2011 MLB All-Star Game

The Texas Rangers have been known for quite some time as a team that usually wins with their bats. They are third in Major League Baseball since 2000 in runs scored and this is a team that has only been to the postseason twice since the turn of the millennium.

Everyone knows who the top prospects in baseball are, but it is rare to see many of them play before they reach the majors.

The MLB Futures Game during All-Star weekend gives fans a chance to see these players while they are still in the minors.

All of the players selected to the Futures Game are incredibly talented, but some are much closer to the major leagues than others.

How does one pick the single best Major League Baseball player at each position, of all-time? It is by no means a simple task. So many legends have graced the game with their incredible skills and equally impressive statistics.

But with the 2011 All-Star Game right around the corner, why not take a shot at naming each league's all-time All-Stars?

Derek Jeter deserves all the praise in the world today.

The New York Yankees captain, who has spent the past decade serving as the de facto face of Major League Baseball, joined the exclusive 3,000-hit club in thunderous fashion, with a solo home run to left field at Yankee Stadium off of Tampa Bay Rays All-Star David Price.

With the 2011 All-Star Game set to take place on Tuesday night, we have a pretty good idea of how the American League roster will look. With that being said, there are a few changes that need to be made for this to be the best possible roster.

Fans have the option to vote for All-Stars, and that can lead to problems.

Some fans don't vote for the best player available. They will instead vote for players on their favorite teams, or they will vote based off of name.

To become a true All-Star lineup, the American League would have to make these five changes.

As the crowd roars and the sun begins to set behind the firework explosions in the outfield, the players stay calm in anticipation for the opportunity to display their talent against the best in the league.

While players tremble with anticipation, it becomes clear that this is more than just a game.

These players will exemplify hard work and immense skill for the opportunity to receive home field advantage for their respective league, but there is more behind the all-star festivities. 

Ever since the 2002 MLB All-Star Game debacle, rules have been put in place that make no sense, like linking the outcome of the game to the ever-important home field advantage in the World Series.

Additional rules have been added years later like bumping the roster size up to 34, using a DH in every single game, and pitchers who started on Sunday cannot be used during the All-Star Game. 

While the MLB All-Star Game has lost a lot of credibility, it's still an incredible event recognizing those have had a brilliant (first half of the) season.

Major League Baseball released its ballot for the 2011 All-Star game this past week. It may be a little early to label a player's 2011 season as All-Star caliber, but nevertheless votes casted today are worth just as much as those in late June. 

Getting elected to an All-Star team in Major League Baseball means one thing: You had a stellar first half of the season.

Having good timing is everything for potential All-Stars. 

Fast starters are rewarded for their spring preparation. Those slower to come around are unfairly judged at midseason, likely costing themselves extra money in future negotiations and potentially hindering part of their hall of fame candidacy in the process.

I get a few butterflies in the ol' boilmaker when the Boston Red Sox throw a big time prospect into a trade. The butterflies turn into rabid raccoons when the Sox dump their entire farm team into a deal.

I love prospects. They are like your children in a way. They grow up in front of you, and before you even know it, they are making All-Star teams, start growing Lemmy Kilmister inspired facial hair and getting into fights with Manny Ramirez.