Time to change all star voting?
 

I think there are pretty clear inequities here. It's basically the Red Sox/Yankees show in the AL, I haven't really followed the NL selections over the last few years. I think going back to only voting in the parks, and having a limited number of ballots would be a great improvement. e.g. Each team gets 30,000 ballots for each home game or something similar.

All together better would just to have a panel select the team, because there are quite a few ridiculous things being voted for.

Pudge (42 G, 90 OPS+), Mauer (28 G, 150 OPS+) and Varitek (40 G, 115 OPS+) are top three for the AL Catcher. Clearly none of these guys should be starting in front of Jorge Posada (47 G, 165 OPS+) or Victor Martinez (43 G, 137 OPS+), although Mauer would deserve consideration had he stayed healthy.

At second base, Robinson Cano (76 OPS+) leads Placido Polanco (114 OPS+) and Ian Kinsler (100 OPS+). Once again, the two best offensive second basemen this year are unrepresented. Dustin Pedroia (118 OPS+) has turned around his slow start while B.J. Upton (147 OPS+) has been an absolute monster at second.

The best offensive players at short, third and first will be represented, although it's a farce that Justin Morneau (156 OPS+) has no shot at overtaking Ortiz (168 OPS+). He's probably been more valuable when taking into account defense at first base. Of course, Youkilis (163 OPS+) is the best choice, but he's not on the ballot.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

You are under the impression that the All-Star game is for the best players at each position, It is not. If the fans want to see Boof Bonser and So Taguchi, then they should be starting.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

It depends on what the goal of the game is. Is it for the players or for the fans?

Many would say (including the players themselves) that this game is for the fans and barring a big bonus for making the team, the players would rather have the 3 days off with their friends and family.

That said, the current voting system (for starters only) is the fans's choice and gives the fans what they want and what they vote for.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

fix the cy young and MVP voting first

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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You are under the impression that the All-Star game is for the best players at each position, It is not. If the fans want to see Boof Bonser and So Taguchi, then they should be starting.

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But it's not what all the fans want to see. It's just a competition between the largest markets of the AL, Detroit, New York, and Boston. The fans of Minnesota and Oakland should have just as much input on who goes as the fans of New York and Boston. (Even if there are not as many of them!)

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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You are under the impression that the All-Star game is for the best players at each position, It is not. If the fans want to see Boof Bonser and So Taguchi, then they should be starting.

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But it's not what all the fans want to see. It's just a competition between the largest markets of the AL, Detroit, New York, and Boston. The fans of Minnesota and Oakland should have just as much input on who goes as the fans of New York and Boston. (Even if there are not as many of them!)

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So why should a Twins fan's vote have more comparative value than a Yanks fan?

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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You are under the impression that the All-Star game is for the best players at each position, It is not. If the fans want to see Boof Bonser and So Taguchi, then they should be starting.

[/ QUOTE ]

But it's not what all the fans want to see. It's just a competition between the largest markets of the AL, Detroit, New York, and Boston. The fans of Minnesota and Oakland should have just as much input on who goes as the fans of New York and Boston. (Even if there are not as many of them!)

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So why should a Twins fan's vote have more comparative value than a Yanks fan?

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In the interest of fairness to the players. As it is, by playing for one of the three biggest market teams, you guarantee yourself a disproportionate number of votes. e.g. Coco Crisp (66 OPS+, 12th with 178,152 votes), J.D. Drew (82 OPS+, 8th with 253,472 votes), and Manny Ramirez. (112 OPS+, 2nd with 449,372 votes)

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

i dont really get why an all-star berth should be akin to getting a first-half MVP award

the best players should go with a tilt towards exciting and popular players. the best players aren't gonna be the best for every 300 PA sample

i mean do u really want to see reggie willits ahead of manny?

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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i dont really get why an all-star berth should be akin to getting a first-half MVP award

the best players should go with a tilt towards exciting and popular players. the best players aren't gonna be the best for every 300 PA sample

i mean do u really want to see reggie willits ahead of manny?

