Silverman: All-Star Game Controversies Reminiscent Of A Bygone Era
By Steve Silverman
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There's something very old-fashioned about the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Much of it has to do with the time of year, as there is nothing else on the calendar. Basketball and hockey are finished, and football has not yet begun.
That will change shortly after Tuesday's All-Star Game, as training camps will open around the NFL, and we will be that much closer to the start of the season.
But for now, baseball is center stage. The TV ratings tell us that the Midsummer Classic long ago lost its luster with the general sporting public. The numbers don't even compare with a regular-season NFL game.
But who cares? The All-Star game has always represented the best of the game, and nearly every former Little Leaguer can relate. We all start out with dreams about making the big leagues, and the players who will take the field Tuesday night at Petco Park in San Diego are the best of the best.
At least they are supposed to be. There are a number of excellent selections, but there are some curious ones as well. There are always arguments about which players deserved to go to the All-Star game and which ones didn't, and that's part of the charm of the game.
There are four Chicago Cubs starting in the National League infield. There can't be any complaints about Anthony Rizzo starting at first base or Kris Bryant starting at third base, but the selection of Ben Zobrist at second bases is curious and Addison Russell at shortstop is flat-out wrong.
Zobrist is hitting .291 with 12 home runs, 44 RBIs and a .399 on-base percentage, and that's good. However, former Met Daniel Murphy has been on fire with his .345 average, 14 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Russell may end up being a sensational player over the whole of his career, but he has been overshadowed by a couple of other shortstops this season. Russell has 11 home runs and 49 RBI to go with his .242 average, but Corey Seager of the Dodgers is having a much better year with his .303 average, 17 homers and 41 RBIs. Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies is also having an All-Star-caliber year with his 19 home runs and 51 RBIs.
One of the biggest glitches came at catcher, where Buster Posey edged out Yadier Molina for the starting nod. Posey is one of the game's best clutch hitters, but he did not deserve to start, and neither did Molina. Wilson Ramos of the Nationals is hitting .335 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs, and he deserved the nod.
There are lesser arguments on the American League side, but Eric Hosmer has plenty of competition at first base. Hosmer is hitting .307 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs, and Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers has similar numbers, but he has hit five more home runs.
Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles is not even going as a reserve, but the bull-strong first baseman has 21 home runs and 56 RBI. He can change any game with one swing, and his power is undeniable.
Pitcher Aaron Sanchez has gotten the job done for Toronto all season with his 9-1 record and 2.94 earned run average. It is obvious that Royals manager Ned Yost favors relief pitching, but there is no way Sanchez should have been ignored.
On the National League side, there is a good chance the absence of Brandon Crawford could have an impact in this game. Crawford is perhaps the most important non-pitcher on the NL West-leading Giants, and his ability to come through in the clutch is vital to San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy. Crawford is hitting .271 with eight homers and 55 RBI, and he is sensational in the field.
The National League may also regret not putting young phenom Gregory Polanco on the team. Polanco is raking with a .297 average, 12 home runs and 50 RBI, and his ability to hammer extra-base hits is vital to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The controversies surrounding the All-Star game are all old-school. It's about players on the bench who should be starting or players who were left off either team but should be going to San Diego.
These are throwback arguments. We're so used to seeing star players in all sports getting into trouble with the law, alcohol, drugs or all three.
Every once in a while, it's nice to see throwback controversies, because they don't come along very often.
Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy
