Why should fans have a vote in the All-Star game (please hear me out first)?

Question

The moment the game went from exhibition to high stakes the fans should cease to be involved in making decisions. Since home field is on the line I think it is very wrong of baseball to let fans make decisions.

I do think fans do have the right to a vote in an exhibition but this is clearly not the case anymore. People have jumped on me because they say the game is for the fans and while it is it has not been an EXHIBITION for quite a while now. A sports exhibition does not count for anything but clearly it does in this case.

One reason why the players voted in Manny is because those players feel he is a great hitter and he gives them one of the better chances of winning. If this was a true exhibition with nothing on the line Manny probably would not have been selected by the players. He still won't play because he has stated before he prefers not to play during the break. But clearly some of the players decisions send a clear message.

GET RID OF THIS STUPID HOME FIELD CRAP!

Answer 1

I agree that the All-Start game should go back to being a pure exhibition game. I thought it was a terrible idea from the start to base HFA on the winner of the All-Star game. Personally I would give HFA to the team with the best record instead of alternating each year as they did in the past.

Answer 2

Now that the all star game has importance (in deciding home field advantage), I do agree that the fans should have less of a role in deciding the starting rosters, although I don't feel that their say should be completely negated. Personally, I love voting for the all star rosters and feel like it brings the fans a little closer to the game itself. However, I also agree with you that too many players are getting snubbed (like orlando cabrera) for perenially popular players (like manny). Incorporating the numbers and the management's opinions into who should play on the all star team would probably improve the system a little.

I also agree that the game should not be at an exhibition level - having something to play for makes the game more exciting for both the players and spectators. Still, I'd like to see the fans have some impact in the game in voting and have some sort of other system implemented in order to avoid too many deserving players getting snubbed.

Answer 3

Of course you know that MLB wanted to put some meaning in the game, beyond just an exhibition, and decided to give home field advantage in the world series to the winning team in the all-star game. In general, the players that go the the all-star game are good enough for either side to win no matter who selects them. However, if I had a vote I would leave the home field advantage in but have the manager and players select the team. Way more than half the fans voting don't have a clue who they are voting for.

Answer 4

I'd like to see the fans continue to vote for the all stars, even though there are always guys who get snubbed and players who make it who aren't having all star caliber years. I vote every year (based on the players with the best stats that year) and I'd like to continue to do so in the future, simply because it's fun.

I can understand why you don't want fans to vote for a game that has so much on the line. The best way to fix it is to make the All Star game an exhibition again. Let home field advantage in the World Series go to the team with the better regular season record.

Answer 5

Yeah well I think that the home field stuff is stupid too, but they had to add it after that awful year where they ended the All Star Game in a tie. Fans should be able to vote because they are the ones paying for the ridiculously expensive tickets, and the ridiculously expensive food. So far the home field advantage hasnt mattered at all. In the 3 World Series since the home field advantage was put in, there have been two sweeps and one 5 game series, so it hasnt even gotten to that 7th game yet.

Answer 6

The fans didn't do all that badly this year if you look at who is starting. I don't think Bonds should start, but he should be the Giants' representative.

What frustrates me more than anything else is that every team needs to be represented. I have always liked seeing my team's players play in the game, don't get me wrong but sometimes a team does not have a player that is worthy of going. At least not in front of some other players who definately have better numbers and more contributions than the best guy on the worst team in the league has.

I'm not huge on fan voting, but I think they could have done worse this season.

Answer 7

I agree, but the game is an exhibition game, and the only one the fans have any say about. Let them vote. Best record gets home field advantage. Not hard.

Answer 8

Tying home field advantage to the most frivilous and meaningless game of the year was just Bud Selig's way of covering his own hide, and it's had mixed results over the past couple years. But I agree 100%. The fans shouldn't decide who plays in the All Star game ever. Ivan Rodriguez as a starter? Matt Holliday (batting almost .350) as a reserve? Come on. That's embarrassing.

Answer 9

There are 64 players going to the All-Star game.
18 of them (28%) selected by the fans.
48 (72%) picked by those inside baseball.

You recall the fiasco of 2002? That was a direct result of the players' union having too much control. The fans were screaming and Selig was powerless to make 'em play.

So now we have some significance to the All-Star game. Deal with it, The players have been showing outright distain for the contest for years. He gave them a small incentive to attend and play. Should he have done nothing and allow the players to continue to turn their backs on the fans?

Blaming the people who fill the stands is idiotic.

Answer 10

there were so many snubs in this years all star voting fans shouldnt vote even though i did