The Major League Baseball 2010 All-Star game is a little less than a week away.  The starters and reserves were announced this past Sunday and as usual you have your question marks about how was elected and those same questions about who was not elected.  With that being said, let me tell you my top ten reasons why I’m not a big fan of the All-Star game format.

1. The fans vote for the starters: I’m all for the fans getting involved in the game and watching their favorite players play in what is supposed to be an exhibition game but if the game is supposed to count, and it does as it determines home field advantage in the World Series, than the fans can no longer be allowed to vote.  I’m not saying every choice the fans make is wrong, but there are always a couple of head scratches and this season is no example.  St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina was voted to start the game, at the start of play on Tuesday, Molina was batting a robust .229.  That would be the lowest average for an All-Star starter since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1993 and it’s not like he makes up for his lack of average with power, he has only three home runs and 32 RBIs as well.  Miguel Olivo of Colorado would’ve been a much better choice.

2. Players vote for reserves: This does sound like a good idea as players would have a much better idea of who deserves to go.  Problem is in an informal survey 50% of the players admitted to not filling out their own ballot, rather they handed the ballot to someone else (clubhouse attendant, etc) to fill out for them.

3. Managers making selections: We see this every season, and this year was no different.  Managers are going to take their own players.  Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel took his own player Ryan Howard over the Reds Joey Votto even though Votto is having a much better season this year and may be the National League MVP to date.  Yankees manager Joe Girardi did the same thing, taking Alex Rodriguez over Boston’s Kevin Youkilis.  It’s hard to blame the manager for these decisions.  They need their players to play for them in order the team to succeed.  Do you think Manuel or Girardi want Howard or ARod to be sulking the rest of the season and resent them for not selecting them to the game, of course not, and that’s why the selections should be made by the league presidents rather than the managers.

4. Result decides which league gets home field advantage in the World Series: This is an interesting idea.  One which would seem to make the game more competitive but there are a few problems.  Too many players that don’t deserve to be there for a variety of reasons are playing.  Do you think a player who is on a team that has no chance of making the playoffs (Baltimore, Pittsburgh) cares about home field advantage?  It’s not going to make a difference to them.  Why isn’t home field advantage awarded to the team that has the best record?  If you don’t like that idea how bout home field advantage to the league that has the best record in Inter-league play?

5. If this game is supposed to be for the fans, than why don’t the starters play longer than three innings? These are the players voted in.  Shouldn’t they be around longer than the first third of the game?  You could also make the argument they should play the last three innings so they are on the field when the game is decided.

6. Omar Infante is an All-Star: Are you kidding me?  Infante has 169 Abs for the Atlanta Braves so far this season.  Sure he is batting over .300, but he has one home run and 22 RBIs and three stolen bases.  He is not even a starter for his own team, but Commissioner Bud Selig in his infinite wisdom decided that each league needed to select a utility player.  Why was this necessary, 34 roster spots aren’t enough?  Should Infante really be able to put on his resume that he is a former All-Star?  Should Joey Votto really miss this game so Infante can play?  My guess is Infante is also pretty embarrassed to be taking a roster spot of several hundred more deserving players.

7. Every team must be represented: Once again a nice idea, but this is an All-Star game.  If your team doesn’t have anyone worthy of going to the game, than you shouldn’t have a representative.  Once again this game counts, can’t have some average player determining home field advantage with a weak AB in the 9^th inning.

8. Watching teams campaign for their players: I know you want your team to be represented and it’s probably good marketing, but watching some teams do everything but stuff the ballot box for their players is just an embarrassment to baseball.

9. All-Star bonuses: Why should players be rewarded for doing their job well?  These clauses in their contract that states they will receive an extra 50K or 100K on top of the millions they already receive just for getting selected to the game.  Must drive owners nuts when although the rosters are only 34 players, it will be closer to 40 by the time all the injured players have to be selected, not to mention pitchers picked to play in the game but can’t pitch because they will start for their team on the Sunday prior.  Those extra players are still All-Stars and will cash in on those bonuses as well.  Joe Girardi actually picked three players for one spot.  He chose CC Sabathia to make the team knowing CC can’t pitch because he is starting on Sunday, to replace him he chose Jered Weaver of the Angels who is also schedule to start on Sunday, so he will need to be replaced as well.

10. Players don’t really care about the game: We all hear about how many players, once they are taken out of the game, they shower get dressed and clear out of the stadium well before the final out.  Not like they are all that concerned about the outcome.

All of this being said, I will still watch the game.  I’m a Yankee fan so I will root for the American League to win, like I always have, but truth is I would just like to see a good game.  As for all of the above complaints, it seems most of them could be solved if MLB would just make up its mind, is this an exhibition game for the fans, or does it count?  MLB wants to bake their cake and eat it to, and they just can’t have it both ways.

Tags: All Star Game, Major League Baseball, MLB, Omar Infante