All Star Schamll Shtar

I've been debating posting this for awhile now, but the more people I talk to, the more logical it seems.

I have a couple problems with the All Star game since that fateful tie a few years ago. I hate the fact that MLB is trying to force us to care about the ASG. Let's face it, just like every other professional sports league, the ASG is an exhibition game that is supposed to be for our enjoyment. Trying to put an artificial importance by having it determine home field advantage for the World Series is ludicrous. Especially when you look at it's history, and how one league tends to dominate for long stretches at a time. But that is just my opinion. Obviously the league likes it that way and it will be around for awhile, and there will be plenty of fans that think the ASG should matter. I can live with that.

My big gripe is not really about the game. MLB puts an exagerated importance on the game. Fine. If that is the case, let's be logical about deciding who plays in the game. Not only are they starting the voting three weeks in to the season, but the game takes place at the halfway mark. Like someone said in one of the main posts, how can you tell who deserves to go this early in the year? Also, does the second half of the season not matter? Allstars can't be made in the run for the playoffs? It is a popularity contest, and I think everyone knows that. Pujols could be hitting .120 with 1 hr and 40 errors at first base and he would still get voted in. Didn't Nomar get voted in at SS a few years back without even playing a game or something like that? And Giambi was starting first baseman with terrible numbers at one point wasn't he? So ok, it's a popularity contest to determine who plays to determine who gets homefield advantage in the World Series that probably most of the players in the ASG will have nothing to do with.

Blah blah blah....get to the point. Ok, here is what I think. MLB has given us the power to determine a portion of the ASG rosters. I say we exploit this power to our best advantage! No, as much as I would love it, that doesn't mean voting in every possible Padres player (Not that some don't deserve it). Yes, we need to make sure the NL has the best lineup possible, but that is only part of it. I think using the system they have given us to the fullest includes voting for the WORST possible AL team that we can! I say we put together the worst AL team we can, and pass a list out to all the NL team blogs and have everyone start voting, online and at the games. Let's do out part to get the NL an advantage in the ASG and the Padres homefield advantage in the World Series.

I've kicked around the idea for awhile, but always felt like it was more trouble than it was worth. But since the Padres have a legitimate chance to go to the World Series, and after seeing something similar work with Ameican Idol and Sanjaya, I say we go for it!