The MLB All-Star Game

I did not realize...

that the MLB All-Star Game has become a big joke. The first signs of the dying of the Mid-Summer Classic began several years ago when the game ended in a tie, that's right a freakin tie...in baseball. Than commissioner Bud Selig decided home-field advantage for the World Series should be given to the league that wins the All-Star game. Way to think outside the box there Bud, but you failed. Home-field should be given to the team with the best overall record, seems to work well in the NBA and NHL. More recent is the fact that Jason Varitek was voted as the starting catcher for the American League. Varitek may very well be the heart and soul of the Red Sox and the team's captain, but as far as productive catchers in the AL goes he's near the bottom. Doesn't that truly determine what an "all-star" is? The best players up to this point in the season should be honored. The near-obnoxious level of love for the Red Sox has undoubtedly tainted this year's game but has come to be expected due to the fan-voting policies. I believe the fan-voting combined with player's votes should be the way the all-stars are determined. No one has a better idea of who truly deserves to be in the All-Star game than the players themselves. They should have say on which guys get to represent their league and all of baseball. Because of my love for the game I will be watching the All-Star game on Tuesday night, but also I will be cringing when I see Varitek come to the plate with his .220 batting average.