damned if he does, damned if he doesn't...

lol.

point taken. 'tis a slow few days, when 'hr derby' and 'the espys,' friggin' espn events, top the sports agenda.

 

This was my thought on it. More than 10 percent of the players in the majors have been deemed 2011 All-Stars. I thought by today, somebody would be adding Jake Delhomme as an outfielder.

It's gotten closer to the Pro Bowl this year than ever, and I can't even think of another season that came close.

 

I think this thread is valid. Jeter's absence at the All-Star Game at the moment he's the most-publicized player in the sport speaks volumes about how the All-Star Game is an anachronism that could be done away with without much fuss from players or fans.
I am in favor of interleague play, but I will also acknowledge interleague play has pretty well croaked any artistic rationale for the All-Star game.

 

That part, I don't agree with. There should always be an All-Star game. The concentration should be in making it what it was, not in tearing down institutions because they've slipped.

 

The last time the All-Star Game was felt to be REALLY significant was in the 50s and early 60s, when the National League was pretty well integrated and the American League wasn't. Since "integrated" meant "had African American stars on their rosters," the NL All-Stars were quite motivated.

 

When is first pitch for the Joe Buck smarm fest anyway?

 

I used to be one of those who thought the fans shouldn't vote because it just becomes a popularity contest, but over the years I softened on that. As of this week I'm solidly on the side of keeping the fan vote.

I'm in Phoenix, so I'm following this all-star game from a fan's perspective much more than usual. And you know what? For the prices they charge, this whole thing could be a hell of a lot more fan friendly. Would it kill them to throw people the fans care about into the Home Run Derby? I mean, Rickie Weeks? WTF? Weeks gets the honor of sucking in front of a crowd chanting for Justin Upton, who should have been in the contest instead.

When the fans are paying through the nose for tickets, the fans should be able to see who they want. If they want Jeter, great. Jeter may not be having the greatest season, but no one's going to pay $200+ so they can someday tell their grandchildren they saw Asdrubal Cabrera.

 

Asdrubal Cabrera, with a sprained ankle, is going to show up and start in Jeter's place. He is actually hurt. Should we rip him as well for possibly hurting his team, which is in a pennant race, just for an exhibition game?

Jeter is doing the right thing. Part of him is probably thinking "I didn't deserve to be on the team anyway."

 

I think Jeter made the right decision. He's coming off an injury and wants to make sure he's fresh for the 2nd half. There will be many more All Star Games after this for him to attend.

 

Yeah, but he's going to have to pay to get into the future ones.

 

Jeter has reached the place Ripken did late in his career where he's virtually guaranteed to get voted in by the fans. He has nothing to worry about.