Rock the Vote '09: Then Cut the Vote '10

While fan voting is a fun way to pick the MLB All-Stars every year, the vote "stuffing" is also getting more and more excessive with every year that passes by. In a perfect world the All-Star picks would be made by the managers of the teams, therefore letting the most worthy players appear in the mid-summer classic. 

Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton who rode the DL for almost the whole year so far, is hitting .263 with only 6 dingers is starting in right field for the AL, while a player like Adam Lind who is hitting .308 with 18 home runs finds himself fighting for a spot in the Final Vote with four others, all four of which probably deserve a spot over Hamilton as well. I like Hamilton as a player, he over came a lot and has a good story behind his success but he has a lot more All-Star games to come when he is actually playing well, or playing at all. 

As much as I love my Phillies, the '07 MVP Jimmy Rollins stuck around in the NL shortstop race as well, and get this, he barely held on to the Mendoza line. As much as I appreciate what Jimmy does for the defending champs not only on the field but in the clubhouse, he was not worthy to even be on the ballot this year. When he lost the spot to the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez not even Manuel was unconscious enough to take him on as a reserve. 

Everyone's favorite cheater Manny Ramirez was sticking around for a while as a starter in the NL outfield. When he served his 50 game suspension it was just Manny Being Manny when he started to descend as his suspension began to drag along. Too bad, I think we were all excited to see if there would be a Mannywood section at Busch Stadium, one can only dream. 

Ichiro Suzuki was on the ballot for the Home Run Derby. I looked and tried to convince myself it was a typo, but after awhile accepted what my eyes were looking at. For someone who never hit more than 15 home runs in a season, it would be a crime for even Mariners fans to vote him in. 

While the year seems a little odd as far as voting goes, one thing that was right on point was the picking of Tim Wakefield. The veteran one pitch wonder has 11 wins so far this year and was well deserving of an All-Star appearance. Now who is going to catch  him? Joe Maddon is fumbling around his desk for Doug Mirabelli's number he knows he has it somewhere. 

While the '09 All-Star game, will like every year be a showcase of the league's best power, speed, fielding, and pitching, as the years roll on so does the purity of it all. However, the managers are the ones, while making their reserve selections, giving the guys shots that really have earned the chance. Such as Ben Zobrist and Aaron Hill for the AL, and Freddy Sanchez and Miguel Tejada for the NL, guys who are playing past their potential and may never have a shot to be one of the leagues best ever again. 

JD