2010 MLB All-Star Game

Don't get me wrong.

Ubaldo Jimenez' no-hitter counts for something. So do his major league-leading 14 wins. Same goes for Roy Halladay's perfect game and major league-leading seven complete games.

But the pitcher who deserves the starting nod for the National League All-Star team plays for the Florida Marlins.

That's right, the same team that rarely captures national attention unless the manager gets fired or it trades away a star player. 

Hey Bleacher Creatures! I'm Chris, co-owner and operator over at TheScoreBoards. It's been a while since I've been able to write anything on here, but I miss hearing from you folks.

I think I've found a way to contribute here without having to spend as much time on it as I used to. While I will certainly do my best to offer some of my own original work on a somewhat regular basis, I would also like to start sharing some of the discussions going on at my site.

It is clear that some baseball players refuse to participate in the Home Run Derby because they are afraid of the negative impact it will have on their swing during the second half of the season.

Clearly, guys like Alex Rodriguez, who are paranoid, and even players who have experienced negative results like David Wright and Bobby Abreu are off-base.

For there is no apparent correlation between participation in MLB's signature event and future results.

What in the name of Babe Ruth is Jason Heyward doing on the National League All-Star squad? Were the voters drunk when they voted or what?

Did he make the starting team because of his stellar performance? Don't make me laugh, eh.

Let's look at his numbers for a minute. Currently, he is ranked 74th in the NL in batting with a .251 mark. That's impressive, yes?

He is 42nd in the league with 11 HR and 31st in RBI with 45.

The MLB All-Star Lineup has garnered a variety of reactions, ranging from cheers and sighs of relief to whimpers and shrieks of disbelief.

When the 2010 MLB All-Star lineups were released, there were undoubtedly as many elated fans as there were bitter fans.

No matter where the stadium is located, fans maintain an unceasing allegiance to their favorite teams and players.

Being chosen to play in the All-Star game represents the ultimate recognition that fans, coaches, and players alike have observed, reveled in, and appreciated every moment of a player's season thus far.

Most people make way too big a deal about the drop-off players experience after participating in the Home Run Derby. It’s more likely statistical regression than anything else.

Nevertheless, Yankee coaches did not want Robinson Cano participating in this year’s Home Run Derby, and it looks like they are getting their way.

It's the same conversation, just a different year.

Every season, virtually every Major League roster has players deserving of All-Star selections that get left on their sofas for the weekend.

This year, the Padres pitching staff may be the most distinguished of the All-Star snubs.

The Padres have the best record (49-34) in the National League and boast the best team ERA (3.05) in the NL by a long shot (St. Louis is next at 3.28), yet couldn't command enough respect to land a pitcher on the roster.

Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long shook his head at the news that Robinson Cano had agreed to take part in Monday's Home Run Derby in Anaheim.

"I would prefer he's not involved in it, but that's not my decision," Long said, as reported by Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

Now, if this is the showcase event for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, why would anyone associated with the game prefer his player not participate?

It’s finally July. This marks the midpoint of the baseball season and with that the All-Star Game.

There’s been endless talk of who got snubbed and as always, the debate of how voting should work is in the air. Along with it comes the debate over the rule of mandating at least one All-Star rep for each team.

Some say it’s tradition that every team is represented. Others say it needs to go.

Fun fact: Who has the best winning percentage of any pitcher in baseball over the past five seasons?

Here's a hint. It's not C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Johan Santana, Josh Beckett or any of the other pitchers the East Coast writing establishment loves to go on endlessly about.

It's Jered Weaver at .663.

Weaver has clearly taken his game to another level in the absence of former Angels ace John Lackey, and has managed to single-handedly carry his team through a horrific stretch in the process.