All-Star Voting -- Making a Joke of a Joke

by Shanghai Badger on Apr 23, 2009 6:07 AM CDT

Ok, I'm trying this again. MLB and Fox's claim that, "This time it counts!" is pretty much embraced by no one, yet Selig insists that it's the only logical way to determine home-field advantage for the World Series. Bravo Sierra, I say.

However, since MLB continues to ignore logic on this (shocking, I know), maybe fans can take matters into their hands to show how truly stupid the idea is. As fans of a National League contender, I say we try to put the worst starting 8 for the A.L. on the field as possible. If the Cubs do happen to win the pennant, maybe that would give them home-field advantage. If not, well, maybe MLB would start to see the folly in this arrangement.

To make this work, we'd have to vote for the same team. It's very early in the season (as some on this board tend to forget), but the ballot is out, so I looked at stats, considered who is likely to come back and have a good first half. I also considered a fan favorite who probably won't be ASG worthy but has a shot to get in, anyway.

Here are my suggested picks:

1B -- Davis (TEX)

2B -- Casilla (MIN)

3B -- Beltre (SEA)

SS -- Izturis (BAL) no pun intented

OF -- Gutierrez (SEA)

OF -- Gomez (MIN)

OF -- Griffey (SEA)

C -- Zaun (BAL)

As far as the N.L. goes, I'd say vote any way at all. I'm not in favor of stuffing the ballot box to get 8 Cub starters, but then I wouldn't have been in favor of what I'm suggesting above a few years ago.

So, can we show Selig and the Fox network what happens when too much importace is given to an exhibition game?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Good grief

I actually like the fact that the All-Star game decides home field. The All-Star game has always been irrelevant and boring, so at least this puts a charge into the proceedings. And sorry, but I don’t think you will find much appetite among baseball fans across the globe to manipulate the vote in order to see their favorite league have an advantage in the game. That’s just silly on many levels.

Seems to me also the Philadelphia Phillies did just fine last year. Home field advantage in the World Series is in my opinion marginally important.

by BLou on Apr 23, 2009 6:22 AM CDT reply actions

Check the last 26 WS winners

IIRC, 20 of them had home field. It probably is marginally important — but so is the All-Star game.

Does it really “put a charge” into it for you? You still seem to think the game is irrelevant.

Home field is not the maini point – the main point is it’s an asinine system.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Apr 23, 2009 6:45 AM CDT up reply actions

JOLT!

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Well, of course YOU agree with me

You ARE me. . . right, BLou?

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Apr 23, 2009 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Not sure why making an exhibition mean something makes any sense...

The all-star game is irrelevant for the same reason ALL all-star games are irrelevant. They’re exhibitions, so most people don’t care.

Back when there wasn’t interleague play and there wasn’t free-agency, the all-star game was a chance to show off your league’s ability against the other league. Once the environment of baseball changed, the All-Star game became like all the other all-star games – a joke.

It’s an exhibition. It’s supposed to be irrelevant. Contriving meaning (and as you said, it’s not like it necessarily adds that much meaning) seems silly to me.

by SouthernCub on Apr 23, 2009 7:24 AM CDT up reply actions

the best record

should determine home field advantage, not a group of popularity contest winners.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

As a national league fan...

I have always voted for the worst possible AL team, even before the “this thing counts” thing. I know, I know…this is against the spirit of the thing, but hey, I want to see the NL win. SO I say yes…vote for the worst NL team.

Kasey

See what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
Also, see the Cubs 2009 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2009.html

by kaseyi on Apr 23, 2009 6:25 AM CDT reply actions

kasey

you were going good until the end there.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Apr 23, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

The very fact that voting has already started

Shows just what a joke this is. I plan on sitting in my pool, drinking a beer during the All-Star Game. I have no interest whatsoever in watching the baseball equivalent of the Homecoming King and Queen march onto the dance floor.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Apr 23, 2009 6:51 AM CDT reply actions

You reall think that...

a handful of Cubs fans voting for the worst (what is this, American Idol?) is going to have ANY sort of impact when you consider that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, or Yankees fans are going to be stuffing the ballot, as well as thousands and thousands of fans from other teams?

What a silly idea.

by kanderber on Apr 23, 2009 7:35 AM CDT reply actions

It will once I get my bot up and running.

As long as I can keep feeding it new e-mail addresses to burn through, I figure I can process 10K votes A DAY. That gives me something north of half a million votes before the polls close. Beats gold farming on WoW.

(Note: No, I’m not actually going to do this… yet.)

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 4 games of 13

by znohitter on Apr 23, 2009 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh, go ahead.

That’d be great fun. As I noted in another thread, you can get an unlimited supply of valid email addresses here.

I figure if your bot is good enough, it should be able to process 10K votes an HOUR.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 23, 2009 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL...

I can just see the SportsCenter clips now…

“A group of angry Cubs fans rigged a computer program to stuff the ballot box with Cubs votes for the NL All-Star Team and — get this — the worst possible starting lineup for the AL. Bud Selig is reportedly confused and slightly hungry.”

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 4 games of 13

by znohitter on Apr 23, 2009 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

DO IT!

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions

You. Must. Do. This.

remember
Sammy Jankis

by neverAcquiesce on Apr 23, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Please do

by gochicubs22 on Apr 23, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I still want to see ONEDEC starting in LF

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Apr 23, 2009 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Got to start somewhere

I’m not claiming that this a social crusade, but a lot of people don’t like the format. We can bitch about it or try to make a statement.

And, yeah — the ASG has become American Idol, instead of an exhibition game.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Apr 23, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

It's Bud Lights' League

Nothing surprises me with this ass clown. An exhibition game deciding WS home field advantage. All because the game ended in a tie in his own backyard in 2002. Then it’s a flip of the coin for him: Bury his head in the sand or up his ass like steriods, or come up with some stupid reasoning to alleviate ties; which really doesn’t fix it. What happens if there’s a tie again after say 11 innings and all the pitchers have been used?

Now, the voting starts even earlier. OK, so the media can now talk about all of these all-time high vote totals. Great. Take something that used to be cool, have a tie exhibition game – like it were the end of the world – enact some stupid rule, then pile on a few years later.

Reminds me of another Dilbert. PHB is asked to justify another re-organization. Dilbert asks PHB what he’d do if he got a flat tire. Wally interjects and says, “he would rotate the tires and drive home”. In other words, “polish a turd it’s still a turd”.

The only commish more egregious than this dork is the NBA-reject F’ing up the NHL.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 23, 2009 7:48 AM CDT reply actions

if "this time it counts"

have the managers decided by 2009 records. then the managers might play their best players more than 4 innings.

i’ll vote for your al lineup.

by tim815 on Apr 23, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions

I pledge 50 votes a day...

for that AL lineup. Did it today…took about 6-7 minutes.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Apr 23, 2009 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

Great idea.

The ASG is a fun distraction from the pressures of a 162-game season, but it should be no more. Placing importance upon such a game takes away the carefree attitude and punishes the losing side which could, ultimately, produce the best team in baseball and still not receive the WS advantage.

I say we do it.

remember
Sammy Jankis

by neverAcquiesce on Apr 23, 2009 10:12 AM CDT reply actions