The Touchy Feely All-Star Game

Major League Baseball probably has the worst criteria for selecting All-Stars.

First, let managers, players and bench coaches make the selections. Either take the vote away from the fans or weigh the fan voting to keep ballot stuffing to a minimum. Weigh the fan voting to 25-30%. Let the remainder go to people that watch baseball on a daily basis. It's a manager and coach's job to know the opponent. Let them have a bigger say in the All-Star line ups than the fans that vote for either a local favorite or a name will nothing else to go by. Taking the decision on reserves away from each All-Star manager also avoids appearance of favoritism by selecting a player on his team.

The worst rule, by far, stipulates that each team must have a player on the squad. The local Houston Astros serve as a prime example. It's a terrible club playing terrible ball from top to bottom. No one on the Astros deserves an All-Star spot. However due the little league rule, Michael Bourn will carry the banner. Without looking at stats, cause I really don't care right now, it's a safe bet that someone more deserving was left off. I want to see the best players and not a player from every team.

Finally, do away with the winning league hosts the World Series. The rule doesn't add any intrigue. Instead it robs the team with the best record from hosting if their All-Star team loses the game.