MLB All-Star Game is overrated

There is a problem with every all-star game in every major sport. Football? Might have the best idea of all the sports in that they hold their game after the entire season is over, thus providing the best players for the entire season to attend. The drawback is that some of the best players choose to be recovering from injury during this post-season accolade, and really, rarely does any player give 100% in such a game with the chance of injury for no reason.

Basketball has become a showcase of offense: who can provide the most dramatic alley-oop or posterizing dunk? A better statistic would be 'count the number of steps when Player A drives the lane.' There is no defense in the NBA All-Star game. MVP is given to the first player to score 40 points, and there are usually several of those. The dunk contest is a joke, there are no original dunks anymore, and the winner in 2007 or 08 (Dwight Howard and his 'superman' dunk), didn't even dunk the ball on his big 'dunk.' He threw it through the hoop from about two feet away. His hand didn't even touch the rim, not even close.

Baseball... well at least it counts, right? Winner gets home field advantage in the World Series, which is a great gimmick for the players and fans, or at least those in contention. In 2008, do you think the relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals really cared who won? The starters for each league are voted on by the fans, because this Mid-Summer classic is supposed to be for the fans. I'm a huge fan of baseball, and you know what? I didn't care, other than the American League won, which, if my favorite team makes the World Series, would mean we have home field advantage. However, I will not watch the All-Star game because it is littered with players I don't care to watch. The starters are voted for, a popularity contest which is always skewed toward certain teams in New York and Boston. Out of 9 starting positions in the American League, 5 were Yankees or Red Sox. The two teams had at least 10 people play. America sees enough of these two teams because ESPN plays all of their games, and few of other teams.

However, I digress. I'll save my East Coast views for another day, another rant. What makes these players All-Stars? Why does every team must have an All-Star? Why is there a token player, even if they are not deserving? My issue is how the players are selected. If this were to be a true game of the best players in the league, there would be no popularity contest for fans to vote, and certainly there would not be a player from every team. My solution? Take two players at every field position, the five best starting pitchers, the three best relief pitchers and the two best closers. There you have 16 positional players and 10 pitchers. For the positional players, you take the best offensive player and the best defensive player. For example, shortstop. The best offensive shortstop would be a congregate of batting average, RBI's and on-bas percentage. The best defensive would be the player with the best fielding percentage combined with the most chances. Possibly the most assists. Out of the two, the coach decides who will start, due to how they create the lineup. For pitching, the five starters could be selected by their number of wins, strikeouts, ERA, opponents' average, and strikeout-to-walk ratios. The relief and closing pitchers would be selected by ERA, opponents' average, inherited runners scored, holds and saves. At an American League park, two DH are selected, and it would be manager choice to select two in the National League since there are no Designated Hitters.

With that in mind, here are the All-Stars for 2008 (Offensive player first, Defensive player second, with their team and #1 rank among other position players).

American League
Catcher: Joe Mauer (MIN, R, H, 2B, Avg, BB, RBI), Jason Varitek (BOS, .995 - Second behind Mauer)
1st base: Justin Morneau (MIN, AB, H, RB, Avg), Casey Kotchman (LAA, .998 - Tied with Morneau)
2nd base: Ian Kinsler (TEX, Avg, H, R RBI, HR), Mark Ellis (OAK, .996)
3rd base: Alex Rodriguez (NYY, R, HR, Avg), Mike Lowell (BOS, 0.947)
Short: Michael Young (TEX, R, H, RBI, Avg), Orlando Cabrera (CHI, .985 - Was second behind Young)
Right: Jermain Dye (CHI, H, HR, Avg), Nick Markakis (BAL, .995)
Center: Josh Hamilton (TEX, 2B, HR, RBI, Avg), Torii Hunter (LAA, 1.000)
Left: Carlos Quentin (CHI, R, HR), Carl Crawford (TB, .995)
DH: Aubrey Huff (BAL, R, H, 2B, HR, RBI) Milton Bradley (TEX, HR, Avg)

Starting Pitchers: Justin Duchscherer (OAK, ERA), Cliff Lee (CLE, W), AJ Burnett (TOR, SO), Roy Halladay (TOR, K/BB), Joe Saunders (LAA)
Relivers: Fransisco Rodriguez (LAA), Jonathon Papelbon (BOS), Dan Wheeler (TB), Eddie Guardado (TEX), Scot Linebrink (CHI)

National League
Catcher: Brian McCann (ATL, 2B, HR, RBI, Avg), Geovany Soto (CHC, .995)
1st base: Lance Berkman (HOU, R, 2B, HR, SB), Mark Teixeira (ATL, .998)
2nd base: Chase Utley (PHI, H, HR, R, 2B, BB), Brandon Phillips (CIN, .992)
3rd base: David Wright (NYM, BB, HR, R, RBI), Troy Glaus (STL, .984)
Short: Hanley Ramirez (FLA, R, HR, RBI), Khalil Greene (SD, .983)
Right: Ryan Ludwick (STL, R, HR, RBI), Hunter Pence (HOU, 1.000)
Center: Nate McLouth (PIT, R, H, 2B), Chris Young (ARI, .992 - Was second behind McLouth)
Left: Matt Holiday (COL, Avg), Ryan Braun (MIL, 1.000)
DH: Albert Poujols (STL, Avg), Chipper Jones (ATL, Avg)

Starting Pitchers: Edinson Volquez (CIN, ERA), Brandon Webb (ARI, W), Tim Lincecom (SFG, SO), Cole Hammels (PHI), Dan Haren (ARI)
Relief pitchers: Billy Wagner(NYM), Kerry Wood (CHI), Kyle McClellen (STL), Taylor Bucholz (COL), Carlos Marmol (CHI)

So there are my All-Stars based on statistics. You will notice that there are a lot of famous names in there, to still provide the average fan with a viewing experience. At the same time, it provides those athletes who deserve to play, a chance to be part of the game of the best players available. You'll also notice that there are a lot fewer east coast (read New York and Boston) players, so the average viewer does not get upset about only seeing those players play. And of course, not every team is represented. Actually, only about half of the teams are represented. What does that say about the game? The teams that have more than one player, are usually those teams that are leading their divisions. The teams not represented do not have that key one or two players, that could get them to the upper echelons of baseball.

However, as long as money rules baseball, we will continue to see the same old names, no matter how they perform, and the same old teams, no matter that most of the country does not care about them. It's time for a change. Make the stars the real All-Stars.