The midpoint of the baseball season is approaching. In years past, it was just a festive, fun-filled couple of days that featured a few different competitions and a game that had all of the best stars of the game. It appears to me that it is now the National League's best players versus the Yankees and Red Sox. The system needs to be changed on how players are selected to the game. It shouldn't be a popularity contest, especially now since there is that STUPID rule that whatever team wins the game, that team will have home-field advantage in the World Series. This is the dumbest idea a commissioner could have come up with, but that is not my argument here today.
When I look at the American League's leading vote-getters, I am astonished that there are players having career years who might miss out, and there are others who are stinking it up and don't deserve a seat in the stadium. Below, I have listed out the leading vote-getters for the American League, and I have created my own list, that is "stats-based" on who SHOULD play in this years' All-Star game.
Popular Vote
1B/DH D. Ortiz
2B R. Cano
SS D. Jeter
3B A. Rodriguez
C J. Varitek
OF M. Ramirez
OF V. Guerrero
OF I. Suzuki
Real All-Stars
1B/DH P. Konerko
2B M. Loretta
SS M. Tejada
3B T. Glaus
C J. Mauer
OF G. Sizemore
OF I. Suzuki
OF V. Wells
In my opinion...these should be the starters. I am not saying that those who are winning the popular vote shouldn't even be on the team(not all of them anyway), but they should not be starters. Konerko is only a couple HRs shy of Ortiz, has a better average and OBP. Oh yeah...he plays first base too. Sorry Papi, you can come off the bench. Tejada has been crushing the ball, Jeter is over-rated. At third base, this is a no-brainer. A-Rod has sucked it up the first half, taking exception to his walk-off homer against the Braves yesterday, that I was unfortunate enough to tune into at just that moment. Troy Glaus has rejuvenated his career in Toronto. Mauer is the best catcher in the league, and he is young. His offense should vault him into the All-Star game. He is the reason that the Twins have won 7 straight and 15 of the last 16. No offense to Manny, but he doesn't deserve a start. Vernon Wells has a better average and OBP that Manny, although they each have 20 HRs. Ichiro is just a hit machine, and is a great defensive OF. And I am not being biased by my final choice-Grady Sizemore. Yes I own a shirt with his name on it, but Sizemore is probably the best leadoff hitter in the league. He's batting .307 and among outfielders is either 1st or 2nd in Runs, Hits Doubles, and Triples. He has 13 Stolen Bases(7th). Not to mention he is one of the most exciting center fielders in all of baseball.
