As sports fans, people look for every way to get involved with their favorite teams. Going to a game is just not enough for the typical fan anymore. There is a ton of memorabilia out there for every team and several players. And both Major and Minor League Baseball allows fans to vote for starters in the All-Star Game.
With fans voting for the starters of the All-Star Game, are the truly deserving players getting the nod? Or is it simply a popularity contest skewed by the media and big market teams? Are fans taking the time to research the players before they vote or are they only looking at the few statistics listed on the ballot? Are injured or retiring players being voted in over someone else who deserves to start? With home field advantage up for grabs in the All-Star Game, the absolute best from each league should be represented throughout the game, but are they?
MLB All-Star Ballot Vote Leaders
The current leaders on the All-Star ballot are deserving of a spot on the all-star roster. Although Matt Wieters will be out for the remainder of the 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery on an injured elbow, his performance for a number of years on the Baltimore Orioles has been worthy of the All-Star nod (Matt Wieters, Sports Injury Alert profile). This year started to be no different. Through 26 games, Wieters scored 13 runs while compiling 32 hits, five doubles, five home runs, and 18 runs batted in. But since he is on the disabled list, John Farrell, the American League All-Star Game Manager, must choose the next catcher with the most fan votes to start the game, should Wieters hold the lead through July 3, as well as choose another player to take his spot on the active roster.
Teams always encourage their fans to vote for all of their players on the ballot, and there are a few ways to vote. Fans can fill out a team ballot at the ballpark, or they can fill out a full ballot through the mlb.com At Bat app, or vote online at mlb.com with either a team or full ballot. And remember fans, all 30 teams need to be represented at the All-Star Game, but there are only 17 spots on the ballot.
Since the World Series home field advantage is the prize for the winning league, the goal of the fan should be to get his league’s absolute best players on the field. Derek Jeter has an extremely rich history of All-Star games and World Series games in his career. He was also injured last year and so far this year has not put up the same numbers that would earn him an All-Star nod in any other year (Derek Jeter, Sports Injury Alert profile). Had he not announced his retirement before this season, would fans still be voting him a starter?
Now, I’m not saying Jeter should not be an All-Star this year. He should be given that honor, because of his illustrious career. But should the American League have another shortstop starter? Alexei Ramirez is a name to consider as he currently leads the league in defensive games at shortstop and assists this season as well as in singles for 2014. He can also create runs with his speed on the bases. J.J. Hardy is another name to consider, though he does not dazzle fans with home runs or stolen bases this year. Hardy may not even carry a high RBI total, but he does carry a couple of Gold Gloves and a very respectable batting average.
Miguel Cabrera seems like the obvious choice at first base for the American League, right? Chris Davis is not the same hitter he was a year ago, though he has heated up recently. But have fans outside of Chicago seen the sensation that is Jose Abreu? And you cannot forget about Mark Teixeira and Albert Pujols. Though Teixeira has spent much of the year on the disabled list, the time he has been healthy, he has been very productive. Just like last year when Cabrera was playing third base and the fans had to choose between Evan Longoria, Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado, Alex Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre, and Miguel Cabrera.
Chase Utley had a hot start to his 2014 campaign, and though he cooled off for a while, the fans continued to vote for him on the All-Star ballot. He has begun to heat up again, and so has his team. But should his double-play partner, Jimmy Rollins, be in the All-Star Game with Utley because of his own campaign? After all, Rollins did break the Phillies all-time franchise hits record on Saturday, June 14, 2014 against the Chicago Cubs. Troy Tulowitzki does deserve to start, but should Rollins join Utley on the field for at least an inning?
Though Yadier Molina is arguably the best defensive catcher in baseball, his offense has taken quite a toll in 2014. Yes defense matters in a catcher, but going up against the toughest American League lineup and pitchers, you want to put your strongest foot forward. Sure, Mike Matheny and John Mabry, National League All-Star Manager and St. Louis Cardinals Hitting Coach, respectively, have faith in Yadi and still have a chance to get him straightened out at the plate, but Jonathan Lucroy has been having a career year so far. And Buster Posey is not so bad either. Some would even throw Evan Gattis into the mix for the starting catcher. All worthy candidates.
So should the everyday fan be voting for All-Star starters? It is a way to get people involved in the game. However, are enough people knowledgeable about the players when they vote? Go ahead, enjoy voting for All-Stars, and I encourage you to vote for the best players in each league. Make the All-Star Game as competitive and exciting as possible. After all, the winning league gets home field advantage in the World Series.
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