From My Backyard

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Jason

A couple of pics from my backyard. I’ve never been much of a “flower” person, but these roses are just beautiful.

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Thoughts on Proverbs: The Fear of the LORD

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Jason

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

— Proverbs 1.7

The Proverbs emphasize a variety of themes: the value of wisdom; the perils of folly; the destructive nature of pride; the importance of resourcefulness; compassion for the poor; etc. But the overarching message of the text is summed up in 1.7 — the fear of the LORD.

The phrase is often used today with undertones of judgment or a pervasive understanding of God as “wrathful”. We speak of someone “putting the fear of God” in another person; what we mean is that one particular individual has spoken a harsh word of rebuke to another. Although this may placate a sense of justice deep within ourselves, the biblical concept of fear of the LORD is much more fully fleshed out. To fear the LORD is to love him, to revere him, to worship him alone. This is Israel’s first and greatest command, to live in worshipful love toward the one true God.

Proverbs also uses the terms “knowledge” and “wisdom” interchangeably. So we might properly understand this passage as inferring that true knowledge begins with an understanding of God. Flowing from this core truth comes our self-understanding, even our apprehension of the cosmos. When we begin with the fear of the LORD, we acknowledge who we are (creature) and who we are not (Creator). The fear of the LORD is a position of humility, a willful reversal of the first and elemental sin: pride. It is no accident that Jesus begins his sermonic manifesto — known to us as the Sermon on the Mount — with a word of blessing for the humble: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5.2.

As cognitive creatures, we understand that 2 + 2 = 4 in our numerical system. Why? Because God as Creator deemed it so. I realize this is a fairly elementary way of making my point, but the only reason anything is true at all is because God has willed it to be true.

Other reflections the Proverbs make with regard to the fear of the LORD.

  • To hate knowledge is to reject the fear of the LORD. Proverbs 1.29
  • To fear the LORD is to humbly reject evil. Proverbs 3.7
  • To fear the LORD is to hate evil. Proverbs 8.13
  • Whoever fears the LORD prolongs his life. Proverbs 10.27
  • The fear of the LORD is the antidote for envy. Proverbs 23.17
  • A woman who fears the LORD is praiseworthy. Proverbs 31.30

The fear of the LORD is the central thesis of the Proverbs. In fact, it could be said that the entirety of biblical wisdom literature interests itself with proclaiming YHWH as the ultimate repository of truth in the cosmos.

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Book Review: The Gospel You’ve Never Heard

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Jason

"The Gospel You've Never Heard" by David Rudel

Disclosure: This book was provided to me free of charge by The Ooze Viral Bloggers.

David Rudel’s “The Gospel You’ve Never Heard” is a challenging assault on evangelical Christianity’s modern presentation of the Gospel. The book is subtitled “What a Protestant Bible written by Jews says about God’s work through Christ” — which is a fair way of describing Rudel’s primary thesis: our understanding of the Gospel revealed through Christ in Scripture is contextual and interpretive. The front cover contains yet another subtitle: “A book for those in the church and those offended by it.” Finally, the jacket cover illustration shows a young lady with her arms folded in front of her and the phrase “Who really goes to hell?” scrawled in Sharpie across her hand. Before you even crack the cover, you have a pretty good idea of where Rudel is going.

Rudel’s primary objection to mainstream evangelical Christianity’s presentation of the Gospel is that it simply isn’t biblical. Rudel forces his readers to go rushing back to their New Testaments in an effort to validate what they’ve always believed (or been told to believe) about the Gospel. He claims that we’re guilty of reading Jesus too often through Paul, which results in an emphasis on total depravity as the hallmark of the human condition. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Paul says and we adopt this as our primary identity. Rudel makes a good point here; I believe we should hear Jesus on his own terms as he announces God’s Kingdom reign.

But many of Rudel’s conclusions will challenge and even upset most readers who consider themselves to be Christians. He claims that early belief in Jesus as Messiah had nothing to do with either His death or His resurrection (p17). He also repeatedly claims that we should differentiate between Jesus’ public teachings in the Gospels and his private interactions with the disciples. Such a reading neglects the literary nature of the Gospels as communally formative documents about Christ. Are we to accept that the earliest Christians somehow discounted the narrative portions of the Synoptics that make us privy to Christ’s “extra curricular” sessions with the disciples? Are these texts not meant for our “overhearing” that we might grow as disciples, too?

