Getting it right

All-Star voting changes are about as good as it gets

We just can't win with baseball's All-Star Game. No matter what we do, no matter how we do it, no matter who finally gets selected, elected or rejected, someone always ends up on the short end. Left out. Ripped off.

If it's not the fans screwing up, it's the players. If it's not Bud Selig, it's the managers.

You know what? Enough already. Quit the complaining. Stop the whining.

Repeat after me.

The All-Star Game is an exhibition. A mid-summer fling. A break. Some time off.

It's an ex-hi-bi-shun.

It's great that Lou Piniella followed through on his promise to dye his hair if the Devil Rays won three in a row (though it does seem sort of college-like). But, goodness, we haven't seen a hair-do that bad since Randy Johnson had his full-fledged mullet. You can't swing a bat in the Arizona clubhouse without hitting a young guy who's contributing. Second baseman/utility man Matt Kata has helped the Diamondbacks get back into the NL West race by batting .366 since his call-up, .424 in the last week. Manager Bob Brenly may have to make some room on his bench after Junior Spivey and Craig Counsell return for the 25-year-old Kata. "I definitely voted for myself because of the adversity I had to go through to get back to this level." -- White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, who did not make the All-Star team (though he's in the running for the final spot)

OK, so Major League Baseball is trying to make it more than that this year, giving the winner of the game home field advantage in the World Series. This Time, blah blah blah, It Counts and all that.

But no matter how baseball officials try to dress this thing up, no matter what ridiculously fake importance they put on it, the game is still a showcase. A for-play game. It always has been that. It always should be that.

So why does everyone get all twisted up when someone deserving gets left off the All-Star teams? Someone deserving always gets left off. It's practically a tradition.

There are a couple of names that have popped up as the cause jocké of this year's game. Sensational rookie pitcher Dontrelle Willis. Old gun Roger Clemens. Home run hitter Sammy Sosa. Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.

And, of course, there is the accusing list of Those Who May Not Belong. Pittsburgh reliever Mike Williams and Tampa Bay reliever Lance Carter are not even close to being the best players on their respectively lousy teams. But they'll be in Chicago because their teams needed a representative, and the pitching staff is the only place managers could put them. Can't have Rocco Baldelli warming up in the bullpen.

The truth is, baseball came as close to getting it right this year as anyone can possibly expect. For years, from the mid-1930s to mid-'40s, managers alone selected the team. And then, again, from 1958-'69, managers and players did the choosing. Fans had no say in the process. That's no good.

This year, fans voted for the starters, casting more than 60 million votes. Players and managers chose reserves. Then the two managers, Anaheim's Mike Scioscia and the Cubs' Dusty Baker, selected a few more (Scioscia had five extras, Baker had seven). The fans get to vote in one more to round out the 32-man rosters.

That's the fairest system the game has ever had. How can you complain with a selection process that includes pretty much everybody? Especially one that gives fans the right to vote for the starters.

Yeah, sure, the process can be cleaned up a little. An All-Star on every team? Someone always wants to do away with that little perk. It would open up a couple of spots, for sure. That's a possibility.

And with so many good hitters available and so little chance for playing time at the All-Star Game, the selection of a designated hitter in the American League needs to be examined. There are only a handful of guys who can be considered full-time DHs anyway. Players and managers are supposed to pick a back-up DH, too. Maybe give the DH spot, and the backup, to the players or the managers to use as they will.

But that's all nitpicking. This is about as good as it gets. This is about as good as it ever will get.

Between the fans and the people in the game who voted, they got just about every call right. Jose Vidro is going, along with fan choice Marcus Giles. Mike Lowell will be in Chicago, along with Scott Rolen. Vernon Wells and Melvin Mora both made it, along with Ichiro and Hideki Matsui. Hank Blalock is there with Troy Glaus. (Sorry, Corey Koskie fans.)

Sure, it would have been great to see Willis at the game -- and the thinking here is that he'll make it as a replacement when someone, maybe L.A.'s Kevin Brown, drops out with an injury -- but the players and managers who voted for the reserves didn't see fit to squeeze him in. Nor did manager Baker, though by the time it got to him, he had to use six of his seven picks to grab players from teams who weren't represented. His hands were tied.

It would have been great to see Martinez and Clemens and Sosa, too. But, again, they didn't finish high enough with the fans (in the case of Sosa) or the players and managers (in the case of the pitchers).

