The ASG is Flawed and Deserving Players are Being Snubbed

Larry Rooney

When looking at the NL and AL lineup cards for the All-Star Game, all of the players seemed pretty deserving of their selections. This is true, but there are perhaps more deserving players, players who didn't even make the team. Players from smaller market teams are being forgotten and snubbed of their All-Star status.

The system is flawed.
The system allows fans to vote for players at each starting position, minus the pitcher's role. The players who receive the most votes at each position are selected to start. Then, the players vote on several players on to the rosters as backups and eight pitchers. Next, the manager of the NL chooses five pitchers and four position players, and the AL manager selects five pitchers and two position players. After this, the coaching staff selects several candidates to be voted on for the final spot on each roster.

It's sad to say, but as the case with other All-Star events in different sports, the fans are biased. Players who are deserving of starting selections are constantly snubbed. Even the player votes are swayed to some extent and result in players missing out on selections. Regardless of this bias, the system will not be changed. The ASG will remain a game where the most popular guys will play, rather than the most deserving.

Several players come to mind when thinking about this year's snubs. For one, two AL second basemen, CLE Jason Kipnis and MIN Brian Dozier. While Dozier made the roster due to TOR Jose Bautista's sore shoulder, Dozier's number were clearly indicative of a starter's role or potentially the backup second baseman. Dozier launched an impressive 17 homeruns and drove in 43 runs, while maintaining a .258 batting average. These numbers are impressive and indicative of a potential starting job, but probably better suited to earn a backup role. Jason Kipnis, however, boasts a .323 batting average and has launched 6 homeruns to bring in 37 runs. Kipnis put up these numbers for a below .500 Cleveland team, imagine what he could do for a true playoff contender let alone an All-Star team. While HOU Jose Altuve was deserving of an All-Star spot, he probably did not deserve the starter's role as much as these two players.

We no turn to an NL outfielder for another snub at year's All-Star Game, COL Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon attained a .291 batting average and launched 11 homeruns while driving in 40 runs. While he did not end up playing due to injury, STL Matt Holiday has accrued far less impressive numbers over the first half of the season and earned an All-Star starting role. Holiday, over just 53 games, has a .303 batting average, 3 homeruns, and 26 runs batted in. Blackmon's numbers are far more impressive and deserving of All-Star notice.

Another Colorado player deserving of an All-Star nod was SS Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo batted a cool .313 and hit 10 homeruns and drove in 49 runs even after battling through a rough April. Tulowitzki's numbers are obviously deserving of All-Star praise and a starting role. Tulo, however, was able to participate in the All-Star Game this year due to MIA SS Dee Gordon's dislocated thumb.

Perhaps the biggest snub of all this year is NYY DH/3B Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod's season should have easily won him a ticket to go to Cincinnati this year. Coming off of the hip surgeries, the year-long suspension, the constant media buzz swirling around him, his upcoming 40th birthday, the man has overcome it all to put up All-Star worthy numbers this season. I addressed several players who A-Rod outperformed in my last article "A-Roid? Or A-Star?". A-Rod's numbers were clearly worthy of an All-Star appearance, but baseball isn't yet ready to #ForgiveARod for his steroid use. Despite all the negative criticism from the media, Rodriguez has matured and risen through the muck to post one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

These are just a few of the obvious snubs at this year's ASG. There are many other players who were left out this year. While all of the participants were deserving for their impressive seasons so far, there were definitely some more deserving but forgotten about players. The system cannot be fixed, there will always be players left out. But, this year's team had some extremely blatant candidates left out compared to years past.