.312 batting average, nine home runs, 41 RBI, 60 runs, 9 stolen bases.
.332 batting average, 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 79 runs, 23 stolen bases.
One of those players is starting in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game being played next week at Yankee Stadium. One is going to play, just not start. Not to say that both don't deserve to be there, they do, but one clearly deserves the honor of starting the game, and one clearly deserves to be his backup.
The first line of stats belongs to Boston Red Sox's second baseman Dustin Pedroia. The other belongs to the Texas Rangers' Ian Kinsler. Anyone who follows baseball on a statistical, fantasy-owner level could easily figure out which stat line belongs to which player. And those same stat-crazy diehards would, nine times out of 10, vote for the correct player (in this case, Kinsler).
The problem lies in the fact that the most deserving player rarely starts in these games, and sometimes doesn't even get a selection at all. Fan and player voting, the suggestion of the ever omniscient Bud Selig, has created a system which rewards players more on notoriety than effort and output.
Pedroia deserves to be at the game, but not to start it. The same can be said for multiple players for both the American and National League squads.
By many experts' accounts, this year's selections have shed light onto the corrupted system that the MLB currently uses to bestow the honor of All-Star upon its players. Players being chosen to play in the All-Star Game based on past performance is not a new trend, but players starting and getting the majority of votes from fair-weather fans is killing the chances of small-market players to get the spotlight that they deserve.
A long list of non-deserving stars are on teams for both leagues. Strong cases could be made against Alfonso Soriano, Brian Wilson, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz (who won't be able to participate, but won the DH vote for the AL team), and Joe Crede.
The fact that Jason Varitek is on an All-Star team is a travesty. It's a slap in the face of the players that populate America's pastime.
The fact is that players hold grudges and fans are biased. Players are jealous and fans see names, not stats. Players take voting personal and fans vote-in players from their team that are undeserving. Both players and fans vote, in some cases, just to block out a rival team's player.
At times this system seems less like one that belongs to a prestigious brand of sport and more like one that a person could find occurring in a high school's prom-court vote.
This article is in no way a reaction to my favorite team getting the minimum player representative (one). I would be the first one to admit that the Mets don't deserve an All-Star if that player didn't earn the right to be there.
I was informed that an All-Star didn't imply that a player was fortunate enough to be on a good team, where average (or in Varitek's case, far, far below average) output combined with a winning environment to equal an All-Star berth.
All-Star implies that a player is the best of the best. Not over the past few seasons. Not when games were being played in October or November. Not in spring training or the offseason. But instead, the first three months of the 2008 season.
So, Mr. Selig, as is the case with everything in need of change in your league, the All-Star voting process is way behind the times. If you want fans to be involved, keep the "last spot on the team" voting.
But to have players who use personal vendettas as criteria and fans that use, well, who use God-knows-what as criteria is robbing deserving athletes of what is supposed to be an honor.
Anyone with any real knowledge of the process doesn’t hold All-Star appearances in any kind of high regard, and until the process is fixed, it won't be, either.
9 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Brett Kettyle about 1 year ago
Great Post. I hate allstar voting because it is simply a popularity contest. Even worse than Pedroia starting was the fact the Ken Griffey Jr. nearly started for the NL (he finished 4th in the voting, while hitting .240). The most deserving players already don't go because of the rule that 1 player per team must go (Yes, Christian Guzman is having a good year, but Hanley, J-Roll and The Riot have all been better). I'm not a big fan of the BCS or computer/ statistical rankings in sports, but maybe that is what the all-star game needs. Something that is unbiased and looks at player stats to see who plays. Not letting fans make it a popularity contest, and biased players and managers simply can pick their favorites (I'm guessing Francona had something to do with Tek being there). Lets not even look at the fact that Tek isn't having a good season, a lot of people who play that badly would be at risk of losing their starting job. A system that could weigh players stats might not be great, but it couldn't be anything but better than the current way of selecting all-stars. Maybe leave a couple of votes for players and fans, but until they show they know what they are doing, let the numbers decide, because, as the MLB likes to point out, "This One Counts." Great Article, I couldn't agree with you more.
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Kenny Stein about 1 year ago
The most ridiculous part of it is that not only is it the worst system for picking all-stars, but the all-star game actually MEANS something. Look at how important home field has been for teams like Tampa Bay and Chicago Cubs this year. Imagine if those two met in the world series, but TB had the home field advantage because of the popularity contest of the all-star game.
Its crap.
