The All-Star Game Sucks

Okay, I don't really mean that, but the selection of backups and pitchers in the game surely does. I don't want to go off on too much of a tirade here, but I don't know what's worse: the players who got snubbed, or the players who got picked and shouldn't be there? Well, these things are a bit related and all come down to the All-Star managers.

Everyone will be (probably already is) talking about Omar Infante. I actually feel bad for this Atlanta pine rider. It's not his fault that he got picked, the problem is with senile (yeah, I know it's cheap) Charlie Manuel.

The Phillies' skipper made more than this one blunder. Besides leaving off Strasburg (which I would say he likely did because of player feedback, though at this point I have no idea how this guy thinks), Manuel took two middle relievers, none of whom pitch for San Diego or are named Hong-Chih Kuo.

I'm looking at you, Arthur Rhodes. Well, no, I'm just getting more pissed at Manuel. Picking Evan Meek is fine, he's had good numbers, but Rhodes is, to say the least, a huge stretch. You could have gone with Padre Mat Latos, or Astro Roy Oswalt, or Dodger Clayton Kershaw, or Cub Carlos Silva, Met Mike Pelfrey, the list goes on (and is also exactly where fan/ESPN favorite Strasburg would fit in).

Jose Reyes was picked at backup shortstop over Rafael Furcal, which doesn't make too much sense besides New York always winning out over Los Angeles. Ryan Howard was also taken at first base, which he didn't deserve, but no one will question because he also won an MVP award he also did not deserve.

Now, the snubs. There are two huge snubs, one apiece per league. The gentlemen who have something of a right to be pissed right now are named Joey Votto and Jered Weaver. There is an argument (number one in OPS begins it) that Joey Votto is currently the best player in baseball, let alone first base. Yet, now his fate is held in the hands of the fans to vote him in over other, fine players. Being that he plays in small market Cincinnati, I don't have too much faith in this unless ESPN picks up the baton.

Pujols was voted in by fans, that's fine and also a great pick. Adrian Gonzalez, who everyone says has to be the Padres' all-star (though if you've read this whole article you could come up with one or two other picks for them) is having a good season and isn't exaclty, on its own merits, a bad pick. Howard is strictly there because he plays for Manuel, signed a big contract, and people think he can hit left handed pitching, which, it turns out, he cannot.

Weaver not making the team truly puzzles me. The first reason is that, well, he's been dominant. The second one is that, and I don't know if any of you knew this, but the game is being played in Anaheim (or Los Angeles, not sure what they are going). I heard that Scioscia doesn't want him to pitch in it, but I don't know if that's even true. Even if it is, I bet the Angel fans in attendance and watching in great numbers on their television sets would love to see him there.

So, what have we learned? Well, that Charlie Manuel is an idiot, for sure. Also that Girardi isn't exactly a genius, either. But just these two managers aren't the problem, the system is. Why not have some sort of check on them, or a committee, or make it all fan voted? Yeah, sure, there are problems whatever way you decide, but I don't think any of them would have had Omar Infante booking a flight to John Wayne.