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As coach Herm Edwards once said, “you play to win the game.” That being said, I don’t like the idea that the All-Star Game should decide home field advantage in baseball. Charlie Manuel picked guys like Arthur Rhodes, Hong Chih Kuo, Evan Meek, Michael Bourn, and Omar Infante for the All-Star team, three middle relievers, a pinch runner, and a utility man. And you know what, those moves were pretty smart. Manuel knows his Phillies could get back to the World Series this year and wanted home field advantage when they got there so he did what it took to win, even if it was unorthodox, taking guys who specialize in the 7th or 8th inning, rather than taking closers and forcing them into different roles. He took a guy like Bourn to pinch run and possibly steal a base he took Infante because of his versatility.

The issue with this, it makes for a pretty boring game. In my opinion, players should be picked for the All-Star game off of three criteria, in order, the quality of their first half production, their popularity with the fans, and three and finally, to help you win the game. While it could be argued that those three middle relievers had a solid first half, it’s tough to argue that Omar Infante, who isn’t even a starter on his own team, and Michael Bourn who is batting .255 with 1 homerun and 22 RBIs this season, statistically were worthy of being there. Plus, none of those five generate much buzz with the fans at all.

Another issue with the game counting, we don’t see everyone play. Some guys are kept on the bench because the manager feels his team has a better shot of winning with someone else in the lineup. Where’s the fun in that? What’s the point of them even being there?

Another issue, it just gives too much power to one game. If Brian McCann strikes out last night instead of hitting a 3 run double, the AL likely wins. One swing of the bat deciding homefield in the World Series, when the man swinging the bat could very well not even be a part of the World Series in a few months, that doesn’t make any sense. Home field in the World Series should be decided in one of four ways. Whoever has the best record of the two teams playing, whichever league had the better record in interleague, whichever teams has the best record in interleague, or simply whichever team wins their CS first, with any ties being broken by regular season record, individual team interleague record, or league interleague record. If the All-Star game continues to decide homefield advantage, winning will continue to be more important than the fans and having fun during the All-Star game.

A few more issues with the All-Star game, the rosters are way too big. 34 players?! What’s wrong with 25 players, with the option to put players that you’ve taken out before back into the game if the game goes into extras and you need more players. 34 really cheapens being named an All-Star.

Speaking of cheapening being named an All-Star, I think the whole thing were every team needs to be represented needs to be done away with. You shouldn’t get an All-Star pick simply because you’re the best player on your team, but rather because your one of the top 25 players in your league. A few more things I would like to see all involve increasing fan involvement. What’s wrong with letting the fans pick the starting pitcher too, or even some of the backups. 

