Lurker > DpObliVion

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FUCK YEAH NlCK
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Some really questionable choices by the players ballot. They're usually more reliable. Whatever.
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I guess I should do this now before it's too late.... my MLB All-Star roster predictions. This is not necessarily who I think should make the team, but who I think will make the team. Well, with maybe one exception. I tried to follow the way the rosters are constructed: Fan ballot, player ballot, commissioner picks, then fan final vote. I'll just get into it because whatever.

American League
C Wilson Ramos
C Yan Gomes
1B Jose Abreu
1B Mitch Moreland
2B Jose Altuve
2B Gleyber Torres*
2B Whit Merrifield
3B Jose Ramirez
3B Alex Bregman
SS Manny Machado
SS Francisco Lindor
SS Jean Segura
OF Mookie Betts
OF Mike Trout
OF Aaron Judge
OF Andrew Benintendi
OF Eddie Rosario
OF Nicholas Castellanos
DH J.D. Martinez
DH Nelson Cruz
SP Justin Verlander
SP Luis Severino
SP Chris Sale
SP Blake Snell
SP Corey Kluber
SP Gerrit Cole
SP Trevor Bauer
SP J.A. Happ
RP Edwin Diaz
RP Aroldis Chapman
RP Blake Treinen
RP Keone Kela

* - Torres replaced by Jed Lowrie due to injury

National League
C Willson Contreras
C J.T. Realmuto
1B Freddie Freeman
1B Jesus Aguilar
1B Paul Goldschmidt
1B Max Muncy
1B Brandon Belt
2B Ozzie Albies
2B Javier Baez
2B Scooter Gennett
3B Nolan Arenado
3B Eugenio Suarez
SS Brandon Crawford
SS Trea Turner
OF Nick Markakis
OF Matt Kemp
OF Bryce Harper
OF Lorenzo Cain
OF Kyle Schwarber
OF Brandon Nimmo
SP Max Scherzer
SP Jacob deGrom
SP Aaron Nola
SP Patrick Corbin
SP Jon Lester
SP Zack Greinke
SP Miles Mikolas
RP Josh Hader
RP Sean Doolittle
RP Kenley Jansen
RP Kirby Yates
RP Felipe Vazquez

So there you have it. Hmm, too many 1B on the NL side, but Muncy is more of a utility player, and I put Belt through on the Final Vote because Giants fans show up for the vote. Segura was my Final Vote for the AL. Those are hard to predict because who knows who will be there, and fan voting is wacky. Some tough choices on teams getting their one required player which could have a big effect on things. Choo is probably a better representative for the Rangers than Kela, but it's a lot easier to add a RP than a DH, unless Choo just gets in as the backup DH through the player ballot over Cruz, which is possible. Likewise for the Cardinals, it could go either way between Mikolas and Carpenter, but I preferred to include Muncy rather than squeeze Carpenter in. I think Carpenter could be another candidate for Final Vote though.

And yeah, a little bias there going with Nimmo as the 6th outfielder. That race could be completely up in the air between him, David Peralta, Odubel Herrera, Yelich, and Blackmon. I think he's gotten a bit more attention as he endears himself with that infectious smile, that could give him the votes on the player ballot to push him to the top of that pile.

Lowrie might just make it outright over Torres as the backup 2B, but he's made big waves despite a little less playing time as a rookie and recent injury. But Lowrie should make it one way or the other, so I included him with an asterisk. Brandon Belt is questionable, but it just comes down to who's on that Final Vote ballot. Trevor Story is another good candidate there.

I'm sure there are more snubs I missed. AL SP is super deep. Maybe someone like James Paxton can get on if Choo beats out Cruz, then you can get rid of Kela.
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I'll call today.
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I can't trade because my phone died so I can't authenticate trades, I hate you Steam.
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WiggumFan267 posted...

DpObliVion posted...

Still don't want to see universal DH but it's probably inevitable. It'll happen sooner or later. I am hoping for a restriction on shifts though and think it could happen. People will grumble about it, but tough shit.

so you dont want to see travis d'arnaud switch between 2nd and 3rd every other batter? or will this kind of collinsism/maddonism still be allowed?

