Why did Travis Hafner not make the all-star team this year?

Question

He was leading on base percent, in the top 5 for hommers and RBI's, he even broke the record for most grand slams before the all star break (five) and he can hit for power and avrage. so why didnt he make it?

Answer 1

I'm not sure why he didn't make it, but I'm guessing it's because of Ozzie Guillen's ignorance.

First, Ozzie picked one of his own, Paul Konerko, who had absolutely no business at all being on that team. He's a decent enough player, but he can't touch Hafner.

Second, Guillen then chose Grady Sizemore as the Indians' rep. Again, Sizemore isn't a bad player, but he's not even close to Hafner's level.

There's no way Hafner shouldn't have made it, but snubs like this happen every year at All-Star time.

Answer 2

The All-Star game was held in a NL park this year, meaning there was no DH spot. Because of this, David Ortiz and Travis Hafner were both listed at 1B. Ortiz won the popular vote making him the starter, and Paul Konerko was voted in on the players/manager ballot as the reserve. Ozzie Guillen picked Jim Thome with one of his few picks as the AL's manager. Thome had the exact same numbers as Hafner at this time, so Ozzie went his guy. This left a logjam of 1B players.

So Hafner wound up in the Final Spot Ballet, where all people get to vote for the 25th roster spot. He was competing against Francisco Liriano of the Twins, A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox, Ramon Herandez of the Orioles, and some other guy. Pierzynski won the final roster spot because of the Chicago market. It is bigger than Cleveland's fanbase, so more people would vote for Pierzynski. If the white sox hadn't won the world series last year, most likely Chicago wouldn't have had such a fan base to get Pierzynski elected, or if Michael Barrett hadn't punched A.J. giving him the perfect campaign slogan "Punch A.J."

I personally voted for Liriano because what he did pre-all star break was unbelievable. He still went to replace Jose Contreras who pitched on the sunday before the all-star game and was ineligible to play. But Liriano didn't get a chance to pitch.

Answer 3

Well, being a first base/DH player, there was an excess at that position.
Ortiz was voted in, Thome and Konerko were selected by Guillen. If the All-Star game was held in an AL Park, Hafner probably would have been chosen, but since it wasn't Sizemore was more needed.
I think Hafner should have been chosen over Konerko regardless though.

Answer 4

He deserved to make it. He only lost because he wasn't very famous in other cities. Even though he was the best before the all-Star Break. Not many people voted for him. And people who wanted him to be in the All-Star Game, was too lazy to vote. So that is why Travis Hafner did make it in the All-Star Game.

Answer 5

Im not an Indians fan, but I was shocked Hafner didnt make, hes the offense of the Indians. Something like 4 grandslams in the first half.

Answer 6

he probally should have. david ortiz deserved to be there, and is also one of the most popular players in baseball. jim thome had been doing well too, and prob deserved to be there also. konerko though, shouldnt have. he only made it because his manager coached the allstar game for the AL. he got to pick the bench players. also, the redsox and indians had been winning, therefore having more of a fanbase to vote for their players. the indians arent really doing to well this year, so the fanbase is much lesss likely to vote in one of their players

i do agree though, he should have been their, didnt he have 5 grandslams before the allstar break, thats crazy!

Answer 7

Bcuz A.J. Pierscumsky is a popular punk.

Answer 8

cuz chicago fans are homers and voted in aj pierzynski instead.

Answer 9

Who knows...

Answer 10

No good reason. He should have been there.