All-stars, all-teams

As posted on my blog: falcon02520.blogspot.com

The MLB All-Star game has been on the decline over the last decade; from the game being called a tie, to Wade Boggs pitching, and the game meaning who gets home field advantage for the World Series. The Fall Classic is too important to decide home field advantage by a frivolous game that is supposed to celebrate the fans.

Not only has Bud Selig made this game somewhat irritating, but for the requirement of all 30 teams needing to be represented is ridiculous! Some teams simply do not have All-Star players; Washington and Kansas City are examples. If the game is going to mean home field advantage, you want the best players available for your league's team.

[1] This brings me to this year's All-Star follies. First Michael Young. If there is a Texas Ranger, I do not want Sosa (even if he is having a better year), I want Young because he will help the All-Star team more. Orlando Cabrera and Johnny Peralta are not only more deserving this year, but because they are playing better than Young, they will help the team even more than Young. Cabrera's average is roughly 30 points over Young's average, with more stolen bases and runs scored. Peralta has hit ten more homeruns than Young.

Gil Meche, despite having a 5-6 record, has a respectable 3.26 ERA. Instead of Gil, how about taking the guy second in the AL in ERA, Jeremy Guthrie. On a bad Baltimore team, he is 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA and an unbelievable .89 WHIP.

[2] How is Gary Sheffield not on this team? As a result of there not being a DH in San Fran, Sheff is considered an outfielder. Among AL outfielders (other than his teammate Magglio Ordonez) Sheffield is having the best year; an average just under .300, 19HR, 53RBI, 70Runs scored, not to mention 11SB. One of the biggest All-Star snubs ever.

[3] This one cannot be explained to me, Freddy Sanchez (.296 29R 1HR 30RBI) and Orlando Hudson (.301 40R 7HR 46RBI 3SB) are All-Stars? There are sooooo many more options at the infield positions; Brandon Phillips (.271 54R 16HR 46RBI 15SB), Dan Uggla (.251 65R 17HR 50RBI), Hanley Ramirez (.321 66R 12HR 31RBI 25SB), Jimmy Rollins (.282 68R 14HR 49RBI 15SB), or Edgar Renteria (.323 53R 10HR 43RBI 7SB). (Hanley Ramirez is the biggest NL snub this year.) DO NOT tell me that Hudson or Sanchez are more deserving than any of these fine choices.

The last problem I have with this year's All-Star selections is Dmitri Young (.331 38R 7HR 37RBI). How is Dmitri better than Lance Berkman (.264 46R 14HR 54RBI 4SB) or Ryan Howard (.251 37R 19HR 59RBI) or even Adrian Gonzalez (.268 44R 14HR 52RBI)? I understand Young has a best average of these candidates. Also, he can't score runs or drive in runs without runners on base or people behind him hitting. These other three we know can produce when it counts, and, unlike Dmitri, they have the numbers to back it up. Dmitri Young is not an All-Star.

[4] These are my problems with not as much the All-Star game, but with the selection process. No Gary Sheffield? No Hanley Ramirez? This selection process needs to be changed. Not every team has an All-Star player, therefore, not every team needs to be represented. Either way, the game should not matter anyway. Bud Selig must fix this mess. The All-Star game is meant to celebrate the best players, the fans, and more importantly the game of baseball.

Note: All statistics are as of games completed through 7/3/07.

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InsanMajor Leaguer

459 days ago

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The reason why at least one player from each team has to be represented is because of money. Everything is always about money. They'll have a lot more people tuning in to see Freddy Sanchez play than Brandon Phillips. If Sanchez plays then you get the Pirates fans tuning in. If Phillips plays you might get a few more Reds fans tuning in. But most of the Reds fans are already tuning in to see Griffey play. That said, you're right, most of the guys you listed do deserve roster spots.

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