Hell, it might increase it. If you can't stack one side of the infield, you might be more inclined to at least put your best infielder on that side.
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Still don't want to see universal DH but it's probably inevitable. It'll happen sooner or later. I am hoping for a restriction on shifts though and think it could happen. People will grumble about it, but tough shit.
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I normally care but I don't really this year, but it's because Italy failed to qualify rather than the U.S. Well, it's probably a combination really, if one had qualified then I'd probably find enough in me to care, but both failing to qualify really killed it for me.
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Bartolo Colon was happiness.
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Poor Baker Mayfield.

I'd like to keep Josh Gordon. I don't know who Zeitler is, so I guess I'm okay with trading him. Cardinals are offering a healthy package.
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Well, eventually the Mets bullpen was gonna give it up. Amazed it took as long as it did.
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Just to make sure it isn't missed because I posted early....

+8 Golden Knights
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Worked, thank you!

(I'll keep copying Snake)
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Shadowrun: Dragonfall please.
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+8 Golden Knights
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Just beat Tigger!

Christopher Robin...yeah, I don't think this one's happening. I don't think I've got the dedication for it.
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+8 Golden Knights
+4 Lightning
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Regardless of the batting-out-of-order fiasco, the Mets just lost a series against the Reds, are in fourth place in the division, and just a game above .500 after a 10-1 start. The panic is officially justified. And I really don't see it getting much better. The team is just not that good. There were a lot of question marks on this team coming into the season, and they're all getting exposed now. Extremely lucky we got off to the start we did, but all of that has been erased less than a month later.

Okay, unrelated, the Mets have three days off in the next eight days. Then a stretch of 18 games in 17 days. Then three days off in the following eight days. Absolutely brilliant schedule-making.
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wtf Owl
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Chronology works. Thanks!
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Oh shit, didn't know you could upgrade stuff. Might have to go back and try again. Busy with other stuff though.
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I'll take Chronology please.
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Oh man, never heard of this before. Got one homer off Eeyore first try. Second try I got the hang of it better, but fell to Piglet.
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I am the Undisputed Champion.
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+8 Penguins
+6 Golden Knights
+4 Lightning
+2 Predators
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Whooo happy birthdays, us.
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Devils played well in the series but were clearly overmatched. It was good to see Schneider finally get going, but it was too little too late. Oh well, still a far more successful season than I could've imagined. Hope for the future.
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Whoo Vegas!
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The Dude
Willie.
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The Dude
Willie
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The Dude
Willie.
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The Dude
Willie
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+8 Pittsburgh Penguins
+7 Nashville Predators
+6 Vegas Golden Knights
+5 New Jersey Devils
+4 Anaheim Ducks
+3 Washington Capitals
+2 Winnipeg Jets
+1 Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Dude
Willie
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Yeah, I don't really like it either. I mean, no matter who we end up facing, we've got a tough match, so I can see the reasoning behind resting players.

For what it's worth (not much, probably), the Devils went 3-0 this season against the Lightning. 0-3 against Boston. 3-1 against Pittsburgh. 1-2 against Washington (playing them today, but with players resting, you can throw that out).
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I think the Devils would prefer to face the Penguins. Either way, after clinching, they will be resting players today. Taylor Hall, on 39 goals, won't play, along with Zajac, Palmieri, and Vatanen. Nico Hischier will play to complete a full 82-games-played season.
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And I sure as hell did not expect it to come behind Keith Kinkaid rather than Cory Schneider.
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The Dude
Willie
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The Devils are back in the playoffs! Absolutely did not expect this when the season started.
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The Dude
Willie
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Two goals and two assists for Taylor Hall in a 5-2 win over the Rangers. Playoff spot very nearly secured.
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Damn, too soon for Bojack to go out.

The Dude
Willie
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Taylor Hall with a shorthanded game-winning goal, and the Devils are pretty much a sure thing for making the playoffs now. MVP.
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The Dude
Willie
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The Dude
Willie
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Bojack
Randy
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Sure, I'll throw it in my backlog. Not my genre, but I've been convinced, for free. Still don't know if/when I'd actually get around to it though. But thanks.
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The Dude
Willie
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Bojack
Randy
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LGM