2003-07-08 6:44 a.m.
Byrnsey and Benito for All-Star in 2003
The hell? This was a whole entry when I first posted it... here's take 2.
Eric Byrnes and Benito Santiago deserve your votes as the extra players to go to the 2003 All-Star game.
Eric Byrnes is a happy, sloppy, mullet-headed puppy dog of a player who still lives with his mom and who's put together a season few people thought him capable of. When asked by a reporter about the role "natural talent" has played in Byrnes' success, everyone in the clubhouse laughed; he's managed to accomplish what he has through working his ass off. If he goes to the All-Star game he'll probably get the least playing time and have the most fun.
Benito Santiago is a geezer of a catcher who's managed to have a couple of incredible seasons with the Giants. Benito hits behind Barry Bonds and thrives on the challenge. Benito always talks about Benito in the third person, and three of Benito's children are named after him. Benito is a hit with the ladies and would totally kick your ass if you looked at Benito funny.
Vote for my guys because determination can motivate players to do amazing things, especially players everyone's written off, and this is part of why being a sports fan is fun.
Vote out of Bay Area pride, if you live here.
Vote for them because you hate the Yankees and love the idea of Steinbrenner pitching fits over there being more A's than Yankees at the All-Star game this year. (And the would-be 4th Yankee, Jason Giambi, deserves not to go because his attitude towards A's fans upon signing with the Yankees exemplified everything that sucks about Yankeedom.)
Vote for them because you were charmed by Sean Casey at his first All-Star game and you want to see that kind of excitement again.
Vote for them because it would make little Benito Jr. and Benito Ivan and Bennybeth happy. Won't you do it for the children?