MLB All-Star Selections

[Toke]

Just posting because of what I see, and feel, about how the all-star teams are selected in baseball (and all major North American sports in general). In terms of baseball, the players who generally win the vote total are those who play for certain teams. It isn't as prominent this year, as in the past, but It seems that the AL starting nine is always filled with Yankees and Red Sox, while the National League line-up consists of Mets and Cardianls. I'm more than happy to see that certain players from these clubs on the team when they are deserving, but it bothers me when the players are voted in because their fanbase is larger than other clubs. I remember looking at the voting tallies from a few years ago for the AL, and at every position a Yankee or Red Sox player was never lower than third in terms of the fan votes. I don't know if my point is being made but I feel that if Jays players can barely crack the top ten at any position, while Dvi Ortiz, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada, Kevin Youklis, Mike Lowell, and Coco Crisp are always in the running to start. Robinson Cano was second among AL secondbasemen and if you look at his numbers vs Aaron Hill's, there is no doubt who is having a better season. I'm not a Jays fan, but as a fan of the game when it comes to who goes, or starts, the "Mid-Summer Classic", I would prefer to see a starting nine of those who most deserve it, and a bench that consists of a mix between those having stand-out years (like Prince Fielder) and those who may not be burning it up but are constants and still having a productive season (Albert Pujols).

Just my two pennies........

BTW, I agree with Barry Bonds being on the NL team, I'm just a little torn about his starting role.

 

[blueline]

Just posting because of what I see, and feel, about how the all-star teams are selected in baseball (and all major North American sports in general). In terms of baseball, the players who generally win the vote total are those who play for certain teams. It isn't as prominent this year, as in the past, but It seems that the AL starting nine is always filled with Yankees and Red Sox, while the National League line-up consists of Mets and Cardianls. I'm more than happy to see that certain players from these clubs on the team when they are deserving, but it bothers me when the players are voted in because their fanbase is larger than other clubs. I remember looking at the voting tallies from a few years ago for the AL, and at every position a Yankee or Red Sox player was never lower than third in terms of the fan votes. I don't know if my point is being made but I feel that if Jays players can barely crack the top ten at any position, while Dvi Ortiz, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada, Kevin Youklis, Mike Lowell, and Coco Crisp are always in the running to start. Robinson Cano was second among AL secondbasemen and if you look at his numbers vs Aaron Hill's, there is no doubt who is having a better season. I'm not a Jays fan, but as a fan of the game when it comes to who goes, or starts, the "Mid-Summer Classic", I would prefer to see a starting nine of those who most deserve it, and a bench that consists of a mix between those having stand-out years (like Prince Fielder) and those who may not be burning it up but are constants and still having a productive season (Albert Pujols).

Just my two pennies........

BTW, I agree with Barry Bonds being on the NL team, I'm just a little torn about his starting role.

Fan voting for all-star games can tun into popularity contests, that much is pretty obvious. However, I want to make some cases for players on this years team, particularly the AL.

As a Red Sox fan, of course I want to see some Boston players on the team. However, I am not sold on Big Papi being the starting First Baseman. Not that he is a DH and only plays in the field during inter-league play, but he isn't having a particularly all-star type season, at least compared to recent years. My pick would have been Morneau. However keep in mind, Ortiz was going to be on the team regardless, as the players also have a vote on the reserves and he came second, behind Morneau.

As for Youkalis and Lowell, they are very deserving of consideration. These two guys have carried the Red Sox this year, offensively. Youk is in the top ten in batting average, had a 23 game hitting streak, plays 1b and 3b, has hit in a number of positions in the batting order from 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th without missing a beat. Lowell was voted onto the team as a reserve by the players as was Manny Ramirez. Coco Crisp, well to the best of my knowledge, has never been an all-star.

As for catcher, you can make a good case for Posada, who had been leading the AL in batting and Martinez, so adding another Yankee to the starters wouldn't really bother me because he is truly deserving.

The other two Yankees, well it's pretty hard to argue with A-Rod and Jeter. Then my two Red Sox fav's in Beckett and Papelbon have to be a lock. Then if Okajima gets the final spot, he has been money for Boston in a set up role and as a closer when called upon. He is truly a rookie of the year candidate so if he makes it, it is earned.

So I agree that the system is always going to have it's flaws and you will see many of the same players from year to year. However, for the most part, I think they got it right this year. NL starters Fielder at 1b and Martin at Catcher were two nice picks and truly based on performance.

 

[Toke]

I'm not really knocking this year's team. I'm just knocking a system that is more of a contest between cities. It's not far off to think that every Red Sox and Yankee fan (and there are many) automatically vote for thier own plaers at every position while many players rely on being popular throughout the MLB. The same theory applies to the NBA where Yao Ming will be an All-Star from now to the pont his career ends because the country of China is included in voting, and when they see his name, they will automatically vote for him (Remember he was the starting West centre of O'Neal in his rookie season). I think fan voting should place the player on the team (for PR reasons), but the starting lineup should be determined by either the teams manager/coach or by a vote by the players on the team.

 

[Stradler]

I do not mind fans voting the starting lineups. The reason why you see NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Mets and Cardinals players in the starting lineup is due to the fact that they have a bigger fan base then other clubs.

The problem I have is that every team has to be represented. A player that deserves to be on the team gets "bumped" becuase they require a Kansas City Royal or Washington National player on the team. I think they should change the way "reserves" are added to the team, either have the MLB players vote for the "reserves" or just take the stats from this year and take the best from every position.

 

[blueline]

I do not mind fans voting the starting lineups. The reason why you see NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Mets and Cardinals players in the starting lineup is due to the fact that they have a bigger fan base then other clubs.

The problem I have is that every team has to be represented. A player that deserves to be on the team gets "bumped" becuase they require a Kansas City Royal or Washington National player on the team. I think they should change the way "reserves" are added to the team, either have the MLB players vote for the "reserves" or just take the stats from this year and take the best from every position.

Players as well as the All-Star team managers do vote for reserves. The All-Star game managers can select 7 players and the rest are voted on by league players, coaches and managers. Here is a link with the breakdown of the reserve players and how they were selected.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/det/y2007/m07/d01/c2061335.jsp

You also have to consider teams like Boston and especially New York Yankees spend a ton of money to acquire all-star calibre players (A-Rod, Abreu, Giambi, Clemens, Damon, from the past Randy Johnson, etc) so they had better be all-stars.