Fix the All-Star Game Selection Process

[Colorado Express]

The all-star game selection process needs to change. I for one, am tired of watching the starting lineup in the AL consist of Yankees, Red Sox and Ichiro.

To be honest, the all-star game would not miss one sale or one viewer if the selection process was taken away from the fans (I use this term very loosely as clearly the "fans" are fans of players or teams and not the game of baseball). As much as I enjoy voting, I would be fine if the took it away from the fans, limited the impact (similar to the NFL), or added a few players (subs, not starters) voted in by the fans.

I think the best way to resolve it is to have the players vote in the starters and the top reserves (~25 players) and the fans can vote in ~5 additional reserves. This allows the manager to decide if the players voted in by the fans play or not.

Also, the DH should be used in all all-star games!!!!

[bob]

Yes, its a bit tiring every year to see the same people from the same teams.
In the last update on mlb, in the AL the person who had the most votes was David Ortiz, who's having a down year. Second in votes is Jeter.

I dont see who should have the vote though. The game should feature the current stars, but no-one should get a free ride just because they play on the team with the biggest fanbase, at the expense on people playing for smaller teams who are doing much better.

[Food]

I don't mind seeing the same players as long as those players are still All-Star worthy.

The only change I would like to see is the discontinuing of every team having at least one representative. Back when there were 8 or 10 teams in each league it was doable without shafting anyone. Today, with 14 AL and 16 NL teams, it just clutters up the nonstarters with folks who were chosen to meet the quota over other players who were having indisputably better seasons.

[DodgerBlue8188]

I couldn't agree more. I would you like to see people with the most knowledge vote for the all stars whether it be sport writers, coaches or players. I'm not sure given players 100% of the choice is the best idea because I think some players may still be left out or at least have some bias.

I remember hearing that people like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron made the All Star Game over 20 times. I think that should be a clear factor that you deserve to be in the HOF. You were one of the best players in your league 20 times so you def deserve that type of honor. But now days a player like Ortiz could start declining this year and still make the all star team another 5-6 years based on popularity and end up being a 10 time All star which would honestly look like he deserved to be in the HOF. But not necessarily based on his stats career wise.

They should take home field advantage away from the winner as well. It should go to the team with the best record. Especially as long as fans are voting these players in.

[DodgerBlue8188]

The only change I would like to see is the discontinuing of every team having at least one representative. Back when there were 8 or 10 teams in each league it was doable without shafting anyone. Today, with 14 AL and 16 NL teams, it just clutters up the nonstarters with folks who were chosen to meet the quota over other players who were having indisputably better seasons.

I agree. People may argue though that every team deserves to have an all star. Well, for teams like the Royals, Pirates, Marlins, and Tampa (to name a few) maybe they should spend some money to get an all star. Granted some of these teams do have all star players but there have been some years I'm sure where the Marlins and Tampa really didn't have an all star calibur player.

[Lafferty Daniel]

I agree. People may argue though that every team deserves to have an all star. Well, for teams like the Royals, Pirates, Marlins, and Tampa (to name a few) maybe they should spend some money to get an all star. Granted some of these teams do have all star players but there have been some years I'm sure where the Marlins and Tampa really didn't have an all star calibur player.

Spending money to get an overpriced veteran doesn't make as much sense as it used to. Look what the Dodgers did during the offseason to get Andruw Jones. What a waste of money, and clubs like the Dodgers never seem to learn.

Tampa is a smart franchise that has had a legit all star the past few years, Carl Crawford. Now B.J. Upton can join him at the all star game and guys like Evan Longoria could be there soon as well.

I'm amazed at the arrogance and ignorance of some large market fans on this forum.

[Lafferty Daniel]

I couldn't agree more. I would you like to see people with the most knowledge vote for the all stars whether it be sport writers, coaches or players.

The sad thing is that most sport writers are clueless. They still think that wins are the most important pitching stat and tend to ignore sabermetrics when judging hitters. There are many baseball bloggers that could do a lot better.

