Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Says All-Star Reserves Were Not His Choosing

While it might not be news to all, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts says he did not select the NL All-Star reserves. Already we talked a little bit about the Dodgers’ snubs. Then, Kenley Jansen weighed in on not making the squad.

Now we learn what is no longer common knowledge. Previously, the manager of each All-Star squad made the selections of the reserves on his roster. Moreover, Roberts tells Bill Plunkett of the OC Register that this is no longer the case in baseball.



Interestingly, Roberts said he didn’t have a hand in this year’s selections.

“I didn’t (pick anybody). They changed that,” Roberts said. “It’s good and bad. I get less texts and phone calls from other managers (lobbying for their players). But obviously I think if I had my druthers we’d have about eight All-Stars (from the Dodgers) representing the National League.”

Reading between the lines, Roberts is telling us that baseball hand-picked the reserves they want to be in the game. Certainly this could be the powers that be doing what they can to increase ratings and further popularity of the sport.

While this is okay – the All-Star process seemed confusing this year. It was the first year for a new voting format that played out in interesting fashion with primaries and then some. There was also nothing in bold print anywhere that let fans know the manager doesn’t hand-pick his players.

Finally, Roberts is acknowledging that guys like Max Muncy, Alex Verdugo, and Jansen would possibly be his picks if it were up to him. Earning that All-Star spot is no longer as simple as playing well and having your manager at the helm on selection Sunday.

If you were Dave Roberts – which players would you have taken from the Dodgers or the rest of the league that didn’t get a spot? Let us know in the comments below.

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15 Comments

  1. Once again, baseball f’ ing everything up. How the he’ll were the players selected? Manfred? The players all voted? And the balloting was insane. Muncy, Turner and Jansen should have been added.

    This gives the Dodgers another motivation. Win the WS, and tell Manfred to f off in the post game celebration!

  2. The All Star event is simply a fan spectacle. To true baseball fans it’s quite an over exaggerated rock concert. No reason to abandon the event since it is a collection of some of the best players of the day, but most players actually relish the time off from a grueling lengthy season schedule. It’s become way too political in nature. We should all just chill out if your favorite player doesn’t make the squad or reserve roster. After all, it affords Roberts the opportunity to platoon and play metrics all he wants so that maybe he’ll do less of it during the regular season…but, nah…that’ll never happen.

  3. I’m actually ok with Jansen not going to the All Star Game. It would have been embarrassing when he loses the save by giving up a home run with 2 outs in the 9th. Hopefully he can use the time to figure out what that happens so much. I’m sure JT would like to go but he could use the rest to be ready for the run up to playoffs. While a case could be made for Muncy the league isn’t wasn’t to let the Dodgers have 5 players on the team. The Cubs, the Yankees, the Astros? Yes, yes and yes.

  4. It would have been nice if the MLB would have stated up front who and how reserves were going to be picked, i personally did not like this years voting format it was stupid. Muncy, Turner, Jansen, Verdugo, all deserved a spot, i could live with Jansen not making it, maybe Pederson over Jansen.

  5. Best team in baseball, should have represented better. Munch, Turner and verdugo all deserved miss. Plus I would have included Jensen. It’s almost like there is conspiracy against the Dodgers?

  6. First off let’s be clear, the all-star game in baseball is a popularity contest, not the best players each year – there is an overlap, but not all the best players get picked. Another seldom viewed point is MLB has decreed that every team will have a player on the roster. Yes, the Dodgers “should” have had more representatives, but it’s a popularity contest (ask any Chicago fan). Understand it for what it is, it’s MLB’s 3-hour infomercial!

  7. First off let’s be clear, the all-star game in baseball is a popularity contest, not the best players each year – there is an overlap, but not all the best players get picked. Another seldom viewed point is MLB has decreed that every team will have a player on the roster. Yes, the Dodgers “should” have had more representatives, but it’s a popularity contest (ask any Chicago fan). Understand it for what it is, it’s MLB’s 3-hour infomercial!

    1. Yes, Ron, it’s an exhibition game basically and a popularity contest at best. after stripling served up back to back HR’s in last year’s ASG that basically cost the NL, my guess is that the AL hitters are glad to see at least 3 Dodger pitchers on the NL team because of the potential for hitting HR’s off them

  8. I respect the die hard Dodger’s fans here, but most of you are being ridiculous and aren’t respecting the game(or know little about it). When you look at other players around the NL at each position, Muncy is the only one who has had the stats to trump anyone else. As great as this team is, its great because it’s solid from top to bottom not because it has a few super stars….and I like it this way. Please quit your whining and being like Giants fan.

  9. I think the right four were picked. I agree that Muncy maybe should have been picked. I would have picked Machado over Dejong maybe as he has really come on strong lately. I love how Verdugo has performed, but there are many others with better overall numbers. Joc is having a good season, with a high OPS, but I have a problem with selecting a .240 hitter. If he was hitting .280 with same production I’d say yes. Too many more productive 3B, for Turner to be selected. Jansen didn’t deserve it this year.

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