Let’s not forget that the MLB All-Star game is the only All-Star game that actually means something. The Pro Bowl means less than nothing and is almost a waste of time to even play. The NBA All-Star game is clowning around game for three quarters and then the players take it serious with hopes to win the bonus for winning the game.

The MLB All-Star game should not determine home field advantage in the World Series, it should be team records. Why? Three main reasons: 1. The fans get to vote in the starters, which aren’t always the best players (more on that below). 2. Every team needs a representative, which hurts the manager’s ability to select the overall best talent. 3. Pitchers that recently pitched are removed from the game and anyone with lingering injuries are replaced further diluting the talent pool.

Now let’s take a look at this season’s All-Stars:

What’s the first thing that jumps out at you? To me: Derek Jeter is the starting shortstop of the American League with this stat line: .260AVG, 2HR, 20RBI, 7SB. Are you kidding? Take away names and not a single person that knows anything about baseball would select him for their All-Star team. Now, I understand that this is the player that the fans want to see. I am OK with that, if the game didn’t mean anything. Wouldn’t a Yankees fan rather have the AL win the game so they have a chance for Home Field advantage, rather than watch Jeter, who they normally watch all the time? Don’t take me for a Yankees hater, I also enjoy what Jeter has done for the game of baseball.

Sticking on the Yankees theme. How is C.C. Sabathia not an All-Star? 11-4, 3.05ERA, 1.21WHIP, 106Ks, 129.2IP. I understand that he is scheduled to start on Sunday and therefore wouldn’t be ready to pitch in the game anyway, but at least name him to the team and give him the recognition he deserves.

Let’s play another game: Pick the All-Star:

Player A: 2-1, 1.36ERA, 1.08WHIP, 0-2 in saves, 8 Holds, 39.2IP, 39Ks

Player B: 1-0, 1.05ERA, 1.31WHIP, 0-2 in saves, 18 Holds (MLB lead), 34.1IP, 55Ks

I’d take Player B every time. Unfortunately, Player B is David Robertson and he is not an All-Star. Player A is Aaron Crow and he is an All-Star, as the lone representative of the Kansas City Royals. He has solid numbers, but Robertson is better as a simple set-up man to set-up man comparison.

Another joke on the American League team is Matt Wieters. First, why does the team need three catchers? Second, he is the only Baltimore Oriole on the team, and he is not even the best player on his team (see Adam Jones).

Michael Cuddyer (the lone Minnesota Twin) is also another major stretch for the All-Star team. I’d also take Dustin Pedroia over Howie Kendrick.

Other notable snubs: Paul Konerko (he is in the last man in ballot in which the fans vote – and he should be a lock to win it), Mark Teixeira (I understand his .243 batting average cost him, but hard to deny 25 HRs [2nd in MLB] and 65 RBI [4th in MLB]).

On the National League side, I’d rather have Carlos Gonzalez than either Carlos Beltran, Jay Bruce or Justin Upton.

Other notable snubs: Anibal Sanchez (6-2, 3.30ERA, 1.19WHIP, 109IP, 111Ks), Ryan Howard (similar fate to Mark Teixeira – the .253AVG cost him, but his 17HR and 67RBI [3rd in MLB] are hard to ignore).

The MLB All-Star game isn’t built to be determining World Series Home Field advantage. It is an exhibition game for a reason, and they should accept that fact because of its flaws.

[Photo Credit: All-Star Logo - BigLeagueBaseballs.com, Derek Jeter - ThroughTheFenceBaseball.com]

The semi-finals of most fantasy baseball leagues came to a close on 9/20 and hopefully you will be one of the people lucky enough to be advancing to the Championship. I am lucky enough to be going to the championship in both of the leagues I am currently in.

The past week was another good one, here are some of the highlights:

• The Yankees have fallen into a mini rut. They are 5-5 in their past 10 games and have lost badly to some non-playoff teams. They still maintain a 5 game lead for the best record in the majors (but that doesn’t really matter in the MLB, like its does in the NBA). Hopefully for the Yankees, the rut is only now and they are back to form when the playoffs start.
• The Boston Red Sox are on fire winning 9 of their last 10 games and taking a commanding 8 game lead in the wild card race. The Texas Rangers made a nice run, but they will fall short this season.
• Speaking of the Red Sox, I was able to go to the first game of the Orioles- Red Sox series on Friday night. I went with a fellow sports blogger, @Number1Baseball (Read his take on the game here) . The Red Sox won the game by a score of 3-1, but it could have been much worse as the Red Sox had 11 hits and left 10 men on base. The night was perfect for baseball and Camden Yards is one of the nicer parks in the MLB (too bad the Orioles haven’t been exciting since Cal Ripken Jr.). The lack of excitement for the team was evident by the fact that there looked like there was more red jerseys in the stadium than there were orange ones. And when the Red Sox won the game, it sounded like they were the home team.
  

  Red Sox beat Orioles, 3-1

• The NL wild card chase remains tight with the Rockies leading by 4.5 games over the Giants, with the Marlins and Braves right behind them only 5 games back. It’s definitely  interesting to follow, but I think the Rockies will end up holding onto it.
• Chris Carpenter (StL- SP) is making a strong push for the NL CY Young award, and it will be a tough vote between him and Tim Lincecum. Let’s look at their stats:
  Lincecum- 14-6, 2.47 ERA, 4CG, 2SHO, 211.1 IP, 247 Ks, .208 BAA
  Carpenter- 16-4, 2.34 ERA, 3CG, 1SHO, 180.2 IP, 136Ks, .227 BAA
  As you can see these two are close, Carpenter has the fact that his team is the division leader on his side, Lincecum has the fact taht he has pitched all season long on his side. If I had a vote, I would have to say Lincecum would get it.
• Zach Greinke is still on fire this season. He is the MLB’s ERA leader with a 2.14 ERA. Over his last 37 IP, he has only allowed 3 ER.
• Last weekend, Derek Jeter surpassed Lou Gehrig as the Yankees’ all-time hit leader.
• Joe Mauer is hitting a ridiculous .374, I just felt that needed to be mentioned.

That’s going to do it for this week’s update, leave comments below and be sure to check the MikesPickz: Sports Section next week for another MLB review.