Bourn named to NL All-Star team – updated
Philadelphia – It wasn’t exactly the direct route, but Braves center fielder Michael Bourn was finally named to the National League All-Star team on Saturday as a replacement for injured Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, who will sit out the game to rest a sore oblique muscle.
Bourn has been through the wringer this week, first going through the disappointment of not making the original roster, of having to go against teammate Chipper Jones in the “Final Vote” before Jones, the sentimental favorite, was named to the team as a replacement for the injured Matt Kemp.
Then Bourn spent two days garnering strong support online only to finish second to Cardinals third baseman David Freese in the Final Vote on Thursday afternoon.
Then came word on Saturday that Desmond was going to miss the game and Bourn was in after all. He’ll join Jones, Dan Uggla, Craig Kimbrel, and assistant trainer Jim Lovell as the Braves’ contingent to Kansas City.
“God works in mysterious ways, I mean that,” Bourn said shortly before taking the field for batting practice. “You take it how it comes. You always want to be elected the first time, but it didn’t happen that way. You’ve got to stay positive with everything.”
Bourn will be making his second All-Star appearance. He went to the 2010 All-Star game in Anaheim as a Houston Astro. He lockered next to future Braves teammate Brian McCann that day, when McCann won the MVP award of the game. Bourn struck out against Jose Valverde in his only at-bat, which he described as a whirlwind, three-pitch at-bat.
“It’s an honor to be named with the players we have, with the caliber of people that will be there,” said Bourn, who plans to take his 2-year-old son Bryson to Kansas City. “I remember when I first got there the first time I was more in shock. I was walking around with these type of players, seeing what they’re doing. They’re coming up introducing themselves to me. I didn’t even know they knew who I was.”
It’s a little different this time around for the leadoff hitter and center fielder Jones calls the Braves most valuable player the first half of the season. Bourn was hitting .305 entering Saturday night with 17 doubles, six triples, a career-high seven home runs, 32 RBIs, 58 runs scored and 23 stolen bases.
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77 comments Add your comment
milosdf
July 7th, 2012
5:26 pm
first
Sid Slid
July 7th, 2012
5:27 pm
Awesome. He deserves it!
bustersonly
July 7th, 2012
5:32 pm
Justice served
bruce
July 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats!
Brava
July 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
This is the best news I’ve heard all day! Congratulations to Michael, All Star!!!!!
Angel Wings
July 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
Well deserving. Congratulations Michael
ACE
July 7th, 2012
5:39 pm
someone finally got it right.
Coach
July 7th, 2012
5:46 pm
He certainly deserves it, he has had quite a first half. Having already set a career high in homers, and he has another half season to play, heck of an accomplishment. We all know that its a contract year for him and he will play hard, but he seems like a cool guy that genuinely wants to be here. Dan Struggla is having issues and needs to give his allstar ticket to someone who deserves it.
Centrist
July 7th, 2012
5:48 pm
He deserved it all along.
BravesfaninWis
July 7th, 2012
5:48 pm
Justice not served, Bourn should be a starter plain and simple. I am glad he made it, but he deserved to be there from the get go. Good job Bourn, now go show what you have been showing Braves fan all along, that you are a great hitter and a even better defender. Congrats.
Christopher Brown
July 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
Congrats Bourn! Have a great game, and prove to everyone that you should’ve been a starter!
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
5:56 pm
We are proud of you Michael
ItzMe
July 7th, 2012
5:57 pm
So happy for him! He has truly played his behind off and deserves every accolade that comes his way. I hope he keeps up the good work and stasy apart of the Braves organization for years to come.
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
6:00 pm
I am worried that he won’t stay. Nats already say they will overpay to get him.
JoeBravesFan
July 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
Very deserving of this honor! Congrats, Michael!!
JWOOD
July 7th, 2012
6:04 pm
The fact that he is a substitute due to injury is just one more thing to add to the list of reasons why the All-Star game selection is screwy.
bravesgirlalways
July 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
we fans let him down. He should have been in by fan vote but not enough of us, me included
voted enough for him. Am so glad he is to be in the game…..
bravesgirlalways
July 7th, 2012
6:07 pm
we fans didn’t have enough sense to vote him in BUT i PRAY Wren and Co. will pay him whatever to get him to stay a Brave. Pay enough to lock him up for 5 years if possible. We are so cheap he will probably b e somewhere next year. We NEED A TRUE OWNER
helo5747
July 7th, 2012
6:08 pm
@BravesfaninWis – I agree that he should be a starter. But as long as the selection process remains as it now is, it will ALWAYS be more of a popularity contest than a true all star game. I mean, Uggla as a starter? I have been a huge Braves fan since 1966, but the Reds Brandon Phillips is a much better 2nd baseman than our starter, Uggla. They should use stats as a baseline for determining players in order to have a true All-Star game.
Nativebird
July 7th, 2012
6:12 pm
Enjoy him now Braves fans…..there is no way, no how, the accountants at Liberty media are going to sign Mr. Bourne next year. Not with his agent…..ain’t happening.
