It's a sad but true fact that the most popular teams will put some undeserving representatives on the All Star team as long as the fans elect the starting lineup. I don't take the All Star Game seriously enough to be enraged by it, but I have to laugh at the fact that Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are dominating the votes at their positions. Youkilis is good, but not "almost twice as many votes as Justin Morneau" good. Jason Varitek, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz are all leading at their positions as well, though those aren't quite as laughable.
I'd like to blame ESPN and their endless hype of all things Boston, but there is a precedent for this type of thing. Back in 1957 the fans in Cincinnati stuffed the ballot box and got seven Reds starters elected to the All Star team. That's right, small-market Cincinnati. Commisioner Ford Frick actually had to void two of the selections in the interest of fairness. After all, I think we'd all agree that Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were better choices than Gus Bell and Wally Post. I have a feeling that these 2008 Red Sox are leading by bigger margins than those 1957 Reds were elected by, but I'll cut Boston some slack since they just won the World Series. When Boston fails to win the Series and still dominates the voting I'll shoot them and ESPN a few dirty looks.
Even though I'm a Cub fan I think it's ridiculous that Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot are among the top five vote-getters at their positions. You could argue that both are having pretty good years, but there are plenty of players at their positions doing just as well or better that aren't being recognized. Does it make any sense that Theriot has more votes than last year's MVP, who also happens to be doing better than him this year? How about DeRosa being ahead of Dan Uggla? The only reason so many Cubs are up there is because their team is in first place, they have a national following and it's the hundredth year since their last World Series title. I'm happy for my guys, but it just doesn't look right to see them there.
The biggest mystery to me though, concerns a team that doesn't seem to be getting any special amount of hype. The NL's leader at first base is Lance Berkman of the Astros. No surprise there, as he's having an outstanding year. The second-place vote-getter at shortstop is the Astros' Miguel Tejada. Again, no surprise there. In second place at second base is the Astros' Kaz Matsui. Now there's a head-scratcher. Matsui's never been a star, nor is he having a year that's anything special. Fourth place at third base is Ty Wigginton, also of the Astros. Huh? A guy with two homers and eight RBI? Fifth place at catcher...J.R. Towles? Don't be ashamed if you've never heard of him. He's a second-year catcher with four home runs, 13 RBI...and a .143 batting average. Ouch! The Astros' three outfielders (Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn) are all in the top fifteen. Astro fans are obviously doing a lot of voting this year. What's the deal? Do they have more fans than I realized or is there some sort of voting campaign going on?
There's still plenty of time for these rankings to change, but based on these initial showings it looks like we'll have the usual AL lineup dominated by Yankees and Red Sox and a somewhat more honest NL lineup. Like I said before, I don't take the All Star Game that seriously, but you notice some funny things when you watch the vote totals.
Just as important as the fact that the right players are never voted in is the fact that it's way too early in the season for All-Star voting to be taking place anyway. They should start it 3 weeks before the actual game and end it 5 days prior. There shouldn't be any names that have no business playing in the game on the ballot. Write in votes should be ignored. There should be a minimum amount of games played to qualify to be on the ballot.
In terms of Youkilis and Pedrioa. They are getting votes because they've had a phenomenal start, while many others have had bad starts. Ordonez, Morneau, all the yankees, have all gotten off to bad starts or worse starts than last year. While pedroia has 66 hits, 1 more than ichiro and ordonez. and youkilis is tied with morneau. People give more credit to players who they dont expect to play like superstars (see josh hamilton). it also helps that they are making amazing plays defensively and play on a team with one of the best records. I dont think they will be on it in the end. But if Youkilis goes on another hot streak he'll make it deservingly
Rampant - Thanks for stopping by, but I'm going to have to ask you not to post girlie pics or political cartoons. I'd like to keep this discussion focused on sports.
JCScheffres - I agree that there should be a shorter voting period. They just have to make sure that each team has an equal number of home games during that period.
Stevo - They used to do that back in the 60's as a response to the Reds fans voting in their entire lineup. Still, one advantage to the current system is that it generates fan interest.
