The rosters for next Tuesday's All-Star Game were released over the weekend and as usual, there have been many arguments made for players that "should" have made the team and complaints about the rule that states that each team have a representative.
The problem is that the fans have too much of a say in who makes the team. Yes, the All-Star Game is played for the fans but the signifigance of the game has changed so much that the selection process needs to be altered.
The most important reason for this is that the All-Star Game now determines home field advantage for the World Series. It just does not make sense that the token representative from the Royals or Astros could possibly determine what league will get to play four games in their home park in October. If a player is deserving then he should make the team (like Hunter Pence of the Astros) but there should be no requirement that every team be represented.
Another reason for the change is that due to nationally televised games and interleague play, fans already get to see the stars of both leagues on a consistent basis. There really is no reason for a fan in Pittsburgh to vote for Derek Jeter because if they tune into ESPN or FOX, they are likely to see him play almost every week.
In place of fan voting, the managers of the top six teams in each league - the teams with the best shot at playing in the World Series at the time of the All-Star Game - should determine the rosters by keeping in mind that by building the best roster that they can, they will be putting their league - and maybe themselves - in the best possible position to win the World Series. There will be no more requirement to have representation from every team and the bench will provide exactly one backup for each position. The pitching staff will be made up of six starters, two middle relievers, and three closers. The 30th roster spot, which can be used for a pitcher or position player, will be voted on by the fans.
With that in mind, here is how the All-Star Game rosters should look like:
American League
Starting Lineup:
1. Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox), CF - .310 BA, 9 HR, 42 RBI
2. Howie Kendrick (Angels), 2B - .307 BA, 8 HR, 26 RBI
3. Adrian Gonzalez (Red Sox), 1B - .348 BA, 16 HR, 75 RBI
4. Jose Bautista (Blue Jays), RF - .329 BA, 27 HR, 56 RBI
5. David Ortiz (Red Sox), DH - .301 BA, 17 HR, 49 RBI
6. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), 3B - .295 BA, 13 HR, 52 RBI
7. Curtis Granderson (Yankees), LF - .274 BA, 23 HR, 59 RBI
8. Alex Avila (Tigers), C - .297 BA, 10 HR, 46 RBI
9. Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians), SS - .293 BA, 14 HR, 49 RBI
Starting Pitcher: Justin Verlander (Tigers) - 11-3, 2.32 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 130 K's
Bench:
Matt Wieters (Orioles), C - .262 BA, 7 HR, 33 RBI
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), 1B - .324 BA, 17 HR, 56 RBI
Robinson Cano (Yankees), 2B - .294 BA, 14 HR, 54 RBI
Jhonny Peralta (Tigers), SS - .314 BA, 14 HR, 49 RBI
Michael Young (Rangers), 3B - .318 BA, 7 HR, 55 RBI
Josh Hamilton (Rangers), OF - .294 BA, 10 HR, 41 RBI
Adam Jones (Orioles), OF - .283 BA, 13 HR, 46 RBI
Matt Joyce (Rays), OF - .298 BA, 11 HR, 40 RBI
Paul Konerko (White Sox), DH - .319 BA, 21 HR, 62 RBI
Bullpen:
CC Sabathia (Yankees), SP - 11-4, 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 106 K's
Jered Weaver (Angels), SP - 10-4, 1.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 114 K's
Josh Beckett (Red Sox), SP - 7-3, 2.12 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 91 K's
C.J. Wilson (Rangers), SP - 8-3, 3.02 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 109 K's
Gio Gonzalez (A's), SP - 8-5, 2.31 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 106 K's
Aaron Crow (Royals), RP - 1.96 ERA, 8 Holds, 1.16 WHIP
Daniel Bard (Red Sox), RP - 2.25 ERA, 17 Holds, 0.83 WHIP
Mariano Rivera (Yankees), C - 1.91 ERA, 21 Saves, 1.03 WHIP
Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox), C - 3.58 ERA, 17 Saves, 1.13 WHIP
Chris Perez (Indians), C - 2.30 ERA, 20 Saves, 1.18 WHIP
National League
Starting Lineup:
1. Jose Reyes (Mets), SS - .354 BA, 3 HR, 32 RBI
2. Brandon Phillips (Reds), 2B - .292 BA, 8 HR, 45 RBI
3. Prince Fielder (Brewers), 1B - .299 BA, 21 HR, 69 RBI
4. Matt Kemp (Dodgers), CF - .324 BA, 22 HR, 64 RBI
5. Lance Berkman (Cardinals), RF - .295 BA, 22 HR, 61 RBI
6. Ryan Braun (Brewers), LF - .320 BA, 16 HR, 62 RBI
7. Brian McCann (Braves), C - .316 BA, 14 HR, 47 RBI
8. Hunter Pence (Astros), DH - .325, 10 HR, 57 RBI
9. Placido Polanco (Phillies), 3B - .274 BA, 4 HR, 39 RBI
Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay (Phillies) - 11-3, 2.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 131 K's
Bench:
Yadier Molina (Cardinals), C - .286 BA, 5 HR, 31 RBI
Joey Votto (Reds), 1B - .318 BA, 12 HR, 52 RBI
Rickie Weeks (Brewers), 2B - .277 BA, 15 HR, 34 RBI
Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), SS - .271 BA, 17 HR, 57 RBI
Chipper Jones (Braves), 3B - .256 BA, 7 HR, 44 RBI
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), OF - .294 BA, 12 HR, 46 RBI
Shane Victorino (Phillies), OF - .303 BA, 9 HR, 34 RBI
Matt Holliday (Cardinals), OF - .316 BA, 10 HR, 40 RBI
Ryan Howard (Phillies), DH - .250 BA, 17 HR, 67 RBI
Bullpen:
Cole Hamels (Phillies), SP - 9-4, 2.41 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 110 K's
Cliff Lee (Phillies), SP - 9-6, 2.92 ERA, 1.08 WHIP. 128 K's
Jair Jurrjens (Braves), SP - 11-3, 1.89 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 63 K's
Ryan Vogelsong (Giants), SP - 6-1, 2.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 68 K's
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), SP - 8-4, 3.23 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 138 K's
Tyler Clippard (Nationals), RP - 1.91 ERA, 21 Holds, 0.85 WHIP
Jonny Venters (Braves), RP - 1.56 ERA, 17 Holds, 0.94 WHIP
Brian Wilson (Giants), C - 3.03 ERA, 24 Saves, 1.42 WHIP
Heath Bell (Padres), C - 2.50 ERA, 25 Saves, 1.17 WHIP
Joel Hanrahan (Pirates), C - 1.37 ERA, 25 Saves, 0.94 WHIP
Neither roster is perfect. The American League is very thin at catcher and (surprisingly to me) at closer. The National League is weak at third base. However, you must agree (seriously, no arguments) that this is a much better system than the one that is currently used by MLB to select its All-Star Game rosters.
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