Ian Kinsler Wont Be an All-Star

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

As an avid Boston Red Sox fan, I should be happy that Dustin Pedroia is the starting AL Second Baseman.

But, after learning that Ian Kinsler fell short of Brandon Inge for the final all-star vote, the whole all-star thing about fan vote and snubs has really started to bother me.

Regardless of what you think the All-Star game is, whether it's a classic game between the league's best players, or just an exhibition between the most popular players, you would hope that with a player who is clearly the best player at his position would be there somehow.

As a Sox fan, I don't take much pride in the amount of All-Stars we have.

Look, Kinsler, who is a five-tool talent who plays with awesome defensive prowess, is the AL's answer to Chase Utley.

I know Pedroia is the reigning MVP. I know he's a gold glover.

But if you asked me who's the best second-baseman in the majors, I would say Kinsler.

And, that's what really gets me about the fan vote. Every year, you're gonna have players on the cusp. Guys that could or could not be there and both would make sense.

But you hope the top three players at a position would be represented.

I'm not totally against the fans having a say. I mean, there the ones playing to watch the exhibition.

However, letting fans have control over the starting lineups has obviously made the All-Star game more akin to a Junior High school election than a game between the league's best players.

Not just with Kinsler, every year we see some definitive All-Star not make it.

I want Major League Baseball to do it like the Pro Bowl.

One-third fans, One-third coaches, one-third players. That way we can ensure that sure fire all-stars will play in the mid-summer classic.

If the MLB wants to make the All-Star game mean something, they should make sure the best players are there.

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