Let the players, coaches, GMs decide and you can't vote for someone on your own team. The coaches and GMs will be most concerned with putting the best 9 out there so that their league can get home field in the World Series. 7 Red Sox is an absolute joke. Especially when compared to 2 Devil Rays. Maybe the Rays are more of a "team" but you could put Longoria over Varitek and Pedroia and Ortiz.
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Alex McVeigh about 1 year ago
You say, "The fact that Jason Varitek is on an All-Star team is a travesty. It's a slap in the face of the players that populate America's pastime."
Hate to break it to you, but it is those very same players that voted Varitek in, not the fans.
There is more to baseball than hitting, and a good defensive catcher is invaluable, which is why Varitek continues to start.
Pitchers like and respect him, and obviously players wanted him there.
I wouldn't have ever chosen him, but the fact is, he's in, because of the vots from professional baseball players. Whether or not you respect than fan's vote, I'm pretty sure the players know what they're talking about.
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brendan flanagan about 1 year ago
I am aware of how the voting system works for the team. Half my article is dedicated to the voting of players being half the problem.
I don't disagree with you in that a defensive catcher is invaluable, but 1- not in the All-Star game where offense does outweight defense, and 2- Varitek isn't that elite when it comes to defense. There are plenty of catchers who are much better than he is behind the dish. His own pitchers like him, but that means nothing in an All-Star game. I stick by my stance that him being on the team is an utter disaster and should disgust any un-biased baseball fan.
The best solution would have managers, gm's and sports writers pick the team. That way the uninformed fanbase and catty players can't screw everything up.
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Alex McVeigh about 1 year ago
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the All-Star game supposed to be fun for the players and the fans?
Maybe that's why they are the two groups who have a say in it. I'm sure the GMs and sportswriters could give less of a crap about it (at least according to the many columns that will say as much on 7/16).
Given that the All-Star game does in fact mean something, home field for the World Series, wouldn't it operate on the same rules as a normal game? Where a combination of offense and defense is going to get you the win.
I don't think Varitek should be on the team, but disgust is a pretty strong word. I'm sure he won't bat at all.
With so many spots to go around, there will always be room for second guessing, but its the way we've got.
How is it screwing everything up when the majority of people get what they want?
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brendan flanagan about 1 year ago
If Varitek isn't going to bat, than why have him on the team? This is an important game, and I agree with Joe's sentiment that that is the root at the problem with this whole system. But when you're entire roster is stacked with players who are nearly the best collection of hitters (and thats what they are, because defense does not really factor into the decision without a bat to go along with it) the league can offer, than defense is less of an issue than an explosive offense.
The main idea behind all sports is fun, but be honest with yourself. There are very few players who play this game for pure pleasure. The majority of people (fans) don't get what they want because most fans want their team to get the most roster spots. To say a GM would care less about who they pick onto a team is laughable, they are as invested, if not more, in a team than any single player. And sports writers would lose all integrity and credibility if they just played homer and voted players that were undeserving of a spot.
It is hard to find a reasoning that leads one to believe that the current system is not flawed and in need of a complete facelift, or it is in my humble opinion.
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Alex McVeigh about 1 year ago
"If Varitek isn't going to bat, why have him on the team?"
Same reason Omar Vizquel enjoyed a long, moderately successful career: defense is important. Name one catcher who is better behind the plate than Varitek. His arm isn't the best, but he knows pitchers.
What's your solution to the All-Star problem?
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brendan flanagan about 1 year ago
Yadier Molina is better. Brian Schneider is better. Cases could be made for Joe Mauer, Russell Martin, Pudge, and some others.
His being able to handle a pitching staff well doesn't translate to an All-Star game where he is only going to be in there for an inning or two, and when he most likely won't be handling one of his own pitchers.
Yes defense is necessary to win this game, but his defense not setting him aside, and his ability to handle his own pitching staff not really meaning anything, his bat is what should set him apart as an all star. They don't need a 'captain' to be on the team to lead these guys. Most of them are veterans.
I already said my solution. Mangers, GM's and sports writers do the voting.
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
The problem with the All-Star game is that it changes the World Series. MLB needs to fix that, not fan voting. Every sport has fan voting.
This is the All-STAR game, not the All-Actually Good Players game. To be a STAR, you must have the fans support, it doesn't matter how good you are, if you are last in jersey sales, you aren't a star.
I hate people venting about how they shouldn't let the fans vote because the game effects home field advantage while completely ignoring that the problem with the All-Star game is that it effects home field advantage in the World Series.
If the Rays make it to the World Series and win because of home field advantage, they may have won because of other people earning it for them, whereas my Cubbies may lose because the NL isn't as good as the AL when it comes to stars.
Fix the real problem, don't try to hurt the fans in the process.
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