All-Star Game belongs to the fans
Posted: Monday July 06, 1998 07:32 PM
DENVER (CNN/SI) - That noise you hear is the annual howl of anguish
that this player or that player was unjustly left off the American or
National League All-Star squad. Every year, it's the same argument:
The fans vote a player to the starting lineup who supposedly doesn't
deserve to be on the team. Then the managers (who must make sure each team
has at least one representative) omit somebody with glittering stats when
choosing the pitchers and reserves. Only the names change. This
year critics have lumped Cal Ripken (.258,
7 HRs, 36 RBIs), Roberto
Alomar (.291, 8, 31) and Kenny Lofton
(.282, 7, 41) among the "unworthy." The "wronged" include Kerry Wood (8-3,
3.38 ERA, 139 strikeouts), Hideki Irabu
(2.93 ERA, best in AL), David Cone (12-2,
best record in AL) and Brian Jordan
(.339, best in NL). But I think the question you have to ask is:
What's the definition of an All-Star? Is it someone with shiny
first-half numbers? Or someone who plays well with a great deal of
consistency over a period of time? To me, it's the latter.
Ripken's .258 average ranks seventh among AL third baseman, but he will make his 16th All-Star appearance (Jamie Squire/Allsport) | |
Don't get me wrong. Brian Jordan has had a remarkable season. After last
year, when he was on the DL three times and hit just .234, I don't think
anyone would have predicted this. But it's just three months. If he keeps
it up and plays well again next year, he'll get another chance.
Same thing with young Kerry Wood. Just 21, and he's already tied the major
league record for strikeouts in a game (20). I think he's going to be a
great pitcher. And if I'm right, he'll be on plenty of All-Star teams in
years to come. On the other side of the coin, Cal Ripken is
definitely an All-Star. Yes, his numbers are down this season, but he's
proven himself one of baseball's stellar performers over the past 15 years.
The fans want him on the team, and there's no doubt he belongs.
Perhaps expanding the rosters would eliminate some of the moaning and
groaning, but probably not. Whether there are 30 or 35 or 50, somebody is
always going to feel left out. As long as the human element is involved -
whether it's the fans, players or managers - you're going to have
arguments. Maybe the fairest selection process would be a rating
system based on strict statistical formulas. But what numbers do you use?
What formulas? There's a whole other can of worms. Ultimately, the
All-Star Game belongs to the fans. It's their game, it gives them a chance
to be involved, and I think it would be disastrous to take it away from
them. You're never going avoid controversy with the All-Star teams. But,
hey, that's part of the fun.
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