Rudel seems to base a great many of his conclusions on a close reading of the Synoptic Gospels, specifically the Gospel of Mark. Rudel acknowledges this hermenuetic approach, but it is one of the shortcomings of his text. Rudel prefers to focus on the Gospel accounts in his search for the “real” Gospel — which is fine, except that he fails to give many other New Testament texts (John’s Gospel, Paul’s letters, etc.) a fair reading. In fact, very little is made of John’s Gospel, which is somewhat surprising given Rudel’s preference for Gospel over epistle. When he does turn his attention to John, his treatment of the text is poor, even lazy in places. (See his rushed discussion of John 3.16, pp.26-27.) It seems Rudel may be guilty of the same kind of interpretive construct he accuses evangelicals of propagating.

On the positive side, Rudel’s attention to detail is commendable. He also approaches this work with great respect for the authority of Scripture, something that will appeal to his audience even if they disagree with his ultimate conclusion.

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Book Review: The Secret Holocaust Diaries

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Jason

"The Secret Holocaust Diaries" by Nonna Bannister

Disclaimer: Tyndale House Publishers provided me a complimentary copy of this book.

__________

Nonna Bannister lived the majority of her life without sharing her Holocaust experiences with those she was closest to, not even her husband. Near the end of her life, however, Bannister revealed her complete story, first to her family and now with the world. The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister is a haunting and poignant memoir of a young lady whose innocence was shattered by the brutal savagery of WWII.

Although Nonna’s story is a powerful one, the book drags early on. Nonna’s attention to detail is quite impressive, but the myriad details with regard to her family context (names of family members, dates of birth, anecdotal material re: how family members met, etc.) contribute to a too-slowly developing narrative. Nonna’s memoir would benefit from tighter editing; the first 120 pages could easily be edited down to around 40-50.

But the narrative really takes off as Nonna recounts the tragic death of her father and the ensuing experiences she and her mother faced in SS Germany. It is a chilling tale; by the age of 16, Nonna was the lone surviving member of her family. Hers is a tale of innocence lost and a commentary on the enduring quality of the human spirit, persevering in spite of all odds.

The text’s editors (Denise George and Carolyn Tomlin) provide copious notes throughout, providing readers with insights taken from Nonna’s other writings, explanations of untranslated words and phrases, etc. I found these notes to be quite helpful.

I Review For The Tyndale Blog Network

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St. Louis at Game Time

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Jason

Shouldn’t you wait until you’ve locked up Pujols long term before doing this?

As a Card fan, I like Mo, I guess. He’s done a good job of getting Tony the guys he needs to contend (although I still think this Matt Holiday deal is going to look awfully bad in a couple years — like Alfonso Soriano looks like a bad deal in Chicago now, four years into his mega deal).

But this move is all about helping lock up El Hombre long term in Cardinal Red.

Speaking of Cardinal Red, I had to share this pic that the little lady took. Pretty sweet, eh?

St. Louis at game time

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Thoughts on Proverbs: Teach Your Children

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Jason

And you
Of tender years
Can’t know the fears
That your elders grew by
And so please help
Them with your youth
They seek the truth
Before they can die

“Teach Your Children Well” — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Even a cursory reading of the Proverbs reveals an emphasis on parental instruction. The prologue emphasizes the primary theme of this collection of wisdom literature (the fear of the LORD, v7; more on that in my next post), but immediately on the heels of this thesis statement comes this teaching:

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” — 1.8-9

Much of the proverbial material is spoken in the parental voice:

  • My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. — 1.10
  • My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your heart to understanding…then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. — 2.1-2, 5
  • My son, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. — 3.1-2
  • My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. — 3.11-12
  • Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. — 4.10-11
  • My son, pay attention to my wisdom… — 5.1
  • My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. — 7.1
  • Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. — 19.27
  • My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad. — 23.15
  • Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. — 23.22
  • Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul. — 24.13

There are also copious “third party” instructions and admonitions to obey one’s parents and heed their advice:

  • A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. — 10.1
  • A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. — 13.1
  • A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. — 15.5
  • A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him. — 17.25
  • A foolish son is his father’s ruin… – 19.13

Proverbs also emphasizes to parents the importance of teaching their children, using the word “discipline” almost interchangeably with “teach” and “instruct”.

  • Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death. — 19.18
  • Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. — 22.6
  • Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. — 22.15
  • Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death. — 23.13-14
  • Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. — 29.17

The Proverbs paint the portrait of a pair of voices — one male, one female — imparting instruction to the younger generation. These teachings focus on a variety of issues:

  • Warning against the adulteress
  • Compassion for the poor
  • Warning against laziness and drunkenness
  • Worship God alone
  • The value of hard work
  • The perils of bad influences
  • Warning against idleness
  • Financial discernment
  • The danger of folly’s siren song
  • The value of honesty
  • Pride
  • God-honoring speech
  • The supremacy of wisdom and the fear of the LORD

You can’t read Proverbs without coming away with a deep appreciation for the role of parents in the lives of their children. In many ways, Proverbs provides commentary on that foundational creed in Judaism, the Shema:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. — Deuteronomy 6.4-9

Teach your children.

Posted in Deuteronomy 6 (The Shema), Proverbs, Scripture | 2 Comments

Six and Three

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Jason

Jackson, Abby Kate, Joshua -- May 2010

Exactly six years ago today, my life changed forever. On July 6, 2004, God multiplied our family when Abby Kate and Joshua were born.

Last month, we looked back to June 11, 2007 when God brought completion to our family as Jackson Cash entered the world.

With all the craziness that’s been going on with us the past month — Sunny’s surgery and recovery, Jackson’s broken collarbone — the ol’ blog hasn’t gotten much love of late. But I wanted to take a moment tonight and quietly give thanks for my three children. In many ways, it’s hard to believe that the twins are six years old. It seems like just yesterday that they were babies…I think my forearms are still sore from carrying them both around in their little car seat / infant carriers. Now I look at them and they’re getting ready to go into kindergarten in the fall; they’re running through the house and riding their bikes and playing tag; we’re going to tee ball games and gymnastics classes; they crowd around the ancient VCR / TV and watch all the old classic Disney movies with wide-eyed amazement because they’ve never seen them before. I want to soak it all in because I know this stage will slowly morph into another stage and, although I’m convinced now that each “stage” is unique and special and a blessing in it’s own right, I know in my heart that this is a time that I’ll look back on and treasure for the rest of my life. My Joshua, my Abby Kate…the six year olds. Perhaps the greatest blessing is witnessing their unique relationship continue to blossom. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like for them; they’ve never been alone. Even in the womb, they say that twins have an awareness of their counterpart. Sometimes that awareness can cause a lot of stress (we’re hyper-sensitive to issues of equity and justice and “fairness” around here; heaven help you if one of the twins gets a bigger piece of chocolate cake than the other one!), but mostly it’s really cool. They’re built in playmates, best friends, and watching their brother / sister relationship develop is one of the best things about my life.

And then there’s Jackson. The thought I have most often when it comes to Jackson is, “I just wish he could stay like this for a little longer.” I know that’s overly sentimental and when he’s six like the twins, I’ll be saying the same thing about how special THAT age is, too. But he’s our baby and I think we’re supposed to feel that way. The word that comes to mind with Jackson is “independent”. If Joshua and Abby Kate have this interdependent relationship, Jackson is their polar opposite. Sunny and I laugh about this all the time, but we’ve never seen a child so fully refuse to ask for help. His favorite phrase for the past several months has been, “I can do it by myself.” We almost named him Jacob and that would’ve been a fitting name for him. The Biblical Jacob was a pretty terrible guy. He was a lousy husband. A conniving brother. A dishonest son. He played favorites with his kids. He was an unscrupulous business partner. Pretty much the only redeeming quality he possessed was his tenacity. And although I hope Jackson never matches Jacob in these other areas of his life, I love how determined and tenacious our little guy is. He doesn’t give up and he doesn’t give in. And I love that about him.

Joshua, you are my son. And I’m proud that you bear my name. You are so full of joy and life and energy and passion and I pray that NOTHING will ever quench your zeal. When you pray, I see God in you. And although I am so very proud of you, I know that your Heavenly Father is even more proud of who you are and who you’re becoming. Live up to your name, Joshua Bybee. Be strong, courageous, and never afraid. For the LORD your God will never leave you nor forsake you. He will be with you always.