The All-Star Game may not mean what it used to mean. It may not be what Major League Baseball is cracking it up to be. It almost certainly won't be.

But, as far as the composition of the teams, it's about as good as it can get. And that's fine.

After all, it is just an exhibition.

 • It's weird, isn't it, that the trade that so many Indians' fans hated a couple of years ago -- the one that sent Roberto Alomar to the Mets -- could haunt them again now that Alomar is back in the AL Central with the White Sox.

 •  Shawn Green's terrible season with the Dodgers hit its low point when he declined to dive -- or even think about diving -- for the single that broke up Odalis Perez's no-hitter the other night.

 •  Heard Bernie Williams' new CD the other day. Nice. Very nice. But asking a sports scribe to review a CD, especially a classy one like this, is like asking your mechanic to do a little bit of brain surgery. You don't want to go there.

 •  How come, when guys like David Wells and Miguel Tejada get upset and throw their equipment into the stands, they don't make a trip into the cheap seats to do it, where it would really be appreciated? Just once.

 •  Hooray for the Marlins and their decision to keep Mike Lowell, not trade him. Are the Marlins really going to become a player down there?

Wherein we pick the best of the e-mail litter from our savvy, and even some of our not-so savvy, readers. Questions, comments or obviously unfounded criticism for a future E-Bag? Click here. Remember, names and hometowns are always appreciated.

This week, lots of comments about my suggested All-Stars (the nerve of me!), first-half-oddities, Blue Jays and RBIs and some other odds and ends …

You hate the Braves with a passion. Don't be a hater. Just because your idiotic choices of who "should" be in the All-Star Game … are off base to the point of ridiculous, you should just wake up and smell the coffee. It is the All-Star Game … not the All-Almost Stars Game. It is who the fans want to see that's important, not who you "professional analysts" would like to see. The fans are the ones that count, not you! One other thing. How dare you say that a player shouldn't be in the All-Star Game because they are having one lousy month. If that player is the best at his position or he is the most popular at his position, then that should be what counts. Get a grip there, John! -- Matt James, Tucson, Ariz.

I don't mean to be flip, Matt, but come on. You say I hate the Braves. Someone else says I hate the Yankees. Then the folks in Canada tell me I hate Canada, and the Mariners fans bleat about an East Coast bias. Enough already. I will say this. You're right. It's a fans' game. Let them vote. But if this thing is just a popularity contest, then why discuss it at all?

Sir, you don't think the Giants are a worthy first-half surprise? Leading the NL West after losing Dusty Baker, Jeff Kent, David Bell and Robb Nen? A new manager, center fielder, right fielder, second baseman and third baseman combined with a 38-year-old behind the plate plus a new closer! I didn't think this would happen and I'm a fan. -- John Novak, Burlingame, Calif.

The Giants are a surprise to me. Big-time. You have to give the credit to Felipe Alou for pulling it all together so quickly. From the start, really. And quit calling me sir.

How exactly could you have an article about so-called great RBI men and not even mention on-base percentage once? With the rate that the Jays get people on-base IN FRONT of Delgado and Wells, you could place just about any slugger (or even many non-sluggers) in their spots in the lineup and you'd see big RBI totals. Wells and Delgado are great players, but not because of their RBI totals -- those are almost entirely dependent on their teammates. Think Delgado would have around 100 RBIs if he hit fourth for the Tigers? -- Alex Ciepley

Alex, in my article on the great RBI tandem of Wells and Delgado, I did mention the guys in front of Wells and Delgado. And I did mention, as did GM J.P. Ricciardi, that the guys in front of those two are doing the job. They have to be doing it, as you say, or Wells and Delgado wouldn't be putting up the numbers they are putting up. And the answer to your last question is no.

In your article you mentioned Josh Phelps and Greg Myers split time behind the plate. Phelps has been predominantly a DH, while Tom Wilson has hit .315 in 56 games at catcher. Together, Myers and Wilson are providing the most offence at the catching position than any other team in the league! -- Bill Cooney

I knew that. My fingers betrayed me. Thanks, Bill, and the many others who pointed this out. E, me.

I just read your article and can tell you it's pretty exciting being a Toronto fan right now (I'm actually a Montreal fan, born and raised there, but living in the Toronto area). It almost seems unfair to the opposition when you watch the Toronto offense go to work. Good thing we've got a mediocre pitching staff to keep us humble! -- Kevin Colwill

Really. You could be watching the Texas Rangers.

