Hey, Bud Selig, MLB All-Star Game Voting Drives Me Crazy! The Pitchers - Part 1

One of my biggest frustrations with Major League Baseball is its decision to allow fans to vote for the All-Star Game position playing starters.

Why do fans get to pick the same position players year-after-year leaving more deserving players off the team?  Large market and huge fan-base teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Cubs will always have big number vote-getters and fan favorites on All-Star teams, it's just the nature of the beast and the result of ignorant voting.

Imagine if you will, little 9-year old Johnny sitting at the computer to place his All-Star votes for the first time.  As he scrolls down and reads each position and its nominees, he simply chooses the name he recognizes - the old veteran, the fan favorite, the Barry Bonds who is still on the ballot but hasn't swung the bat once this year.  Sad part is, the ballots have only the Opening Day rosters!  One player, per team, per position even if he played on Opening day in April and he hasn't seen the light of the field since!  Little Johnny pats himself on the back thinking he's done a great deed for his favorite player.  Dad says, "well done" and goes back to his paper while Johnny, reeling from Dad's compliment is overjoyed when he hears the starting lineups for the 2008 All-Star and realizes that every player he and every other uninformed voter voted for made the All-Star team...again.  Yippee! 

The position player debate will be coming in the next few days.  I just needed to rant for a minute.  For today, let's focus on the pitchers.  How come we, as fans, can't vote for pitchers?  Is it because the media and MLB officials think that fans can't objectively pick the best pitchers to make the All-Star squads?  They're damn right, we can't!  Can you imagine what this year's pitching rosters would look like if fans go to vote?  Here are my projected "fan" picks (top 3):

American

1. Josh Beckett (BOS) - 6-4, 4.22 ERA
2. CC Sabathia (CLE) - 4-8, 4.34 ERA
3. Justin Verlander (DET) - 3-9, 4.65 ERA

National

1. Jake Peavy (SD) - 5-3, 2.64 ERA
2. Eric Gagne (MIL) 1-2, 6.98 ERA, 10 Saves (out of 15 opportunities)
3. Barry Zito (SF) - 2-10, 5.88 ERA

Did I forget about anyone? 

Now answer me this: do those look like All-Star numbers?  No way!  Granted, each of these six guys have been amazing pitchers in the past, but not this year.  Not to deny the All-Star potential of each pitcher, but they are NOT All-Stars, at this point in the season, thus making them worthy of making the team.  They are big names, and unfortunately, fans vote based on name recognition and team affiliation.  There are better pitchers in baseball today, June 14, 2008.  Any of the following guys, in my opinion, would be worthy of a starting spot on the mound in this year's All-Star game and should be locks for the All-Star team:

American

1. Cliff Lee (CLE) - 10-1, 2.52 ERA, only 14 walks in 12 starts
2. Joe Saunders (LAA) - 9-3, 3.32 ERA
3. Ervin Santana (LAA) - 8-2, 3.01 ERA
4. Mike Mussina (NYY) - 9-4, 3.38 ERA, only 11 walks in 14 starts
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) - 8-0, 2.53 ERA in 11 starts

National

1. Brandon Webb (AZ) - 11-2, 2.73 ERA
2. Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 9-2, 1.56 ERA
3. Ryan Dempster (CHC) - 8-2, 2.81 ERA
4. Carlos Zambrano (CHC) - 8-2, 2.98 ERA
5. (tie) Tim Lincecum (SF) - 8-1, 1.99 ERA or Aaron Cook (COL) - 9-3, 3.21 ERA

Did I forget about anyone here?

I'm certainly glad that players get to vote for pitchers and one back-up at each position.  I honestly don't think fans should be able to vote at all.  Being selected an All-Star is a huge deal and it should be done objectively.  Do fans get a Hall of Fame vote?  No.  Do I think Ron Santo should be in the Hall of Fame?  Absolutely, but unfortunately, I don't get a say as long as there are people out there who can make better, more objective decisions than I can being a biased Cubs fan.

The position player debate is for my next article.  I may just burst a blood vessel while writing so stay tuned.