Abby Kate, my daughter. You always have and always will bring unparalleled joy to my heart. I take such delight in who you are. You remind me so much of your mother and for that, I am thankful. You have such a tender heart and such compassion for others. I pray that your character will be molded in the fertile ground of your deep heart. You are so smart, so beautiful, and you have so much to offer. But it is your heart that sets you apart. Live from your heart, Abby Kate, and you will bring nothing but pure joy to your Father in heaven.

Jackson Cash, you are my youngest son but you are so much more. You are God’s gracious gift of peace and wholeness. Your life stands as a testimony to the power of prayer. Someday I’ll tell you of all the challenges we faced in getting you here and the people who prayed for you before you were born. But I believe that you have been made strong by God Almighty and I believe God will use your strength to bring peace to many. May you be strong, may you show yourself a true man of God, one who observes all that the LORD your God requires of you.

These are my blessings to you, my children.

Posted in Blessings, Family, Kids | 2 Comments

Filling Out the Ballot: AL All-Stars

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Jason

Well, I promised an AL All-Star review last week, but things have been crazy busy and I’m just now at a point where I can post again. Good thing, too; you now have approximately 24 hours to fill out your online ballot before voting closes tomorrow.

And you don’t have any excuses not to vote now…not with the US being eliminated from the World Cup last week. I’ve said it before, but now is as good a time as any to repeat: I simply don’t understand the obsession with soccer. I didn’t watch a single minute of the World Cup, but a buddy of mine — who isn’t a soccer aficionado — actually gave it a shot. Said he watched two ninety-minute games, both of which ended in a tie.

Say what you will about baseball, but at least somebody always wins.

Even if the Cardinals and Mets have to engage in some sort of Isner / Mahut 20-inning marathon, in baseball there’s always a winner.

Unless…ahem…you’re talking about the All-Star Game.

You see, way back in 2002 there was this little embarrassment re: baseball’s midsummer showcase. The game was played at Miller Park in Milwaukee with Bud Selig proudly seated on the front row. (You’ll remember Bud was partial owner of the Brew Crew before becoming the ninth commissioner in MLB history.) The game went into extra innings; eleven to be exact. And with both bullpens fairly well depleted and both managers hoping to avoid serious injury to any of their colleagues’ pitchers, the game ended in a tie.

As a result, Major League Baseball came up with the ridiculous idea of awarding home field advantage in the World Series to the winning league. Previously home field was awarded on an alternating schedule (AL one year; NL the next) or to the team with the best winning percentage. But now the league’s championship is decided by the outcome of a midseason spring training game. And why not let a spring training game determine the World Series home field advantage? At least half the guys in a spring training game are trying to make their club’s roster. Do you really think Billy Butler gives a rip about whether the Yankees or Red Sox will have home field in October when he makes his pinch hitting appearance in the 7th inning of a July exhibition game? Apparently Bud Selig does.

So does the All-Star Game matter? Well, it matters more than it should now. So if you’re interested, here are the players I’m voting for based on their season numbers so far in 2010:

First base: Leading votes – Justin Morneau – Should start: Miguel Cabrera

Truthfully, as long as either Morneau or Cabrera draws the start ahead of Mark Teixiera, I’m okay. But if I had to pick based on overall statistical production so far, I’d go with Cabrera. Miggy has bounced back in a big way following the turbulent end to his 2009 campaign. He’s driving the ball with authority, as evidenced by his MLB-leading HR and RBI totals. Morneau is a great player, too, but Cabrera edges him out slightly.

Second base: Leading votes – Robinson Cano – Should start: Cano

Cano is having an MVP-caliber season in the Bronx. He leads the majors in batting average, posting a .353 clip through 77 games. He has also responded to being moved up in the batting order, settling in nicely in the #5 spot behind Alex Rodriguez.

Third base: Leading votes – Evan Longoria – Should start: Adrian Beltre

Don’t get me wrong: Evan Longoria is a fabulous player. So is Alex Rodriguez. But neither of them has had an incredible first half. You want to know who has? Adrian Beltre. He has the same number of HR as Longoria, one more than Rodriguez; he has the same number of RBI as Longoria, one fewer than Rodriguez. But his batting average is a full 55 points higher than Longoria and 70 points higher than Rodriguez. And don’t even bring up defense; Beltre has always played Gold Glove-caliber defense, even in years when he’s not hitting. The Red Sox first half MVP deserves the nod here.