Bold=starter

AL

C John Buck- Toronto

C Victor Martinez- Boston

C Joe Mauer- Minnesota

1B Miguel Cabrera- Detroit

1B Justin Morneau- Minnesota

1B Kevin Youkilis- Boston

1B Paul Konerko- Chicago

2B Robinson Cano- New York

2B Ty Wigginton- Baltimore

SS Derek Jeter- New York

SS Alex Gonzalez- Toronto

3B Adrian Beltre- Boston

3B Evan Longoria- Tampa Bay

3B Michael Young- Texas

OF Josh Hamilton- Texas

OF Brennan Boesch- Detroit

OF Vernon Wells- Toronto

OF Alex Rios- Chicago

OF Shin-Soo Choo- Cleveland

OF Jose Bautista- Toronto

DH Vlad Guerrero- Texas

SP Cliff Lee- Seattle

SP Clay Buchholz- Boston

SP Jon Lester- Boston

SP David Price- Tampa Bay

SP Jered Weaver- Los Angeles

SP Andy Pettitte- New York

SP Jeff Niemann- Tampa B ay

SP Ricky Romero- Toronto

RP Joakim Soria- Kansas City

RP Andrew Bailey- Oakland

RP Neftali Feliz- Texas

RP Rafael Soriano- Tampa Bay

RP Mariano Rivera- New York

NL

C Miguel Olivo- Colorado

C Brian McCann- Atlanta

C Geovany Soto- Chicago

1B Albert Pujols- St. Louis

1B Adrian Gonzalez- San Diego

1B Adam Dunn- Washington

2B Kelly Johnson- Arizona

2B Chase Utley- Philadelphia

2B Brandon Phillips- Cincinnati

SS Hanley Ramirez- Florida

SS Juan Uribe- San Francisco

3B Scott Rolen- Cincinnati

3B David Wright- New York

3B Ryan Zimmerman- Washington

OF Andre Either- Los Angeles

OF Jayson Werth- Philadelphia

OF Colby Ramsus- St. Louis

OF Corey Hart- Milwaukee

OF Andrew McCutchen- Pittsburgh

OF Josh Willingham- Washington

DH Joey Votto- Cincinnati

SP Ubaldo Jimenez- Colorado

SP Josh Johnson- Florida

SP Roy Halladay- Philadelphia

SP Tim Hudson- Atlanta

SP Adam Wainwright- St. Louis

SP Yovani Gallardo- Milwaukee

SP Mat Latos- San Diego

SP Tim Lincecum- San Francisco

SP Chris Carpenter- St. Louis

RP Carlos Marmol- Chicago

RP Matt Lindstrom- Houston

RP Brian Wilson- San Francisco

RP Heath Bell- San Diego

To DH or not to DH? Since the instatement of the designated hitter into the American League in 1973, that has been the question. It has seemed almost an oddity that the two leagues of the same major league would have completely different rules. In American League ballparks, you are allowed to have a 10th player who serves kind of as a permanent pinch hitter for the weak hitting pitcher and in National League ballparks, you are not allowed and the pitcher must hit. I have no strong feelings for or against the designated hitter, but one thing is clear, as a result of allowing the designated hitter in one league and not the other, there is a growing disparity in the two leagues in terms of both talent and revenue and something needs to be done about this. 

The designated hitter creates this disparity in two ways. One, it attracts players to the American League. Most pitchers don't want to hit and a lot of hitters, especially ones getting up there in age, don't want to play in the field. Because of this, more of the better players go to the American league, American league teams generate more revenue and this also attracts players in the American League in what is a growing cycle. 

Two, American League teams carry a 9th starting caliber hitter while a National League team only carries eight because simply, National League owners and general managers aren't willing to shell out the kind of money that it would take to lure some of these players away from the American League if there are really only going to use them as DHs in a few interleague games and the World Series, if they make it. It makes a lot more sense for an American League team to spend 3 million dollars on a 9th hitter than it does for a National League team to spend the same 3 million dollars on a 9th hitter who will DH a few games a year, maybe more, and also get some pinch hit attempts. So they don't do it and when American League teams play National League teams, NL teams are using their top pinch hitter as a DH, while the AL is using an everyday caliber batter. 

The NL has not won an All-Star game against the AL since 1996. That's not a coincedence. Since the start of interleague play in 1996, the AL has won 1674 games to the NL's 1534 wins. The last time the NL has won more interleague games was 2003 and they've only done so in 4 years since '96. Some of them haven't even been close for the NL, and the last 5, demonstrating a growing disparity, have been 136-116, 154-98, 137-115, 149-103, and 138-114. The World Series has not been as bad, with the AL winning 20 of the 35 since 1973, but when you look at which league is winning the most individual World Series game, the AL has won 35 of the 55 games since 1998. Percentage wise that is 64% wins for the AL. 

Let’s look at team payrolls. Payrolls are a pretty good indicator of how much money teams make. 7 of the top 9 payrolls are AL teams, despite the fact that the AL actually has 2 fewer teams. AL teams have more money to spend because baseball fans want to see better baseball and more exciting baseball which the AL has, as a result of the DH. This is only going to lead to higher AL payrolls, which will lead to a larger disparity in talent level between the leagues. The cycle will only continue to increase the disparity.

This problem is not going to fix itself on its own. The more good players will continue to go to the league where pitchers don't have to hit, and hitters don't always have to play in the field. The AL will continue its dominance over the NL both on the field and financially, attracting more top free agents, widening the disparity. The AL will continue to spend money on a 9th everyday hitter, while the NL sees it unnecessary. Something needs to be done, either go DH in both league or in neither, I really don't care.

I wouldn’t mind both leagues having no DH. However, I really don’t see that as plausible. With the success that the AL is having with a DH, why would they want to get rid of that? The NL is going to need to be the one to make the change. Change in baseball in not neccesarily bad. When baseball was first invented, you needed 9 balls to be walked. Imagine if one league was playing with those rules. Until the NL adds a DH, there will be a sizable disparity in talent between the league and that gap will continue to grow. Some people like no DH because it’s real baseball and protects the dignity of the game, but I’d rather have equally matched leagues than no DH in the NL. If anything it ruining the dignity of the game, it’s the unmatched leagues.