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Forget Reggie Willits (122 OPS+). What about Curtis Granderson (140 OPS+), Magglio Ordonez (193 OPS+), Gary Sheffield (131 OPS+), Grady Sizemore (126 OPS+), Hideki Matsui (127 OPS+), Torii Hunter (145 OPS+), Mike Cuddyer (129 OPS+), Carl Crawford (129 OPS+), Alex Rios (132 OPS+), Nick Swisher (158 OPS+), Travis Buck (146 OPS+)?

I'm not saying put in scrubs who were marginally better than a slumping Manny Ramirez. But certainly don't leave out stars that are having great seasons.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

i dunno

manny vs magglio. i think most ppl will agree that manny is the better player by a pretty decent margin. manny's also more popular and more interesting than magglio. so, i'd rather have manny starting. 200 PAs doesn't really sway my opinion much.

if it were up to me i'd have nate silver run PECOTA at the mid-way point and the best 50 players go to the ASG with a tilt towards the bigger names

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

Voting has always been a popularity contest to some extent. So long as you know that's what it is, i don't see a big reason to change it.

However, the need to stop with this nonsense that awards AS game winner home field in the World Series. That's utter bullhonkey.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

In the AS game, fans generally don't vote for the best players. They vote for who they want to see most on the field.

Since the Yankees and Red Sox have the most fans, they have the most votes and thus get the most starting players on the team.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

I like your idea of limiting the number of ballots per team, but I think it should be left up to fans and not a panel.

Does baseball still have the rule that every team needs to be represented? I know the NHL got rid of that and it is a bad idea. It's fun to cheer for the local all star, even if he kinda sucks.

The NHL also used to have a "commissioner's selectuion", which meant that the commish would put 2 older players into the game, even if they weren't voted or chosen by the manager. It could be a nice last hurrah for guys who've been around forever, even if they never were all star material.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

/thread

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

David Eckstein has more votes than Hanley Ramirez. I should never underestimate scrappiness.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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I like your idea of limiting the number of ballots per team, but I think it should be left up to fans and not a panel.

Does baseball still have the rule that every team needs to be represented? I know the NHL got rid of that and it is a bad idea. It's fun to cheer for the local all star, even if he kinda sucks.

The NHL also used to have a "commissioner's selectuion", which meant that the commish would put 2 older players into the game, even if they weren't voted or chosen by the manager. It could be a nice last hurrah for guys who've been around forever, even if they never were all star material.

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I think they still have that rule that every team must be represented.
The managers also get to pick players, its not a big deal as the OP seems to think it is, everyone knows what the All-Star game is about (the fans).

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

getting rid of this stupid game would be even better
with that said the baseball AS game is the only AS game of the 4 major sports thats even watchable.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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You are under the impression that the All-Star game is for the best players at each position, It is not. If the fans want to see Boof Bonser and So Taguchi, then they should be starting.

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But it's not what all the fans want to see. It's just a competition between the largest markets of the AL, Detroit, New York, and Boston. The fans of Minnesota and Oakland should have just as much input on who goes as the fans of New York and Boston. (Even if there are not as many of them!)

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They do have just as much input. One ballot, one vote. How is that not having equal input? When you go to a game do you take 100 ballots and fill them out between half-innings? Have you voted your 25 times on MLB.com?

It's not about market size, it's about rabid fan base size. That's where the disconnect occurs.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

Why does everyone always say that All-Star voting should be based on player performance in this season. You really think running hot for two months makes you one of the best players at your position? If this is the criteria, how well a player performed in the second half of any season, or in the playoffs, would never factor into All-Star decisions. This seems pretty perverse considering that "number of All-Star selections" is frequently batted are in Hall of Fame discussions, etc. Either people should actually vote for the best players, and not just the hottest players, or completely ignore All-Star appearances as measure of player value.

It's also funny that you say that the voting is dominated by Yankees/Red Sox, but then argue for Posada, Pedroia, Youkilis as better choices than the current leaders.

Pedroia should be an All-Star? He has a .716 OPS in 200 at-bats in his major league career. Brian Roberts should be well ahead of him, along with Polanco.

Re: Time to change all star voting?
 

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You are under the impression that the All-Star game is for the best players at each position, It is not. If the fans want to see Boof Bonser and So Taguchi, then they should be starting.

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If the fans want this, then they should call the game something else.