Shortstop: Leading votes – Derek Jeter – Should start: Jeter

You could probably make a lukewarm argument for Elvis Andrus here, but come on. Who are we kidding? This is Jeter’s spot and he’s earned it again this year. I’m no Yankee apologist, but I have absolutely no problem with my kid emulating Jeter.

Catcher: Leading votes – Joe Mauer – Should start: Victor Martinez

The ridonkulous power numbers from a year ago have proven to be a fluke, but Mauer remains a legitimate .300 hitter and a threat to win yet another batting title. I probably give the edge to V-Mart, simply because his numbers are better across the board. But I could live with it if Mauer draws the start, especially given Martinez’s health currently.

Outfield: Leading votes – Ichiro Suzuki / Josh Hamilton / Carl Crawford – Should start: Suzuki / Hamilton / Vernon Wells

Hamilton has been on an absolute tear this month and he’s reasserted himself as a force in the Junior Circuit OF picture. Ichiro is another deserving lock here, as he’s posting the 2nd highest batting average (behind Hamilton) among AL OFers. The 3rd spot is a toss up: I debated including David DeJesus, but he’s too much of a one trick pony; Crawford has certainly put up good average and speed numbers and he’d be a worthy starter; but instead, I’m casting my ballot in favor of Vernon Wells, the Toronto Blue Jays center fielder. I gave Wells some pretty serious grief in my AL East Preseason Review:

It says something when your cleanup hitter has a .400 slugging percentage…and he’s owed nearly $100 million over the next five seasons. Like I said, going nowhere…an apt description of both Vernon Wells and this team.

Well, I can certainly eat crow when apropos. Wells has proven us all wrong, slugging to a .564 clip with 19 HR and 47 RBI. So, to paraphrase one of my favorite lines from one of the coolest movies ever: “Vernon, I stand corrected. You’re an oak.”

Designated Hitter: Leading votes – Vladimir Guerrero – Should start: Guerrero

Speaking of eating crow, how crazy is it that Vladdy gets the chance to go back to Anaheim and show off these stats to his former club: a .330 average, 16 HR, 63 RBI…think the Angels wish they’d ponied up a little extra cash to re-sign Vlad now?

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Michael Frost on Kingdom Metrics

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Jason

Some great thoughts on “Kingdom Metrics” from Michael Frost. Assist goes to the Missional Church Network, a great place to overhear some fresh conversations re: faith.

Posted in Church, Discipleship, Faith, Gospel, Video | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Filling Out the Ballot: NL All-Stars

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Jason

Every year, I sort of take it upon myself to help my intrepid readers with that most important summertime ritual: filling out your MLB All-Star ballots. What right do you have to tell us who to vote for? you might be asking yourself. Who died and made you Kennesaw Mountain Landis? To which I would say, “That’s a good point. But if the American public just had any clue what they were doing when it came to filling out these ballots, I wouldn’t HAVE to tell people how to vote.” I’m reminded of a dear friend of mine who once told me he thought people should have to pass an IQ test before they were allowed to vote at the national and/or local level. (I won’t reveal my friend’s identity, except to say that he/she is a reader of this blog. And an attorney. And a Braves fan. And we were once handcuffed together.) I feel something similar; you really should know the difference between John Franco and Julio Franco before they allow you fill out an All-Star ballot.

You know, it wasn’t always this way. Fans haven’t always had the luxury of voting on the All-Star starters. The fan-vote tradition didn’t begin until 1947; prior to this date, each league’s All-Star Game manager selected the players for his roster. But that changed in ’47. The fans were allowed to vote on the game’s eight starters until 1957, when the Cincinnati Reds stuffed the ballot box and elected seven starters to the All-Star Game. (St. Louis’ Stan Musial was the lone non-Reds starter elected.) According to Wikipedia, an investigation revealed a ballot stuffing conspiracy. The Cincinnati Enquirer printed up pre-marked ballots and distributed them in the local Sunday papers, making it easier for fans to vote for their hometown boys. Rumors circulated that surly bartenders in the greater Cincinnati area refused to serve alcohol to their patrons until they filled out an “all Reds” All-Star ballot. Thankfully, Commissioner Ford Frick intervened and appointed Willie Mays and Henry Aaron as starters over outfielders Wally Post and Gus Bell. The fan vote was thus revoked for more than a decade.