How come the East Coast sports writers never want to acknowledge the blue-collar workforce of the Seattle Mariners and the incredible job Bob Melvin is doing as a rookie manager without previous managerial experience? It is a terrific story of the power of consistency and maturity as well as a manager who knows how to manage and professionals who act like it. -- Lawrie Robertson

It's clearly an East Coast bias. Sheesh. (Honestly, I did do something on the Mariners a while back. Easy, guys, can't do them every time out.)

I read article after article by “baseball experts” and yet again no notice or mention of the Seattle Mariners. You write one about the first half of the baseball season, and yet no mention of the team with the best record? -- Brian Richardson

Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgh.

Todd Helton? Anyone who plays in Colorado as a hitter should not be allowed on the ballot. Any pitcher in Colorado with an ERA under five should be an automatic selection. Furthermore, Walker should not ever be considered for the Hall of Fame because of his inflated figures while playing in Colorado. -- Harvey Vruggink, Lansing, Mich.

A little rough, but the people who play for a living in that rarefied air are going to have to live with its consequences.

What about the Cubs only being a game out of first in July? Who would have expected that? -- Fred Melkey

Now if they're a game out in September, then I'll be surprised.

Please, I'm begging you: Tell me that the Twins will get their **** together. Thoughts? -- Alan Einisman, Minneapolis

Maybe the most disappointing team at the break. Yeah, they need to get their **** together. Luckily, they're in a forgiving division.

How can you forget the wacky Cincinnati Reds -- 20 last at-bat wins this season? About half of their wins. That's crazy stuff there. -- Mike Ossola, Cincinnati

Yeah, 21 of their 40 wins have been in their last at-bat. Unfortunately for them, they have way more losses than wins.

Don't forget THIS ONE COUNTS. Therefore, I voted for the best AL players I could think of. Then I voted for the Milwaukee Brewers. -- Scott Holter, Seattle

Now, Scott, don't mock the process or they'll revoke your privileges.

A star is a player the fans what to see. So regardless how idiotic you think it is for fans to vote in Matsui, it's the fans' right to do so. Besides, it keeps you busy ranting and raving. -- Drew, Oklahoma City

I hardly ever rant. Or rave.

It doesn't matter who the fans vote for the All-Star teams. The fact that they are able to vote is fine with me. The fans' voice is heard less and less where it matters (by the athletes and owners). The All-Star voting is the one time fans can express their opinions and have it matter. After all they are paying the players' salaries and lining the owners' pockets. The fans should be able to vote for the people they want to see in a one-night EXHIBITION! If the players, owners, coaches or media don't like it then to hell with them. Leave the voting right where it is. Let's keep the sport as fan-friendly as possible. -- Walter Wright

Now, see, Walter can rant and rave.

Albert Pujols has been on a wicked tear, but it still seems to me that of the current players, Ichiro has to be considered the one most likely to have a shot at hitting .400 over the course of a season, given his contact game and speed out of the box. One other comment: Matsui had a fine June, which I was glad to see, but I honestly think he'll have a better 2004 than 2003. I think his power numbers will improve quite a bit as well, once he's had a full season to acclimate to the U.S. game. -- Wilson Ruark, Tokyo

Yeah, these days a lefty, especially a fast lefty, is more likely to get close because of those extra bases he can leg out of the box

Thanks for stepping up and commenting on some of the DUMB voting we have seen by MLB fans. I am huge Braves and live right outside St. Louis. Even I have to say that in no way, shape or manner should so many Braves be in the running. Thanks for being honest with the idiots out there. -- Larry Kirk

Larry, I took a lot of grief for picking Bret Boone over Alfonso Soriano. Yankees fans ripped me for putting so much emphasis on Boone's RBIs, pointing out that Soriano is a leadoff man and doesn't get those chances. Of course, these same people point out that Soriano has scored many more runs -- which he should, being a leadoff guy and having as many plate appearances as he does. Boone doesn't get those chances. I might point out, too, as I did in an earlier piece, that Boone has a lot fewer errors than Soriano and a higher fielding percentage. But we could go back and forth on that, too, talking about range and all sorts of other stuff. Glady, the voting is done for this year. And so am I.

John Donovan is a senior writer for SI.com.

Comments? To e-mail Donovan, click here.

 

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