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
6:12 pm
@bravesgirlalways I hope that if we give him the money from Chipper retirement, he will stay’ I hope so but worried he won’t.
Rick
July 7th, 2012
6:12 pm
helo5747, back when Uggla had already amassed a large lead at the first voting tally, he was leading 2B in most stats. Philips also got off to a slow start this season.
Supes
July 7th, 2012
6:13 pm
FINALLY!!! Well earned honor. Congrats to Michael Bourn…and his price for the Braves just went up a few more $ (only negative in the deal)…
Jack in Macon
July 7th, 2012
6:16 pm
Good guys win sometimes. Congratulation, Michael !!!
Kat
July 7th, 2012
6:20 pm
That’s great to see!
Luman Harris
July 7th, 2012
6:22 pm
Yay!
Rick
July 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Giancarlo Stanton exited in the third inning today with right knee discomfort. If he sits out I hope LaRussa considers Prado.
kevkat
July 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Like he said, God does work in mysterious ways and we can only hope he continues to work in mysterious ways in order to keep him. I for one will just enjoy him now while he’s a Brave and worry about his future with the team after the season.
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
6:25 pm
Me too Rick,but probably go with Jon Jay. He is a cardinal.
Tommy Dew
July 7th, 2012
6:31 pm
This is GREAT news!. I love this kid. Please sign him soon Frank.
jim
July 7th, 2012
6:31 pm
A .225 hitter starting in the All-Star Game? The whole process is a farce. At least Bourn made it this way, and not by twitter.
tjhook
July 7th, 2012
6:32 pm
The Braves definitely need to make signing Bourne a priority- it’s why we traded for him, right? The loser in this is Brian McCann. The team obviously loves McCann’s place on the team, but he has or will have the salary the Braves need to get rid of.
AtlantaMelo
July 7th, 2012
6:32 pm
I’m glad Michael got in for more than sentimental reasons. This is for home game advantage and he can definately help us win a game!!! Congratulations Michael.
Brava
July 7th, 2012
6:32 pm
If Stanton sits out, Bryce Harper will likely get in. He was third in the Final Vote.
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
6:34 pm
Forgot about that. You are right Brava. Sorry
Rick
July 7th, 2012
6:35 pm
Yeah you’re probably right Brava.
FIRE FREDI
July 7th, 2012
6:38 pm
congrats michael bourn. u deserve it
bulldogbubba
July 7th, 2012
6:46 pm
I am glaad he is on our team. Go Braves!!!!!
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
July 7th, 2012
6:55 pm
Finally!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 7th, 2012
6:55 pm
Congrats Bourn.
Must be nice to play a shallow position. Uggla has been maybe the 5th or 6th best hitter in the Braves’ lineup this year and he gets to start. Bourn has been at worst the 2nd most valuable Braves hitter and he is an injury replacement.
katherine
July 7th, 2012
6:57 pm
I’m so happy for bourn yay
FIRE FREDI
July 7th, 2012
7:00 pm
Uggla is Fredi’s fault
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
7:01 pm
It’s just announced. Stanton miss 6 weeks. Harper in.
katherine
July 7th, 2012
7:02 pm
that sucks for bourn
Larry B
July 7th, 2012
7:04 pm
Congratulations Michael Bourn!!! You well deserve it. I’m so proud you are an Atlanta Brave. If there was ever anyone I rooted to stay here….It is Michael Bourn!
jcb
July 7th, 2012
7:04 pm
Yay!!! Go Michael!
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
7:11 pm
game delayed-rain
YoungerThan ThatNow
July 7th, 2012
7:17 pm
Congratulations Michael! Represent your team, your league and yourself well in KC… and have fun with your son!
Otis Nixon's Hellbent Redemption
July 7th, 2012
7:18 pm
Heck yeah. I voted for him probably 100 times the other day to no avail but I’m glad he is getting to go anyways
pdt
July 7th, 2012
7:21 pm
Well, we’ve got three players who deserve to be there and one who should show some integrity and decline the spot. Anyone know what the all-time lowest batting average for an All Star is? That’s a record that StrUggla has a chance of breaking.
athensdawg
July 7th, 2012
7:23 pm
Anyone know where the Braves are on U-Verse?
Yogi Berra
July 7th, 2012
7:24 pm
Agree Larry B..Congrats to Bourn well deserved.Of all the Braves I hope and pray Bourn is signed for 4-5 more years.. Its great to have a player that bust his a** like Bourn and Prado. Go Braves!
Yogi Berra
July 7th, 2012
7:28 pm
You people need to forget Uggla’s batting average and pull for the guy. Its obvious some people liked him enought to get him there. Give it a break. They’re alot of players in past history that didn’t deserve it but its a fans game.
bostonbravo
July 7th, 2012
7:36 pm
Just GREAT!!! Helps dull the humiliation of Damn Smuggla being on “all star” team!!