PSM - Sorry, it's too late for me to pick a side. I love both teams too much to give up either one.
mbenz16 - I don't think Youkilis is completely undeserving of selection, but there's no way he should be running away with it like he is. Justin Morneau's numbers are just as good. Pedroia's OK, but I think there are other second basemen who are more deserving.
Dantes - Thanks for proving my point.
urrdebur - I don't take the All Star vote that seriously because it's such a blatant popularity contest. Still, it makes for some fun debates.
Pyro - Hamilton plays in Texas and Griffey's living off his past stardom. It's all about name recognition.
It is good to see that the Cubs actually care about winning these days and invest in the team. What an embarrassment back in the day when they would only field three good players at a time. If you wanted to party, hang out with friends or talk on your cell phone you went to a Cubs game; if you wanted to see great baseball and a team committed to winning you would walk through the #### and watch the White Sox. Is it just me or is everyone irritated that Konerko hasn't done a thing since signing his big contract?
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We'll talk sports then as it's nothing more than a popularity contest.
The majority of the players who are deemed worthy are already the big names. And many of 'em who've not produced will be still be heading there either way.
Is that what we really want from a ballot in the first place ? Or do we want players gaining a berth based on productivity ? It seems no one really has an answer for it at all !
18zebra - I wouldn't mind an Angels-Cubs World Series. I think my Cubs could beat 'em.
PSM - Konerko's had a pretty inconsistent career. While he's shown that he's capable of big things he's not the type of guy you can depend on for them year in and year out.
Ramp - I think that ideally the All Star Game would reflect who's having the best year. It may be just an exhibition game, but when many people look at All Star appearances as a measure of greatness and the winning team gets home field advantage in the World Series it should be taken a little more seriously.
PF - Ichiro will probably make it. Josh Hamilton still has a shot. More people need to be aware of the great year he's having.
Jose Lopez 297 batting average 25 Rbi's-------------------Pedroia 284 batting average 27 rbi's-------------- Lopez is having a better year then all the A.L second baseman and nobody votes for him come on. Jose Lopez is going to be a star and is only 24 years old. TELL ME WHY NOBODY VOTES FOR THE GUY HE IS SIMPLY BETTER.
They need to either let players and coaches vote, or stop letting the winner of the all-star game determine world series home field advantage. How will the NL ever have homefield advantage if players like DeRosa and Theriot are voted in? Allowing obsessed fans to determine such a huge factor in the world series seems wrong to me.
The reason I feel the way I do about the shorter voting period is that the all star ballot was available online AT LEAST a couple weeks ago. 35 games is not enough to judge who the best players are in one season. It needs to be pushed back into the middle of June or later. That's a big enough sample size to guage who the vote should be for.
Since you're a Chicago guy, how about Carlos Quentin? He along with Josh Hamilton should be slam dunks to start for the AL, but neither will be remotely close. Both will make it as backups though.
What's unfair about the all star voting is that it is a total popularity contest and large market teams have a huge advantage for their home team players. If a team draws 40 to 50 thousand a game their fans can stuff the ballot boxes. The fans should not be doing the voting period. It's a complete joke and not fair to the player in the small market having a huge year. When a player retires, they will say he's a 5 time all star, it sounds good, but if the voting isn't fair he may not get this recognition. The equally fair to every player.
JC - When the Sox acquired Quentin I hardly thought anything of it. If you'd told me he'd be leading the league in homers after almost two months I wouldn't have believed you. For all his critics, Kenny Williams has proven his worth over and over again.
wanna know what is wrong with all star voting. THE every team gets a player in the game WHY WOULD ANYONE VOTE FOR A PITTSBURGH PIRATE. almost 20 years without going 500% I live in pittsburgh and don't want to see a pirate in the all star game becouse it diminishes the all star game. It diminshes taking a good dump as well.
In ALL SPORTS All-Star voting is utterly reiculous!
It's mostly a popularity vote and some undeserving players always make the team! They All Star games should be a reward for the players who performed the best for that particular season! Stats and stats only should be the determining factor for an All-star team! Take a players' individual stats, rank them amongst the players of the same position( a required amount of games must be played)! the players with the highest cumulative rank at their position are All-Stars!
