First of all, did you make sure to get your ballots in for your favorite players to make the All Star team? Nope, neither did I. The reason is very simple, the votes really don’t mean a damn thing. It is a popularity contest, plain and simple and as long as fans have almost 100% of the say it will remain so. Think I am wrong? How about this, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres came in third in the voting for NL shortstop. Problem is Tatis Jr. has not played all season. How does a market like Pittsburgh, Colorado, Seattle or Tampa Bay compete with fans voting from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc?
I have been in and around this game since the 1940’s and remember when the players were picked by the players, managers and coaches and could not vote for their own players. Then the fan vote came into being and it has been a disaster since day one. Remember the year the entire Cincinnati Reds team was voted as the starting nine for the NL? Oh, they have modified it to some degree where the reserves were then picked by the managers and coaches and then revised again with a players vote as well. The pitchers were always picked by the All Star managers, but that also has been changed where it is now the MLB office selects the pitchers and reserve players. This leaves a lot of deserving players being snubbed when they should have gotten more consideration. Not to mention many players have making the all star team paying a nice fat bonus in their contracts. If you think that MLB doesn’t consider this when they make the selections, think again. It has become a sham plain and simple.
And because of this voting system there are players who deserve to be on the All Star but aren’t. here are just a few that have the numbers to prove they belong, but the fans and MLB said no and it is a shame. P Logan Gilbert of the Mariners, 1B Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers, 3b Austin Riley of the Braves, P Carlos Rodon of the Giants, 3B Yandy Diaz of the Rays, P Dylan Cease of the White Sox are just a few that deserve to be there. Now, there is a chance a couple of these players will become replacements for any all star who is injured and can’t play, but that is purely a guessing game.
On the other hand, I do like one addition MLB made this year. Adding to veterans that are retiring after this season to each roster is a nice way to send them off in their final season. This year it will be 1B Albert Pujols of the Cardinals in the NL. In the AL the honor goes to 1B Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. Both these players will be first ballot inductees when they become eligible and have put up some incredible numbers in their long careers and it is a fitting tribute in their final season. Hats off to MLB for doing something right.
Now as far as the game itself, the one thing I have always liked about it is that the game is played exactly the same way as the 162 regular season games are played. Unlike the NBA, NFL and NHL there are no special rules added, there are no “you can’t do this or that” in the game. You are getting a real baseball game, not something watered down. That is one thing since the first all star game in 1933 that has not changed and hopefully never will. Aside from the actual game, the Futures Game is always great to watch and see some of the game’s top prospects showing their worth in a game they all take very seriously. For us Rays fans we will be watching pitcher Taj Bradley, a 21 year old phenom who could be part of the rotation next year. Also the Rays top prospect who comes from Australia, 3B Curtis Mead is on the roster. Also 21, he was moved from Double A to Triple A and is making it look easy. So there will be a lot of interest for Rays fans in this game. As for the Home Run Derby…..meh! Too long, too tiring, too predictable and to many players stay away from it because many said it messes up their normal swing. It is just not the big draw it used to be. It needs to be replaced with something else like maybe a skills competition or something. Still the game will draw a packed house and being played at Dodger Stadium will be loaded with celebrities. As for the “new look” uniforms for this year, sorry they just don’t add anything. Go back to the players wearing their regular team uniforms, that has always been the best for the All Star game.
So now we are all set to go. But not so fast, as there is one big, major problem on the horizon with the All Star Game and other events. It seems that all of the Dodgers concessions and stadium workers have authorized a strike for better wages and conditions. They say the strike could begin at “any time” and could last for a while. If this happens getting food, drinks, seating assistance, etc. will be unavailable and really put big black eye on this year’s festivities. So, keep an eye on that, how it develops and what problems it may cause.
In the meantime, welcome to the 2022 MLB All Star Sham, I mean Game!!
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
