Reason number 1,454 why fan voting stinks

Could Manny Ramirez really play in the all-star game after missing 50 games due to a suspension?

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I don't like fan voting for professional all-stars games, and to put it bluntly, neither should you.

It makes no sense whatsoever. Why should an all-star game designed to feature the best players in a particular sport be subject to the fans' overtly biased opinions? Not that former managers and players have the most knowledgeable baseball minds in the history of the universe, but they do have a little more insight when trying to select the game's top players. Players like David Ortiz, who play for popular teams like the Red Sox, have a far better chance at earning a trip to the mid-summer classic than players such as Adrian Gonzalez, who play for far less popular teams like the Padres, even if they have inferior numbers.

In the meanwhile, the latest news out of Los Angeles has done nothing to ease my complaints over fan voting. According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, suspended outfielder Manny Ramirez is fourth among N.L. outfielders, with 442,763 votes in the first round of National League balloting.

Is this at all fair? Why should a player, who will miss 50 games because of a drug suspension and therefore post inferior numbers to the other candidates, be possibly selected for the all-star game? It makes no sense. The only reason Manny is still receiving votes is because of his popularity, not his performance this season.

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

165 days ago

Score 1

I agree and I disagree. With baseball, having the All-Star Game "count" and still having fans vote makes no sense. But I don't have much of a problem with fans voting for who they want to see play. The game is played for fans, and a star isn't a star because he hits .350. He's a star because he's popular.

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The BeastAAA-er

165 days ago

Score 1

Well I think it's wrong because the object of the MLB all-star game is to line up the best players in each league and have them compete for home-field advantage. So, it doesn't make sense for MLB. The NBA ASG is just a screw around exhibition game so fan voting isn't too bad.

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SSreportersLegend

165 days ago

Score 2

Then get rid of the "home-field advantage" idea.

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Taytay 24All-American

165 days ago

Score 1

You're looking at this backwards, Beast. The problem is not the fan vote, but rather that the ASG "counts". Drop that nonsense and let the fans continue to vote for who they want to see. The ASG exists for us!
Well, that and merchandising. (Purchased by us! Yeah!)

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The BeastAAA-er

165 days ago

Score 2

Taytay: The thing is that the "ASG counts" is staying. So as long as we're going to have that; why not actually try to have actual representatives (i.e. the best players playing).

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Taytay 24All-American

165 days ago

Score 2

"Counts" is staying, but fan voting is disposible? Who says? And where are your priorities?

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

165 days ago

Score 1

Just thinking hypothetically, how would one determine the "best" players? Voting can easily determine the most popular, but determining the best is simply not possible.

And I'm with Taytay. If I could change one thing about the ASG, it would be that it determines home field advantage. And that would also solve the problems created by fan voting.

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Taytay 24All-American

165 days ago

Score 2

Determining the best plsyer is easy, Rawb. Remember, we just determined DiMaggio was the best CF of all time...wait, or was it Mays...or Mantle...hmmm...
Fan voting it is!

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Taytay 24All-American

165 days ago

Score 2

Or as an alternative, we could seek input from the BCS.

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SSreportersLegend

165 days ago

Score 2

Fan voting does not stink. It only stinks when something as ludicrous as making an "exhibition game" count as the determiner for who gets HFA in the World Series (which has been the AL every year).

It also stinks when it makes up 100% of the voting.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

164 days ago

Score 2

'Counts' is staying, but fan voting is disposible? Who says? And where are your priorities?"

beautifully said Taytay.

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RomiezzoLegend

165 days ago

Score 1

100% behind you on this one, Beast. The all-star game (MLB in this case) has gotten so outta whack that I don't know where to start. Of course, there's the fans voting for their players, but then these players also have to play for home field advantage in the World Series. What Selig doesn't comprehend is the fact that this isn't a popularity contest: this is the sport of baseball.

I like the idea of the two managers of the preceding World Series managing the game. That is actually a very good idea in my opinion. Nothing better than having the two managers of the past World Series going head to head once again.

However, like almost everyone else, the fan voting, and the all-star game in general has lost its touch of originality.

Oh, and I'm actually dying to know what the other 1,453 reasons are about fan voting. I can only think of a couple. (However, I can think of about 500 for the MLB All-Star game.) ;)

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

164 days ago

Score 2

But the All-Star Game IS a popularity contest. It's an exhibition of star players. If people want to see Manny Ramirez play, then why not let them see it?

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Captain SarcasticWaterboy

165 days ago

Score 0

I think I missed numbers 1 through 1,453.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

150 days ago

Score 0

Hey be careful, some of us are die hard fans of the Padres. Give credit they work as a team, Jake had the flu last week and is now better, poor Cy took the loss yesterday. Hey Dodger fans, one day the Mets will win and defeat you send you down into the cellar with a 99 loss, I pray for the Friar to get on fire soon and watch the bats will be hot again, yours will go code blue and pass out. I want My padres to win this year we got the act together, now lets get some runs tonight and put L.A. out of its misery it caused San Diego last night. Get to the pitcher early didn't do it, get to them late enough and make sure it is so high that it gives the friars a good chance to gain some ground back.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

150 days ago

Score 0

GO METS and GO PADRES!

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