AL SECOND BASEMEN
DUSTIN PEDRIOA: 66hits, 3hr, .284ba, .325obp
JOSE LOPEZ: 63hits, 2hr, .297ba, .308obp
HILL: 52hits, 2hr, .257ba, .314obp
ROBERTS: 53hits, 3hr, .271ba, .357obp
CANO: 42hits, 4hr, .219ba, .271obp
URIBE: 23hits, 3hr, .198ba, .262obp
POLANCO: 52hits, 2hr, .292ba, .357obp
Ian Kinsler has by far the best numbers, but Pedrioas are good, and sometimes its not a race about the numbers but who is more well known or liked, or who is on a contending team
Enjoyed reading your blog.....I see how it's not fair for players from small market teams compared to bigger markets, but at the same time it's alot of fun for us fans to vote. I just voted, and of course I voted for 3 Twins! Win Twins!
Last edited by bradjohnsonstinks on May 30th at 12:16 AM.
In response to "Seattle Mariners" comment. How can you not look at Ian Kinsler for second baseman. He's batting .294 with 32 RBI's, 15 SB, and leading the AL in runs scored with 45.
With that said, I wasn't expecting Kinsler to get named, I was just making a point that anyone can make a case for a player being named to the all-star game. All of it ends up being a popularity contest unless you are having an amazing year. Kind of like Josh Hamilton. But o wait he is sixth in outfield voting. Go figure. Every All-star game in every sport is like this. Look at the pro-bowl in the NFL. It just sucks that the people that deserve it don't get what they've earned.
So holding the record for the longest errorless streak (and still going) at first base isn't worthy of Kevin Youkilis leading in the All Star voting? Interesting. Sounds pretty worthy to me!
Finnn - Sorry, but stats don't always tell the whole story. Right now Matsuzaka has an 8-0 record but it's not at all a testament to how well he's pitched (and I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan saying this). He looks good on paper, but walks a ton of batters and has gotten lucky.
Then there's A-Rod. No arguing that he's good, but his stats also don't tell the whole story. He often pads his stats when they're up or down by 10 when it doesn't really matter. (and before anyone gets all excited, I'm not saying this is always the case. But it happens a lot)
Why allow more than one vote per person. If I was the commisioner the rule would be. For every ticket purchased to a game you get one vote and one vote for each e-mail address.
If it's a game for the fans, then I guess it's right to include players picked by fans. I'm sure O's fans would rather see Brian Roberts than Robinson Cano or Dustin Pedroia, but his season isn't above and beyond better than those two to the point that a guy in Milwaukee would be compelled to vote for him.
Great blog.... other then the Ryan Theriot comment. I am also a huge Cubs fan and think that Derosa is getting a little more then he deserves. But Theriot is the sparkplug for the Cubs. He has the best average on the team, always seems to get a hit when needed, leads the team in steals and is a solid shortstop. Hes not a power hitter at all but he sprays the ball around the park as good as anyone. He deserves and has earned everything he has ever got. I hope he makes the All Star team.
fieryone- A couple of things... In an All Star game do you honestly think the fans care if he has an errorless streak that is longer then anybody elses (not saying its not impressive, its very amazing actually) but nobody goes to an All Star game to see if some guy is going to make an error. And second, A-Rod pads his stats? Let me tell you something man I played D-1 ball and still play on an Adult wooden bat league. And let me tell you, you can't just go out there against somebody throwing 95 and say hmm I think I'm going to pad my stats here... maybe I'll just send this 88 mph slider out to center. You earn everything you get, there is no such things as padding your stats in a baseball game. Nothing is easy.
I'm a fan of all Chicago sports teams (including both the Cubs and White Sox). When one of my teams isn't playing I'm a big proponent of rooting for the underdog. I'm currently an inactive NBA fan and will remain so until David Stern is out as commissioner. I spend more time thinking about sports than I probably should, so I decided I needed a blog where I could share those thoughts with the world.
