Unlike in the NBA or NFL, every team has to be represented in the major league All-Star Game. Choo, with his all-around game, would maybe be a candidate, anyway.
Shin-Soo Choo is having an all-star caliber season for the Indians.Cleveland -- The Cleveland Indians go for their third straight win tonight, when they host the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field. The Indians' Fausto Carmona (6-6, 3.64) and the Blue Jays' Brandon Morrow (5-5, 4.50) will take the mound in a matchup of right-handers.
Twice this season, the Indians have put together four-game winning streaks, and another time they won three games in a row. Three other winning "streaks" ended at two games.
Failure to string together more wins more often translates into something like a 28-47 record, which the Indians have.One of the Indians' few constants this season has been the play of right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Again. Choo was elected the Indians 2009 Man of the Year by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, and will likely be the team's lone representative at the All-Star Game.
Anthony Castrovince writes for cleveland.indians.mlb.com about Choo, and how Choo has benefited from the recent promotion of rookie catcher Carlos Santana to the Indians from Class AAA Columbus. Castrovince writes:
Choo was moved up to the No. 2 spot of the Indians' lineup as a function of Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore going on the disabled list. Though Austin Kearns performed better than expected in the middle of the order, the fact is, when it comes to the kinds of threats who strike fear in the heart of the opposition, Choo was the beginning and end of the list.
Now that prized prospect Carlos Santana is in the bigs and raking in the No. 3 spot (.333 average, four homers and 14 RBIs in 15 games), the situation is quite a bit different. And that could be one reason why Choo erupted for four homers, eight RBIs and a 1.273 OPS over his last six games (prior to Monday).
"It's all about getting people around him," manager Manny Acta said of Choo.
Covered
Plain Dealer Indians coverage includes Dennis Manoloff's game story on the Indians' 2-1 win over the Blue Jays on Monday night; his Indians Insider.
Almost complete player
Sheldon Ocker writes about Choo's fine season for the Akron Beacon Journal, and also mentions other aspects of his game:
Choo has excelled not only at the plate but in right field, where his strong arm is a deterrent to baserunnners. He also leads the team in steals with 12 (in 16 attempts), but he has made some misjudgments and run into some outs on the bases.
''There are very few things he can't do,'' Acta said. ''But he needs to round out his game with more experience. He's had some trouble on the bases.''
Nearing Cleveland
Outfielder Michael Brantley, who began the season with the Indians before being sent to Columbus on April 21, is on the verge of returning to the big leagues. Writes Chris Assenheimer for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette:
Brantley, Cleveland’s opening-day starter in left field, entered Monday batting .352 (31-for-88) with two homers, 13 RBIs and 14 runs in 21 games for the Clippers this month.
“He’s making a lot of progress,” Acta said. “He’s playing well. He’s close.”
Choosing Choo
We're not sure what "VORP" is - probably another batting newfangled stat that will help keep some deserving player like Andre Dawson out of the Hall of Fame - but here's part of ESPN.com's case for Shin-Soo Choo to make the American League All-Star team:
Among American League right fielders, Choo is currently ranked 4th in VORP behind David DeJesus (whom you must also take), Ichiro Suzuki, and Magglio Ordonez, but the differences are largely cosmetic. Their OBPs are indistinguishable and Choo's SLG is virtually the same as DeJesus' (Ordonez' is higher, Ichiro's is lower). Choo, who's stolen 12 bases, is a five-tool player having a fine season.
But the real reason you have to take him is because you have to have a Cleveland Indian. In 1987, in the shadows of Oakland's horrific ballpark, I watched the All-Star game slouch into extra innings for the sole purpose of watching Cleveland's only representative, Pat Tabler, make an appearance. I did not care who won, so long as he got to bat.
Tabler was finally called into the game. He made an out. I went to bed.
And that, my friends, is what the All-Star Game means to me: Shin-Soo Choo will pinch-hit.