Should fans determine the starting all-stars?

Question

I see Ken Griffey Jr. may start in the outfield and David Wright will probably start at third over Miguel Cabrera. What a joke.

Answer 1

The voting is always a joke, but the All-Star game is supposed to be a showcase for who the fans want to see.

I'm fine with letting fans determine who starts, because it's a meaningless exhibition.

Answer 2

Since the All-Star Game determines who will have home field advantage in the World Series (which I personally think is absurd), having only fans determine the lineup is irresponsible. What once was a game for the fans is now a game for the fans AND the top teams (mets, Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, not Yankees, etc).

They are already giving the fans something by making it mandatory that one player fro each team is represented, which already diminishes the teams.

They should divide the vote :
1/4 fans' votes
1/4 coaches' votes
1/4 players' votes
1/4 official baseball writer for the teams

Also, this vote should include all pitchers as well. No more having the manager pick the pitching staff because there is always some favoritism involved (Can anyone say Joe Torre)

Answer 3

I don't personally think fans should determine the starters, but the All-Star game is "for the fans" and is the only element of the game they can directly determine, unlike MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year awards, etc. That being said, there'll always be people who get cheated out of votes, but technically speaking, the best viewership will come when the majority of fans have spoken. I do agree, Cabrera should play over Wright, as long as he doesn't keep on gaining more weight!

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Answer 4

I think they should have a hand, but not the sole decision on the starting 8. Year after year, you see guys on the roster who are not even in the discussion on who is the best at their position. It will happen again this year. Watch as players from New York and Boston make-up most of the starting position players. See Barry Bonds chals-up the votes and start over more qualified, younger outfielders from Milwaukee and Florida. Makes me want to puke.

Answer 5

The all-star game selection is always a joke but it is for the fans so yes we the fans should choose. I think the real joke is letting the coaches choose who gets to fill the roster because, as Ozzie Guillen showed us last year and Joe Torre was so good at doing, the coaches most often take their guys over the more deserving players because they feel their guys are more deserving than anyone. I honestly wish the fans got to choose the entire roster!

Answer 6

The all-star game is for the fans, so having them choose makes sense, however, i agree... it can be a joke. I say we should let the fans choose a player for each position, then have a coach's poll (rather than just one coach) to choose the rest... this way some more deserving players get in while still getting the fans what they want.

as for someone saying it "means nothing" that isnt true... it decides home field for the WORLD SERIES. This is another reason the coach's would choose the best players rather than the most popular.

Answer 7

the all-star game is a showcase for fans and a great money making time for the city hosting it

its nothing more than a publicity stunt

if league officials or sportscasters voted, it wouldnt be any fun, because the all-star game doesnt mean squat

thats y reporters vote for the MVPs and the HOF, because that stuff actually counts. being voted to the all-star game only proves one of two things

1) you are having a very good year so far

OR more likely

2) you have either good or decent years every year and are popular among many fans

Answer 8

Sure, why not? The game is for fun and entertainment, it doesn't count for anything (yeah yeah, WS HFA, this is not that important), and -- and this is important -- there is no "right" way to vote for All-Star starters. Many people only review the current year's stats -- a method I don't much like as it leaves no way to recognize big second halves from the previous season -- others vote for those from their favorite team no matter what, others go by general name recognition, and some vote for aging or fading stars in hopes of seeing them one more time. No voting approach is more valid than another. Vote for whomever you want to see play.

Answer 9

@PrimeTime

Ichiro is having a better year than both David Wright and Ken Griffey Jr. And it doesn't matter, Ichiro wouldn't take a spot from any of those guys because Ichiro is AL and those guys are all NL.

Answer 10

And with the kind of year Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres is having - and yet all of the New Yorkers, and LA fans, got the deck stacked for Nomar (average at best), Carlos Delgado (.230?; are you kidding me?), and Albert Pujols, right now just because of who he is?

It's not an all-star game - they shoudl call it what it is; Fan Fest Frenzy. Then you'll at least be calling it what it really is.