The MLB All-Star Game Is Flawed

A voting update was released today for the National League leading vote-getters for the All-Star game. The results just reinforce the many reasons why the All-Star game is flawed:

1. Fan voting: letting the fans vote ensures that the best player will not always make it. With people using All-Star games as a tie-breaker or measure in evaluating Hall of Fame credentials, it's important that the right people make it. Huge fan bases (Milwaukee, Japan for Japanese players, New York, Chicago, etc.) can always ensure that their players are voted in, taking the spots of more deserving people. Here are examples from this year so far:

Third Base: David Wright is deserving, but is he really more deserving to start than Ryan Zimmerman? The stats don't lie and the answer is a clear no.

Tm	Player	BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
Was	Ryan Zimmerman	.346	11	35	1.003	0
Nym	David Wright	.348	3	30	.969	10

Shortstop: JJ Hardy is currently in the lead. Seriously? Hanley Ramirez is way more deserving.

Tm	Player	BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
Fla	Hanley Ramirez	.317	8	22	.951	8
Mil	JJ Hardy	.234	5	23	.718	0

Outfield: Raul Ibanez has been by far the best player in the NL and he's in sixth place trailing Mike Cameron and even Manny Ramirez.

Tm	Player	BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
Phi	Raul Ibanez	.345	17	43	1.135	4
Chc	Alfonso Soriano	.253	12	25	.829	4

2. What the game means... Ever since the 2002 tie debacle, Selig has tried to save face by making this game "mean something." He took it too far by making the winner of the All-Star games' league get home field advantage during the World Series. This has meant since 2003 that the American League has had home field advantage in every World Series since they have won it every year since.

3. The number of players... If the game is going to mean something, add three or four more players to the game. Obviously, the game is going to be close. Last year proved that running out of players is a realistic occurrence. The game would be even more embarrassing if Kevin Youkilis would have to pitch for a game that determines home field advantage in the World Series. It doesn't matter if all players play (there's been many times when it hasn't happened) if it means the game is secure with enough players.

4. One player per team rule... It needs to be revoked. Pirates fans are not more likely to watch the game because Nate McLouth bats once. It should be the best players in the league for both leagues. This would make the All-Star game more entertaining and truly a game of the best players in the MLB. Players should be determined by managers choice or some sort of objective stats comparison.