Major League Baseball's annual mid-summer classic sets the stage for showcasing the best talent the league has to offer. The integrity of the All-Star Game and MLB itself are in question, if changes are not made to the All-Star selection process.Baseball fans vote on the starting positions for the All-Star Game on the internet. This method slights the small market teams because most of the starting players come from teams that have large fan bases, such as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
Let's face it, the fan vote is a popularity contest and not a real assessment of who the best players are. MLB should revise the process by weighing in the votes of players, coaches and managers together with the fans votes. If there is significant difference between the fans and the players use the season's statistics to determine the starter.
Another change needed to the All-Star selection process is to prohibit players that violate MLB's drug policy from playing in the All-Star Game. It is unbelievable that Manny Ramirez (LA Dodgers), currently serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, is eligible to play in the 2009 ALS. He is currently fourth among outfielders in the All-Star voting.
There will always be debates on the All-Star selection process but one thing is for sure, MLB needs to send a strong message and take action on violators of it's drug policy.