[Mex4Prez]

I'm a Mets fan and I couldn't agree more. I want to see players who deserve to be there and not have to suffer the humility of seeing one of my players sub par stats displayed on the screen when he comes up to the plate in the first inning as the announcer humbly says them. To make matters worse is when websites such as Metsblog.com act as "cheerleaders" like they did last year urging people to stuff the ballot with the name of a declining catcher who was clearly not even top 5 in the league. I know many say that they should vote for the "player they want to see play" but cut me a break, you see your own guys 162 games of the year. Most players get a bonus now if they make the team, let the players who deserve it, earn the accolade.

[DodgerBlue8188]

Spending money to get an overpriced veteran doesn't make as much sense as it used to. Look what the Dodgers did during the offseason to get Andruw Jones. What a waste of money, and clubs like the Dodgers never seem to learn.

Tampa is a smart franchise that has had a legit all star the past few years, Carl Crawford. Now B.J. Upton can join him at the all star game and guys like Evan Longoria could be there soon as well.

I'm amazed at the arrogance and ignorance of some large market fans on this forum.

You're talking about one team. Granted I used that as an example but what about the Marlins. When were the last time the Marlins went out and grabbed a high profile fan? And even if we excuse Tampa Bay is it really smart business or just luck? Will they re-sign Upton to a high dollar contract when he demands one or just let him go? What about Pittsburgh? Who have they brought to Pitt that was a high dollar player.

The Marlins get rid of there star players as soon as they "grow up" and are ready. Cabrera, Beckett just to name a couple. If they were serious about winning they would have kept them but no. They got lucky and won a couple championships off young talent.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I guess the big problem is that people can vote as many times as they want. That is just dumb. I would like to see media people, players/managers, and fan all have a say. This would stop most of the really poor selections.

[cardsfanatic]

Yes, because Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers voting is always awesome. And let's not forget when the players vote on reserves and leave absolute studs out in the cold every single year and the final fan vote has to save them. Every year people toss out this same ol' crap and every year they claim the player vote would end all of the controversy. Never minding the fact that the past two years? Every controversy about the All-Star rosters was a PLAYER or MANAGER pick. When Nomar was left off the roster and had to rely on the fan vote, who snubbed him? The managers and players. Because he wasn't good enough to be the starter, the fans got that much right.

[tigers527]

I remember growing up, and first I just got wrapped up in the hometown Tigers when watching the All Star game. I played more baseball than watched as a youngster mainly because baseball was not on TV as much in the early-mid eighties.

I remember looking at the numbers going into the 1983 All Star game and asking my father, "Why's Reggie Jackson on the team this year?" (he was batting under the Mendoza line)

"Because the fans voted him in", my father responded.

I said, "Why would the fans do that, cause he sucks this year."

"I don't know, I guess cause he used to be really good and that's who the fans wanted to see." My father said.

Now, that made a lot of sense to me, would you want Cal Ripken not starting his final All Star game because his numbers are not good enough? The only thing that needs to be changed about the game is the 'This Time it Counts' BS.

Besides are you trying to tell me my singular 2008 ballot that featured only the following players: C Granderson, M Ordonez, and Ramon Santiago is not a valid batch of All Stars?

[Williamsburg2599]

I'm just waiting for a fan campaign to get someone outragous into the game. Fan voting will fall soon after. Worked for that NHL guy, right?

Eric Gagne for the 2008 All-star game!

[blacksilverfan12]

I'm a Mets fan and I couldn't agree more. I want to see players who deserve to be there and not have to suffer the humility of seeing one of my players sub par stats displayed on the screen when he comes up to the plate in the first inning as the announcer humbly says them.

I think the biggest contreversy was Mark Redman a couple years ago, when his ERA was 5 and a half or something like that. Didn't that start this whole thing?

[SamtheBravesFan]

I think the biggest contreversy was Mark Redman a couple years ago, when his ERA was 5 and a half or something like that. Didn't that start this whole thing?

I believe that Mark Redman is a casuality of the "need someone from every team" war and not the "fan voting" war.