="tooltip" align="center">CS</td>
<td data-stat="batting_avg" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center">BA</td>
<td data-stat="onbase_perc" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center">OBP</td>
<td data-stat="slugging_perc" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center">SLG</td>
<td data-stat="onbase_plus_slugging" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center">OPS</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr data-row="0">
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="left">Paul Goldschmidt</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">3.7</td>
<td align="right">26</td>
<td align="left">ARI</td>
<td align="right">389</td>
<td align="right">333</td>
<td align="right">63</td>
<td align="right">102</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
<td align="right">56</td>
<td align="right">49</td>
<td align="right">90</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">.306</td>
<td align="right">.395</td>
<td align="right">.544</td>
<td align="right">.938</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="1">
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="left">Anthony Rizzo</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">2.4</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="left">CHC</td>
<td align="right">365</td>
<td align="right">307</td>
<td align="right">56</td>
<td align="right">84</td>
<td align="right">17</td>
<td align="right">45</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
<td align="right">65</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">.274</td>
<td align="right">.384</td>
<td align="right">.489</td>
<td align="right">.872</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="2">
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="left">Matt Adams</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">2.1</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
<td align="left">STL</td>
<td align="right">282</td>
<td align="right">269</td>
<td align="right">27</td>
<td align="right">86</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">55</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">.320</td>
<td align="right">.333</td>
<td align="right">.513</td>
<td align="right">.846</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="3">
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="left">Adam LaRoche</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">2.1</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
<td align="left">WSN</td>
<td align="right">290</td>
<td align="right">243</td>
<td align="right">39</td>
<td align="right">72</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">45</td>
<td align="right">44</td>
<td align="right">54</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">.296</td>
<td align="right">.400</td>
<td align="right">.486</td>
<td align="right">.886</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="4">
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="left">Joey Votto</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">2.0</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
<td align="left">CIN</td>
<td align="right">272</td>
<td align="right">220</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">56</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
<td align="right">49</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">.255</td>
<td align="right">.390</td>
<td align="right">.409</td>
<td align="right">.799</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="5">
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="left">Freddie Freeman</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">2.0</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="left">ATL</td>
<td align="right">386</td>
<td align="right">333</td>
<td align="right">60</td>
<td align="right">98</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
<td align="right">70</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">.294</td>
<td align="right">.386</td>
<td align="right">.505</td>
<td align="right">.891</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="6">
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="left">Justin Morneau</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">1.9</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
<td align="left">COL</td>
<td align="right">332</td>
<td align="right">309</td>
<td align="right">36</td>
<td align="right">97</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">59</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">.314</td>
<td align="right">.346</td>
<td align="right">.518</td>
<td align="right">.864</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="7">
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="left">Lucas Duda</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">1.5</td>
<td align="right">28</td>
<td align="left">NYM</td>
<td align="right">293</td>
<td align="right">255</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">64</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">43</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
<td align="right">64</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">.251</td>
<td align="right">.345</td>
<td align="right">.471</td>
<td align="right">.815</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="8">
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="left">Adrian Gonzalez</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">1.1</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="left">LAD</td>
<td align="right">365</td>
<td align="right">326</td>
<td align="right">44</td>
<td align="right">83</td>
<td align="right">14</td>
<td align="right">53</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
<td align="right">62</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">.255</td>
<td align="right">.321</td>
<td align="right">.442</td>
<td align="right">.762</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="9">
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="left">Mark Reynolds</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">1.0</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
<td align="left">MIL</td>
<td align="right">285</td>
<td align="right">246</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">51</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">31</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
<td align="right">87</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">.207</td>
<td align="right">.305</td>
<td align="right">.390</td>
<td align="right">.696</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Here are all the Arizona players selected in team history.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<td scope="col">Player</td>
<td scope="col">Year(s)</td>
<td scope="col">Position</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jay Bell</td>
<td>1999</td>
<td>IF</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Patrick Corbin</span></td>
<td>2013</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Steve Finley</span></td>
<td>2000</td>
<td>OF</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Paul Goldschmidt</span></td>
<td>2013, 2014<br>
</td>
<td>IF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Luis Gonzalez</span></td>
<td>1999, 2001, 02, 03, 05</td>
<td>OF</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Dan Haren</span></td>
<td>2008, 09</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Orlando Hudson</span></td>
<td>2007</td>
<td>IF</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Randy Johnson</span></td>
<td>1999, 2000, 01, 02, 04</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Byung-Hyun Kim</span></td>
<td>2002</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Wade Miley</span></td>
<td>2012</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Damian Miller</span></td>
<td>2002</td>
<td>C</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Miguel Montero</span></td>
<td>2011</td>
<td>C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Curt Schilling</span></td>
<td>2001, 02</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Junior Spivey</span></td>
<td>2002</td>
<td>IF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Justin Upton</span></td>
<td>2009, 2011</td>
<td>OF</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Jose Valverde</span></td>
<td>2007</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Brandon Webb</span></td>
<td>2006, 07, 08</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Devon White</td>
<td>1998</td>
<td>OF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Williams</td>
<td>1999</td>
<td>IF</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><span>Chris Young</span></td>
<td>2010</td>
<td>OF</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/6/5875619/paul-goldschmidt-elected-starting-1b-for-nl-all-starsJim McLennan