VLB Mid-Summer Classic

[JP]

With playoffs just around the corner, I felt it necessary to post my [shadow=left,300]2008 Veto League All-Star Teams[/shadow]. I only included those players who have played enough games to qualify for the night game (5+). I suck, so I left myself off both teams. I would be the guy selling cotton candy. If I offended anyone, than you get offended too easy.

Ridgewood League (1st team):
P: Josh Francque - Allowed 0 runs through 8 innings with a broken hand before pulling himself from the game
C: Doug Scott - Hitting .641 with a .714 W%, undervalued
1B: Bob Zerull - Leads the league by a lot in HR, always one of the top draft picks, MVP candidate
2B: Brandon Jones - 17 RBI in just 8 GP, great personality
3B: Ryan Barton - Unconventional flashy glove, more GP may have given him the MVP
SS: Kiel Engstrom - Can play everywhere, .621 AVG, best of the best
RF: Jesus Apodaca - Almost as fast as the real Jesus, having a career year
CF: Adam Chard - Best leftie since Darras, plays a good OF, potential for '09 MVP
LF: John Kelley - .578 BA & .800 W%, always a candidate for top draft pick
DH: Jason Nunn - Towered a grand slam over the fence at Douglas

Douglas League (2nd team):
P: Jeff Kilgard - Great pitching against the opposition, leads the VLB in career Ks
C: Travis Swanson - Underated, .667 BA, can play about anywhere
1B: Joe Campagna - Hit machine (.773 BA), 6 2B in 6 GP
2B: Anthony Reese - Potential for great power, made several great over the shoulder catches
3B: Scott Ellefritz - Umpteen time Gold Glove winner, best of the best at 3B
SS: Amos Whiting - Great personality, provides a good glove and boasts a .600 BA
RF: Tony Zier - Plays a solid OF, top 5 in most stats, likely '08 Rookie of the Year
CF: Matt Veto - Heart and Soul of the VLB, '08 MVP-bearing #s
LF: Josh Smith - Great hussle, solid BA, .583 W%
DH: Howard Zimmerle - Most improved player bar none (.234 BA '06 v. .507 '08)

Honorable mention goes to 1B Joe Zerull, who's been placed on the PUP list with a broken back.

[Howard]

JP... thanks for the love... and understand that I would never cut your ear off.

My only comment about your teams is about Joey Campagna. Joey Campagna: Jesus Christ... same initials or coincidence? You be the judge. Not only is he the Tony Gwynn of the VLB (although about 100 pounds skinnier than Gwynn is now...) he's played gold glove defense at 1B.

Also, what about Hernandez? He deserves a spot, and some ROY consideration.

Oh, and JP... I like the modesty, but you deserve a spot too.

How about home run derby contestants? Barton and Bob get automatic spots, but who else would be a part of this?

[barton]

are we playing today? i hope so i know its 224 am but i plan on bein there give me a post!

[JP]

Hey, it's 3:49 am and I plan on being there, so the rest of you have no excuses. I thought about Hernandez, but he didn't quite make the cut. I don't know who I could cut to put Hernandez on. Also, the two of you were definitely leading candidates for ROY, but Hernandez hasn't shown up for a game since the 10th game of the season. Where's the guy been? He was starting to get pretty solid at SS.

[barton]

JP you said if i was there more games, i would have been there more games but there was at least 6 or 7 times i was available and we either didnt have enough or didnt play? should my chances be hampered by that?

[veto]

I'll tell ya... I feel for Barton. Nothing makes me feel worse than not playing.

I'm really hoping we can finish this season. This is the latest we'll have ever gone, and we've already proven that we can play a full schedule, but we need some strength here for the final stretch run.

While there are probably only a handful of guys that would be willing to play into October, I think the handful of guys that fit that category is larger this season than it has ever been. We just need some guys who can fill in the gaps.

I want to hand out die hard awards to go along with our stat awards.

Let's talk about Chard... He's been the newest die hard this year -- hates missing a game and is willing to play in any conditions. Reese has been steady as has Zier.

I'm pretty sure Francque gets the trooper award. He broke his hand, but has shown up to more games since then than I can count. He's going to the night game, despite suffering a six-week injury.

I know I didn't list all of the die hards, but I think you know who you are. You guys are my all stars! (Is there a smiling face with a tear for this speech?)

[bzerull]

I've been gone for awhile as work has blocked thevlb.com...and youtube, so here are a couple more videos starring Josh Paul, Tony Zier, Jesus Christ and Pat Hintz the only Veto Leaguer ever to be scolded by a manager for making a base running error...before my time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQ4QuGte4Y

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA9SO6EEzV4

I'm not going to put together an allstar team, because to be honest I've pretty sure that any given day the "2nd team" could be the "1st team." Look at my winning percentage for crying out loud...which is weird because I've always had a very high winning percentage and this year I don't know, it must be the crap around me....I don't really mean that...sorta....no I don't mean that at all.

Truth of the matter is that during any game I feel like my team can win, so there really is no MVP or allstars. If anything I think Franque should get it for keeping the league going. Just by showing up to pitch he's allowed us to play probably 6 to 10 games we may not have otherwise played, not to mention the fact that he's added I don't know how many guys to the league. who cares that me, Kiel and Barton are running away with almost every important category. I won't comment on who's clearly doing the best though. ;D

By the way, Josh Paul, on facebook there is a picture of you buying an underaged girl a drink at a bar in Champaign with the caption This is the cop that bought me a drink, even though I'm under 21. You won't lose your job over this will you?

[JP]

Looks like Veto got the Career Cumulative Stats updated on the site. Thanks, Veto!

[veto]

Thank you for compiling!