MLB: “All-Star Voting”

Well the early voting for the All-Star game is in and all I can really say is “so what?”

Let’s get one thing straight here, the All-Star game is a popularity contest and nothing more. That’s all it is. And it’s a popularity contest amongst people who barely follow the game.

How can I know this? Well, there are a couple ways.

First, look at last year’s voting and this year’s voting. Which team leads the voting? The team who went to the World Series. Gee could that be because more people watch the World Series and those are the only players they remember.

Secondly, these players that are at the top of the list are all very good players but not all of them are doing very well this year. And shoudn’t they be?

Look at third base, A-Rod leads the voting in the American League but he’s been hurt for most of the season. Even when he has played he’s hitting under .300. How is that All-Star worthy. For this year? Sure, I get it. He’e the best 3rd baseman in the MLB but he hasn’t played enoug this year.

Further proof can be gotten by looking right beside A-Rod. The Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter leads the voting at his position and he’s batting just .282 with only two homers so far this season. Again, I get it. And I love Jeter, I really do. He’s class act and he’s been the heart and soul of the Yankees for many, many years. But does he deserve to be leading the voting this year.

My final piece of proof really gets me fired up. Gary Sheffield, yes that Gary Sheffield who still isn’t hitting his weight and who has almost single-handedly ruined about 20 innings for the Tigers, is in the top 5 of the voting for DH.

Do we need more proof about how insane the voting is? Do we need anymore proof about how insane the voters are? They recognize the name “Sheffield” so they click on it. They don’t bother to make sure he’s actually hitting the ball this year. Because if they did, he wouldn’t even get one vote for this year’s All-Star game.