Just saw this:
Working Through The Chipper/Bryce Question
Bruce Bochy just told us that if he had a fan vote....he would vote for Chipper Jones on the final vote....I agree #HOF
— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) July 3, 2012
I’m not sure what Bochy meant by that ... Doesn’t have a “fan vote”? Is there some super-brilliant system in place, preventing managers from going on the Prestigious Internet and voting for their favorites? Or maybe Bochy just doesn’t know how to use the Prestigious Internet.
Anyway, the funny thing about making Chipper Jones a “legacy pick” is that he’s already been one. A year ago on this date, Chipper was batting just 256/343/418, with seven home runs. And was an All-Star. As a fan, I don’t mind this happening once. But twice is a bit much, don’t you think?
Mind you, I’m not saying that Chipper Jones doesn’t deserve to be an All-Star. We haven’t gotten that far. What I’m saying is that you get one legacy selection, at most, and Chipper’s already had his.
Chipper's top competition on the ballot seems to be Bryce Harper, and of course what makes this so delicious is the contrast, the grizzled old veteran trying to fend off the hyperkinetic 19-year-old with a future as big as the sun. What seems to be mostly ignored is how good they are.
They’ve been equally good. Both, believe it or not, have posted 123 OPS+‘s this season.
The funny thing is that neither really has All-Star numbers. The OPS+ is good but not great. Harper’s got eight home runs and only 22 RBI (but 38 runs), while Chipper’s got six homers and 29 RBI. Both were popular choices for the ballot, and a vote for either is sentimental rather than substantive.
Granted, I can understand why you might want to see Chipper Jones in another All-Star Game. I can understand why you might want to see Bryce Harper, though it's hardly like you haven't seen him before. I will guess that 95 percent of the fans who really appreciate Harper have seen him already. And while it's fun to think about Harper facing someone Justin Verlander or Jered Weaver, he's about as likely to face Ryan Cook or Fernando Rodney.
As Grant's already pointed out, the performance-based choice is probably Michael Bourn -- by virtue of his defense and his baserunning -- not that anyone seems to care. Aaron Hill's a fluke, and David Freese hasn't excited anyone since last October. I would actually feel bad for Bourn, except he's been an All-Star before, got an at-bat (and struck out) in 2010.
Given all of the above, if I had a fan vote I would vote for the player who gives Tony La Russa the best chance to win. Who wins this voting probably won’t play until late in the game, and might be used as a pinch-hitter. Aaron Hill has the highest OPS+ on the ballot, but I still don’t believe he’s quite this good and he’s a right-handed batter.
Which is why I’m choosing Chipper Jones. Not because he’s old. Because he can still hit, and hits both ways.
See More:
