MLB: Solving the Problem of the All-Star Game's Missing Players

The 2011 MLB All-Star Game is tonight, and if you are anything like me then you are pretty excited. However, there has been a growing problem in years past dealing with players not showing up.

I'm not writing this to point out all the flaws with the selection process and whether the game should count for World Series home field advantage; that is for a different time. This is simply to try and get the players who the fans and managers voted in to play the game. 

Derek Jeter is one of the main ones this year who is taking the game off due to emotional and physical fatigue. Give me a break. If I was voted on an all-star team by the fans who come out and support me and my team everyday, I would do everything in my power to go put on a show for three and a half hours.

Now here is my solution to this problem. At the beginning of the year, all players designate a favorite charity. Then you cut the roster down a bit on the All-Star team, as there are way too many players right now. Next, the MLB and its partners donate about $100,000 to each player on the roster's designated charity. 

By taking the charity route, it would be hard for someone who is in the spotlight as much as Jeter, to simply say he was too tired when $100,000 is on the line. Could you imagine the backlash if players were to turn the game down when money to charities were on the line?

I know that with some of the player's salaries that they could just say oh well I'll just donate that, but instead all it would take is the MLB saying we'll give your charity $100,000 if you play, and you can match that.