AL

C Joe Mauer- Minnesota .407 14 HR 42 RBI

C Victor Martinez- Cleveland .330 12 HR 53 RBI

C Jason Varitek- Boston .228 10 HR 25 RBI

1B Mark Teixeira- New York .286 20 HR 56 RBI

1B Kevin Youkilis- Boston .316 12 HR 40 RBI

1B Justin Morneau- Minnesota .320 16 HR 57 RBI

1B Miguel Cabrera- Detroit .333 14 HR 44 RBI

2B Ian Kinsler- Texas .267 18 HR 48 RBI

2B Aaron Hill- Toronto .302 15 HR 48 RBI

2B Dustin Pedroia- Boston .286 2 HR 28 RBI

SS Jason Bartlett- Tampa Bay .373 7 HR 31 RBI

SS Derek Jeter- New York .301 9 HR 30 RBI

3B Evan Longoria- Tampa Bay .309 16 HR 61 RBI

3B Mark DeRosa- Cleveland .277 13 HR 50 RBI

LF Jason Bay- Boston .276 18 HR 66 RBI

LF Carl Crawford- Tampa Bay .307 6 HR 32 RBI

LF Matt Holliday- Oakland .269 8 HR 39 RBI

CF Torii Hunter- LA Angels .316 16 HR 52 RBI

CF Curtis Granderson- Detroit .263 17 HR 43 RBI

CF Adam Jones- Baltimore .316 12 HR 43 RBI

RF Nelson Cruz- Texas .268 18 HR 45 RBI

SP Zack Greinke- Kansas City 8-3 1.96 ERA 106 K

SP Roy Halladay- Toronto 10-1 2.53 ERA 88 K

SP Edwin Jackson- Detroit 6-4 2.39 ERA 72 K

SP Justin Verlander- Detroit 8-3 3.31 ERA 118 K

SP Felix Hernandez- Seattle 7-3 2.74 ERA 98 K

SP Jered Weaver- Los Angeles 7-3 2.53 ERA 78 K

SP Kevin Millwood- Texas 7-5 2.62 ERA 65 K

RP Jonathan Papelbon- Boston 16/17 SV 1.80 ERA

RP Joe Nathan- Minnesota 16/18 SV 1.69 ERA

RP Mariano Rivera- New York 15/16 SV 3.25 ERA

Final vote

Like the real all-star game, the 32nd man is voted in by the fans. Above I have 31 all-stars and below I have 4 guys who would make the team if it were a 35 man roster. However, it is not, so its up to you to pick a 32nd man. Tell me in a comment and tell me why. This could be interesting.

1B Russell Branyan- Seattle .305 16 HR 31 RBI

2B Brian Roberts- Baltimore .291 7 HR 34 RBI

3B Michael Young- Texas .312 10 HR 27 RBI

SP Josh Beckett- Boston 8-3 3.74 ERA 88K

NL

C Bengie Molina- San Francisco .264 10 HR 40 RBI

C Brian McCann- Atlanta .325 6 HR 28 RBI

C Yadier Molina- St. Louis .284 5 HR 23 RBI

1B Albert Pujols- St. Louis .329 26 HR 68 RBI

1B Adrian Gonzalez- San Diego .275 23 HR 45 RBI

1B Prince Fielder- Milwaukee .299 17 HR 67 RBI

1B Ryan Howard- Philadelphia .257 20 HR 54 RBI

2B Chase Utley- Philadelphia .297 15 HR 45 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips- Cincinnati .279 11 HR 47 RBI

2B Freddy Sanchez- Pittsburgh .319 6 HR 29 RBI

SS Hanley Ramirez- Florida .328 9 HR 36 RBI

SS Miguel Tejada- Houston .331 6 HR 38 RBI

3B Mark Reynolds- Arizona .267 19 HR 49 RBI

3B David Wright- New York .349 4 HR 39 RBI

LF Raul Ibanez- Philadelphia .312 22 HR 59 RBI

LF Ryan Braun- Milwaukee .320 15 HR 50 RBI

LF Carlos Lee- Houston .300 12 HR 43 RBI

CF Matt Kemp- Los Angeles .318 8 HR 37 RBI

CF Carlos Beltran- New York .336 8 HR 40 RBI

RF Adam Dunn- Washington .267 18 HR 49 RBI

RF Brad Hawpe- Colorado .332 10 HR 50 RBI

SP Matt Cain- San Francisco 9-1 2.28 ERA 76 K

SP Chad Billingsley- Los Angeles 9-3 2.83 ERA 96 K

SP Tim Lincecum- San Francisco 6-2 2.72 ERA 112 K

SP Dan Haren- Arizona 6-4 2.23 ERA 96 K

SP Ted Lilly- Chicago 7-4 3.05 75 K

SP Johan Santana- New York 8-5 3.22 ERA 97 K

SP Johnny Cueto- Cincinnati 6-4 2.55 ERA 66 K

RP Francisco Rodriguez- New York 18/20 SV 1.07 ERA

RP Heath Bell- San Diego 19/20 SV 1.19 ERA

RP Trevor Hoffman- Milwaukee 16/17 SV 1.31 ERA

Final vote

Like the real all-star game, the 32nd man is voted in by the fans. Above I have 31 all-stars and below I have 4 guys who would make the team if it were a 35 man roster. However, it is not, so its up to you to pick a 32nd man. Tell me in a comment and tell me why. This could be interesting.

3B Pablo Sandoval- San Francisco .338 8 HR 33 RBI

RF Justin Upton- Arizona .321 13 HR 42 RBI

SP Josh Johnson- Florida 7-1 2.66 ERA 88 K

RP Ryan Franklin- St. Louis 17/18 SV 1.00 ERA