As I watched the All-Star selections, I had the same question many have: “How should the All-Star teams be selected?”
One of the great traditions of the All-Star Game is the selection of players through fan voting. Fans are awarded for supporting baseball and its teams. They deservedly have a say in who gets to play. At the same time, I disagree with the fans’ vote determining the starters.
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The All-Star Game is an event of great importance. A selection can often validate a player’s career. In addition, home field advantage in the World Series is at stake. Let the fans continue to select an All-Star at each position. Let the remaining roster spots be selected by each league’s general managers. General managers are paid to evaluate the best talent and compose a roster built to win. This would reward the best players and provide each team with a roster designed to win.
Once the rosters are complete, it should be the manager’s responsibility to select starters, craft a lineup, and use the bench and pitching staff effectively. After all, that’s what they are paid to do.
The All-Star Game is the one time I can justify using the designated hitter. It is the one time the rule does not put a team at a disadvantage. When American League teams play at National League parks because of interleague play, they are forced to either lose one of their top sluggers or put their slugger in the field, where he might be a liability. Likewise, NL teams are not built with the extra slugger and often put up weaker lineups in AL ballparks. During the All-Star game, NL and AL rosters are filled with talented offensive players. Let them hit. No one watches the All-Star game to see the pitchers hit.
The other problem with the DH during the All-Star game is it prevents everyday AL players from being on the ballot when the game is played in a NL park. Teams must choose whether or not to put their DH on the ballot at the player’s secondary position while omitting one of their other regulars. The White Sox put Paul Konerko on the ballot at first base, omitting Jim Thome, their first basemen/designated hitter. Thome had a tremendous first half, hitting .292 with 27 home runs. Likewise the Red Sox omitted Kevin Youkilis for David Ortiz. Ortiz played six games at first base and was voted on to the team.
Finally, why does each team need to be represented? While each team does have quality players and it gives all fans a player to root for, the All-Star Team should celebrate the league’s best players. This simple rule compromises the integrity of the selection process.
As told to The Examiner’s John Keim. Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden provides an exclusive column to The Examiner each week, ranging on topics from the Nats to the state of Major League Baseball.
