Scott Podsednik: Scrapper…All-Star…Savior
Sorry it’s been awhile. I do have a job though. There’s a big surprise coming later today. So check back. But until then, the Ugly and Irrational Praise for Scott Podsednik Monster has once again reared its ugly head.
Scott Podsednik has had a decent season thus far, and he’s managed to revitalize his career…which is great for him. But he is no All-Star. And he didn’t make it…kudos to fans, players, and managers everywhere. Ah, sweet justice. This article by Scott Merkin, however, argues that he should be. Now, I know this is from the White Sox website, and the writer is paid by the White Sox, so I guess it’s not quite really real journalism, but still…try to show some integrity. Just because a guy hits over .300 and has more than a handful of steals to go along with his dufflebag full of grit and determination, does not he an All-Star make.
KANSAS CITY — Back at the start of the 2009 season, when Scott Podsednik was sitting at home in Texas, waiting for a call to begin work as a Major League baseball player once again, being selected as an All-Star had to be quite a distance removed from his thought process.
Wait! You’re telling me Scott Podsednik was out of baseball in April? And now he’s playing? For the effing White Sox!? Shit, get Bud Selig on the phone. We need to pull some strings and get this guy on the first train (gritty guys like Scotty P ride trains, deal with it) to St. Louis for the All-Star game.
Fifty-six games played later, with Podsednik having emerged as the White Sox first-half Most Valuable Player, the veteran leadoff man still doesn’t seem to be banking on his name being called during the MLB All-Star Selection Show presented by Pepsi at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Perhaps he is a bit more realistic than you Mr. Merkin. Also, First-Half team MVP is a made up award. Don’t believe this man.
Yet, Podsednik certainly deserves the honor.
He certainly does not. Among qualifying American League outfielders, Podsednik is 4th in average, 36th in RBI, 40th (or last) in homeruns, 15th in stolen bases, 12th in OBP, 20th in OPS, and 32nd in runs scored. So, again Mr. Merkin, Scott Podsednik is certainly not an All-Star.
“It has crossed my mind,” said Podsednik of being a White Sox All-Star representative in St. Louis. “But right now, I’m really planning on taking the four off-days and relaxing and spending time with family and getting my body prepared to play [74] more games and finish it out strong.”
Good plan, Scott. You’re a wise man.
Podsednik enters Sunday’s series finale at Kauffman Stadium with a .312 average, three home runs and 21 RBIs. The fleet-footed left-handed hitter also has 12 stolen bases, basically serving as an offensive savior as a catalyst at the top of the White Sox order.
Merkin goes on to talk about how Podsednik made the All-Star team in 2005 and how all Scott really wants this year is a vacation…blah blah blah.
I love how Merkin then gives us his stats as if to say: don’t believe me? Well look at these bad boys! He must have felt silly when he looked these up, but decided just to go for it anyway. Furthermore, being 12th in OBP and 32nd in runs scored among only American League outfielders hardly qualifies as being a catalyst. See, Podsednik hustles and people like that (I like that), and he’s gritty and people like that (sure, that’s fine), and no one wanted him until May, and now he’s not totally sucking, so it’s a somewhat nice story. But the bottom line is that he’s been a mediocre player at best through the first half of the season. I’d bet he’d be fun to watch in the celebrity softball game though.
