In Praise of the All-Star Game

As we near the All-Star game, there is once again a lot of talk about the selection process. Did the right players get in? Are they the best? Who get left off?

As a Met fan, I am pleased to see three Mets starting the game and four actually going. So the question is, do Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran deserve to be starters. Does Billy Wagner deserve to be picked by the manager. Should every team have to be represented, have a least one player on the team.

I think, for the most part, the process works well. I heard, years ago, either a former baseball commissioner or player describe the importance of the fans picking the starting team. The individual explained that the game was never meant to pick the best players but rather the ones the fans most wanted to see. If a player is retiring and this is the last time to see him in an All-Star game, it could be a sentimental pick and not the best player for that position, but why should it have to be. Likewise, if a player is going to be a Hall of Famer yet his numbers for the year are not good, maybe the fans still want to see this individual play. This is the fans’ game after all.

As for every team being represented, I am in favor of that as well. Again, as a game for the fans, each and every fan should have something in which to look forward. Having suffered through years where the Mets were pitiful, it meant a lot to me to know at least one of my players would be on the team. Since there was not much in which to get excited about during the year, I could hope that maybe it would be a player from my team that would make the difference.

It is for this reason, and hers, I regret the All-Star game no means something, the winning team getting home field advantage during the World Series. The game should be the players the fans most want to see and if the game means nothing, other than bragging rights and a good time for all, it is fine if the best players are not in the game.
The other argument that is made is how big city players have an advantage over the smaller cities. Again, this is one of the advantages of making sure every team has a representative. Also, I have yet to see an All-Star game where all players have been from one team. I think the fans truly love seeing players from different teams work together. That is one of the advantages of the All-Star game.

Here’s looking forward to a great game this year.