Hey YOGI….YOU people need to open your fng eyes..I apologize if you are his brother, father, mom, etc. but “the 2 nd baseman”..is no longer even average.
Dr.Braves
July 7th, 2012
7:39 pm
athensdawg,
On 1729 FoxSportsouth. there’s a rain delay though.
bobbymahlon
July 7th, 2012
7:42 pm
Martin Prado deserves a spot but he played so many positions people don’t think of him as a outfielder or a infielder.
Trey
July 7th, 2012
7:42 pm
katherine, why does this suck for Bourn? It’s an honor.
Yogi Berra
July 7th, 2012
7:44 pm
Hey bostonbravo..get a life..the fans voted him in where u like it are not. Its not the first time this has happen. By eyes are open (I didn’t say he was good or bad). I”ll pray for your nasty mouth.
GregW
July 7th, 2012
7:46 pm
Bourn is what makes the Braves go. As Bourn goes so go the Braves. It shows what a difference a good leadoff man can make. We haven’t had a leadoff man like this since Otis Nixon
Yogi Berra
July 7th, 2012
7:47 pm
my not by..sorry.
BravesfaninWis
July 7th, 2012
7:50 pm
@helo5747,
I agree 100%. That is what I don’t get. Usually when players get that many votes by fans, its usually the hometown fans that vote that much. So in the case of Dan Uggla, it was more than likely Braves fans that were voting for him. I voted a lot, however I didn’t vote for Uggla once because I vote for the players I truly believe deserve it and I don’t think Uggla deserves to be a All Star this year. I also don’t believe that Chipper Jones deserves it either, but that is a completely different story.
I voted for Bourn over and over again because I truly believe he deserves to be a starter in the All Star game. I am happy as hell that he made it, but not how he made it. The guy is a complete gamer and everything and more on what teams want and need out of a player.
This is the one guy in a very long time that I would love to see stay a Brave for a long time. I don’t think he will be with the Braves after this season for 2 reasons. The first is because his agent is the cut throat Scott Boras and he always takes his players to free agency and sells them to the highest bidder regardless of what team it is, and secondly, the Braves are to damn cheap to keep him in the fold despite a lot of money coming off the books next season. I want him to stay in the worst way, but I don’t see any way possible that he does.
Quack Quack
July 7th, 2012
7:59 pm
Outstanding!!! After placing hundreds of votes, I feel happy for Michael Bourn. I still think Uggla should sit out. This is for Real All Stars!!
bravesgrl4life
July 7th, 2012
7:59 pm
About time LaRussa figured it out.
Angel Wings.
July 7th, 2012
8:00 pm
@Yogi Berra I agree Yuo cannot argue with fan vote.
Yogi Berra
July 7th, 2012
8:03 pm
5747..thats why Dusty Baker was so mad with picks.
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 7th, 2012
8:11 pm
YES!!!!
Dr.Braves
July 7th, 2012
8:25 pm
The game’s on Fox5.
when
July 7th, 2012
8:47 pm
WHEN WILL IDIOTS STOP DOING THE FIRST THING? ESPECIALLY IF THEY DONT HAVE ANYTHING TO BLOG ABOUT. LORD WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE.
Pluto
July 7th, 2012
8:48 pm
@when… I would do it just to annoy you.
FIRST!
And I don’t care if you think I’m a fool.
Delbert D.
July 7th, 2012
9:17 pm
Sorry Carroll, that is “wringer”, not ringer. I guess nobody other than me remembers the old washing machines.
Daniel
July 7th, 2012
9:31 pm
Congrats to Bourn but Prado deserves to go before Chipper. Oh well, next year when the baggage is gone Prado will get his chance.
Ben
July 7th, 2012
9:35 pm
@BravesfaininWis
agreed that on merit alone its questionable at best as to whether or not Chipper deserves a spot. HOWEVER, I can’t help but think it would be a travesty not to have Larry Wayne Jones in the all star game of his farewell season. He’s earned that much.
bostonbravo
July 7th, 2012
10:56 pm
Hey Yog..”nastymouth” here…give your boy a big/hug/kiss…
then tell him to watch replays of a 22 yr. old named Simmons who is already twice as good as musclehead Uggs.
beachcomber
July 7th, 2012
11:45 pm
Great see see Bourn join three other Braves on the team. Ironic that the guy who is perhaps the Braves MVP of the first half, Martin Prado, didn’t come close.
Along those same lines MLB had a very interesting program on today about nine outstanding ball players who never made an All Star team including Tim Salmon, Dennis Leonard and Kirk Gibson who was a seasonal MVP!
GRAPHITE
July 8th, 2012
8:38 am
Are Uggla and Fredi boyfriends? Didn’t take him long to get him out of Miami……..just wondering……………
Ted M
July 8th, 2012
12:41 pm
I’m glad Harper is going too.
Yolanda
July 8th, 2012
1:41 pm
AWESOME!!!