So, the point is, we don’t need to screw this up, folks. It’s important that we get this right, but it’s especially critical that we get the best players starting for the National League. Here are the reasons, in short order:

  1. The NL is my favorite, and…
  2. The AL has won every All-Star Game since 1997 (2002’s “tie” notwithstanding)

(Sidebar: Every All-Star Game since 1997. In 1997, I had just completed by sophomore year of college. No wife, no kids. I drove a Honda Accord. I could dunk a basketball. What were you doing in 1997? Sidebar complete.)

Anyway, here are the guys you should be voting for, based on their 2010 statistics, when you fill our your NL All-Star Ballot. And don’t forget to watch the MLB All-Star Game, July 13th on Fox.

First Base – Leading votes: Albert Pujols – Should start: Pujols

Do I really need to break this down for you? If so, read the title of this post. Kinda says it all.

Second Base – Leading votes: Chase Utley – Should start: Martin Prado

Chase Utley is a great player, a gamer, a World Champion. But he has no business starting this game. For one, dude is hurt. Take a day off, Chase. More importantly, Atlanta’s Martin Prado deserves to start. This former utility man is leading the league in hitting, he’s second in runs scored, and he’s been a catalyst at the top of the Braves lineup. I love rooting for gritty guys like this when they have a career year like this. I can only hope baseball fans out there will vote en masse for Prado over the broken down Utley. I know others will disagree, but for me, this is what the All-Star Game is about: recognizing guys who are having career years, even if they’re not “name brand” superstars.

Third Base – Leading votes: Placido Polanco – Should start: David Wright

Looks like Philly is taking a page from the Reds fans of yesteryear.

It’s a joke that Polanco is the leader at his position right now. He’s a nice little player and all, but come on. As of this writing, David Wright is leading the NL in RBI. He also bests Polanco in every significant offensive category other than batting average. A close second to Wright is the resurgent Scott Rolen (.303 avg, 15 HR, 46 RBI).

Shortstop – Leading votes: Hanley Ramirez – Should start: Ramirez

I really looked for somebody else to vote for here. Hanley’s total lack of hustle earlier this season (for video, click here) makes it so hard for me to cast a vote his way. But with Troy Tulowitzki on the shelf and Jimmy Rollins missing half the year already, there’s really no other choice. I don’t have to like it, but he’s the most deserving, at least on paper. But not in my heart. Can Ozzie Smith come out of retirement?

Catcher – Leading votes: Yadier Molina – Should start: Miguel Olivo

This is going to seem sacrilege to my fellow Cardinal fans, but Molina shouldn’t be starting this game. He’s a great defensive player, but that’s awfully hard to quantify. What’s not hard to quantify is a player’s offensive contribution to his club. In that regard, there’s really only one choice among NL catchers for the All-Star Game: Colorado’s Miguel Olivo. His 290 batting average is a full 45 points higher than Molina’s; his RBI total matches Molina, McCann and Rod Barajas; and his 9 homers and 4 steals are equal to or better than the rest of his competitors.

Outfield: Leading votes – Ryan Braun / Jason Heyward / Andre Ethier – Should start – Braun / Ethier / Corey Hart

Hard to argue with either Braun or Ethier. They’ve played their way into the lineup this season. In fact, Ethier was on a Triple Crown-esque tear before breaking his pinkie last month. But I disagree with the American public on the 3rd OF spot. Heyward has been very good for a rookie, no question. That bomb he hit on Opening Day off Carlos Zambrano still hasn’t come down. But the half season Corey Hart has put up is just too difficult to ignore. Hart leads the league in HR, he’s 3rd in RBI. He’s also put up a better batting average than Heyward. Heyward is a media darling the Messiah, so he’s sure to draw the start, but if I had my way, it’d be a different Brave in the starting lineup in Anaheim on July 13.

Posted in Baseball, Sports | Tagged , , | 3 Comments