Let me just throw this out there right away: Fans deciding who is in the All-Star game is bullshit. Fans voting for the All-Stars result in the same players getting to the game due in large part to name recognition. If I was a player that would piss me off. If I were having a killer season as a DH for Kansas City, it wouldn’t matter because the player from New York or Boston will be the starter. Because really, nobody can get enough of the Yankees or Red Sox.
Another issue I have with this whole farce is that the main page for MLB.com right now has the headline “Brew Crew making its move in All-Star balloting”. Well no shit Sherlock, they are finally getting some home games to get the home fans punching the paper ballots (they currently have played five fewer home games than the Cubs). If anyone wants to point out that any fan can easily vote online, I would ask them if they have and how many times. Because it sucks to vote online, because you can vote 25 times a freakin’ day, which in turn devalues anyone’s vote that can’t spend an hour glued to their pc voting for something that doesn’t matter – I don’t care what you say, the game doesn’t matter.
If it doesn’t matter, why do I care? I care because I root for small market team and it’s nice if the hometown players get their due because it certainly won’t happen on the four-lettered’s coverage.
Let’s take this example – Ryan Braun vs. the other contenders.
Let’s get this straight. Of this five player group, Braun leads in the following stats: G, AB, H, 3B, HR, RBI, TB, and SLUG. (Granted he also leads in SO and CS). He’s second in R, 2B, SB, and AVG. He also leads the group in OBPS. Plus he has been the key offensive weapon for a team expected to have a big year.
How is he not the top vote getter? Fan balloting.
Filed under: Baseball, Brewers | Tagged: All-Star Game, Ryan Braun
