All-Star Selections Matter as Much as the Game

Think back to the days when the All-Star Game was a grand exhibition of talent right smack in the middle of the dog days of summer. Remember what it was like to see two teams loaded with superstars showcase their talent and have fun? These were the days when it didn’t matter who the fans voted into the Midsummer Classic, and it was all for bragging rights.

A few years ago, Bud Selig changed all of that. Now the All-Star Game “matters”.

For some inexplicable reason, Bud decided that an exhibition game, where the fans vote for the starting line-up, determines home field advantage in the World Series.  Logic would say that the team with the better record in the regular season deserves the reward of home field advantage in the World Series. That’s something fairly obvious to everyone — except Bud Selig, I guess.

(Since the All-Star Game has decided home-field advantage in the Fall Classic, the American League hasn’t lost. This includes the 2009 All-Star Game.)

The All-Star Game itself has also suffered. Every year, a few head-scratchers make the All-Star team (every franchise gets one All-Star representative), and up until a few years ago, that’s all they were.  Now, players who don’t deserve to be All-Stars — and play for last-place clubs — play key innings in the fight for home-field advantage in the World Series.

On that note, let’s look at the lineups and see which questionable All-Stars could figure into the outcome of the game and home-field advantage in the World Series. In the National League, the first name that jumped out to me was Omar Infante. Sure, he may be having a good year… for Omar Infante! Why is he there, especially when he has fewer home runs than Yovanni Gallardo? Well, NL Manager Charlie Manuel felt that he needed a utility infielder, just in case. As stupid as that sounds, can you really blame Charlie for wanting a player who can play any position when home field advantage is on the line?

Next up is starting catcher Yadier Molina? Does Molina really deserve to start over Brian McCann, much less even make the team over Miguel Olivo? Jose Reyes over Rafeal Furcal? Should Joey Votto have to wait until the “Final Vote” get him in?!  He’s got the best OPS (On-base plus Slugging) in all of baseball!  But, Manuel has no need for a fourth first baseman. And while Jason Heyward may have been anointed the greatest rookie hitter of all time prior to the season, his numbers pale in comparison to other NL outfielders.  None of this should matter, but because Bud Selig changed the game’s meaning, all of it does.

I think Charlie Manuel got it right by not picking Stephen Strasburg for the All-Star game this year. Although it would be amazing — and probably good for the game — to have the kid out there with that heat and that curveball, putting him in the game would mean another player was left out. That player would probably be Evan Meek. Most of you have probably never heard of him, but Manuel plucked him out of the NL’s Triple-A team, also known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. His fantastic ERA (0.98) and WHIP (0.87) make him a linchpin in the NL bullpen. Strasburg will get his All-Star nods, so why rush him now with when he’s already got an innings limit this year?

While I agree with the Strasburg decision, an entire team of pitchers was ignored. No Padres pitcher made the All-Star game even though San Diego has the best earned-run average in baseball.

As for the American League, I think the fans and managers got it right for the most part. I could throw in a few deserving names that were left off the list — Paul Konerko, Brennan Boesch, Michael Young, Jared Weaver, Shin-Soo Choo — but I would just be nitpicking.  Weaver got the invite after CC Sabathia was named ineligible since he’s pitching for the Yankees on Sunday.  The problem is, Weaver is also pitching on Sunday.  Now they’ll need a second replacement for Sabathia AND Weaver.

If the game had no meaning, I’d have no problems with any player picked or snubbed and could just enjoy the game for what it is/should be. Still, I know exactly where I’ll be on Tuesday: on my couch, feet up, brew in-hand, and watching the MLB All-Star game.

Tags: Bud Selig, Charlie Manuel, MLB All-Star Game