The Question is whether you think fans should be allowed to vote in the starters as opposed to a group within major league baseball voting for starters, such as managers or GMs.



Personally, I don't think fans should vote. The all-star balloting becomes nothing more than a popularity contest and a waste of time for people who make 25 votes a piece for one player on their team. The all-star game should players who deserve to go, not getting in based on name alone.

Case in point. Joe Mauer is hitting around .380 and could possibly become the first catcher in 64 years to win a batting crown if he keeps it up. His last 40 at-bats, he's had 20 hits (thats a .500 avg for those keeping score at home), yet he's not even in the top 5 in fan voting through today. That's ridiculous. There is now ay in hell Jason Varitek deserves to get in there ahead of Mauer.

Not to mention Sheffield and Matsui who have been out for the better part of a month, and in sheff's case, longer than that, are 5th and 6th in OF balloting.

It's become a joke.





Discuss.

fans are idiots,,
just look at this board for proof

fans are idiots,,
just look at this board for proof
Sitting in front of a mirror?:box:

Sitting in front of a mirror?:box:
of course i included myself,,
after all i am posting at JN,,

Being a member of JN makes you a automatic member of Bizarro World MENSA
http://www.supermancollectors.com/scn/2004mar/supball6.jpg

Slanted poll. The "yes" category insinuates that fans rarely vote for players they don't like. The "no" option insinuates that fans are morons.

I think the vote should be like the NFL. 1/3rd fan, 1/3rd coach, 1/3rd player...

Or better yet....North America vs. the World

The problem with fans voting is not the blatant homerism by 'home' fans. It is money talks and the teams that spend money more then likely have more fans attending their parks. Even in cases like KC, there largest crowds have a distictive away team fandom when the Red Sox, Yankees et al visit.

I say make it easy for teams. Give the vote to the first 10K season ticket holders for every team. That puts the Boston/New York fans on equal footing with the rest of the league. Then incorporate GM's idea. Then have a Day/Night double header. A US vs World U25 game starting at 1 voted on by the rest of the fans. Then the AL vs NL game at night voted on by season ticket holders/players and coaches.

The problem with fans voting is not the blatant homerism by 'home' fans. It is money talks and the teams that spend money more then likely have more fans attending their parks. Even in cases like KC, there largest crowds have a distictive away team fandom when the Red Sox, Yankees et al visit.

I say make it easy for teams. Give the vote to the first 10K season ticket holders for every team. That puts the Boston/New York fans on equal footing with the rest of the league. Then incorporate GM's idea. Then have a Day/Night double header. A US vs World U25 game starting at 1 voted on by the rest of the fans. Then the AL vs NL game at night voted on by season ticket holders/players and coaches.

Not bad.

Personally, all these All Star games are a waste of time. A few days off for players to rest their minor injuries. And a grand ol' time for the "stars" who are voted in.

However, if there is a need for this game, then at least make it where players who deserve to go get in, and those who are bignames/big contracts/most popular do not. Something along the lines of this post will do. Incorporating in a 1/3 fans/1/3 players/1/3 GM's is also a good idea. But do not give writer's a vote, except as a fan. They otherwise have no clue, even if they follow a team daily.

Of course fans should vote. Who the hell is the game played for? Who's footing the bill?

If players and coaches want to jerk each other off in an empty stadium for free, good for them.

The problem with fans voting is not the blatant homerism by 'home' fans. It is money talks and the teams that spend money more then likely have more fans attending their parks. Even in cases like KC, there largest crowds have a distictive away team fandom when the Red Sox, Yankees et al visit.

I say make it easy for teams. Give the vote to the first 10K season ticket holders for every team. That puts the Boston/New York fans on equal footing with the rest of the league. Then incorporate GM's idea. Then have a Day/Night double header. A US vs World U25 game starting at 1 voted on by the rest of the fans. Then the AL vs NL game at night voted on by season ticket holders/players and coaches.



Do the Devil Rays, Marlins, Pirates and Royals have 10,000 season ticket holders COMBINED???

just have 2 teams,,
a meaningless team thats based on fan vote where the players get atrophy,,and a real team based on players votes,,

the real team woyuld be players only voting,, no fans, no press etc,,,take all the homerism out,,
the rule for players is you cant vote for your team..