2014 MLB All-Star Game

All-Star Week isn't only for Major League Baseball veterans.

The 2014 Futures Game kicks off Sunday's action at Target Field with many of the world's most talented up-and-coming players set to take center stage.

This season isn't looking too great for the Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox in the standings, but the two teams sure know how to engineer an online campaign to get their stars to the MLB All-Star Game.

The winner of the All-Star Game MVP award is more unpredictable than the regular-season award. If you look at the last 10 years, there's been a diverse mix of elite superstars, one-year wonders and retiring closers who have been bestowed the honor. 

As the 2014 All-Star Game approaches, the list of potential MVP candidates that you can rattle off the top of your head is vast.

Do you choose the best player in the sport (Mike Trout)?

How about the best pitcher (Clayton Kershaw)?

We are in awe of the incredible feats of strength Major League Baseball players show, both in games and during batting practice, but not all power is created equal.

In the case of the 2014 Home Run Derby, Target Field isn't a hitter's paradise, so having extra pop is essential to winning. 

Four days ago, the Oakland A’s threw all their chips into a 2014 World Series title run when they acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs. The A’s paid a hefty price to reel in two of the most prized free-agent arms.

Los Angeles Dodgers phenom Yasiel Puig was among the more notable absences from MLB All-Star weekend last year, as he was just 38 games into his big league career.

This year, his talents will be on full display at Target Field in Minnesota, and he has a chance to steal the show.

The MLB All-Star game is all about watching baseball's top performers put on a show while competing against their most productive peers.

Very rarely does one player absolutely take over the Midsummer Classic. When put against top competition, the game's best players often post semi-pedestrian stats. That said, there's always a chance for a breakout performance when there are so many stars on one diamond.

Do you like monstrous power at the plate? How about unhittable pitching with some of the nastiest stuff from some of the best hurlers in the game? Throw in a few hints of unbelievable defensive gems, and that's exactly what fans will feast their eyes on during the 2014 MLB All-Star Game.

Who will represent the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game?

This question is a reflection of how the team has played so far this season both individually and collectively. 

Since 2008 the question surrounding the Rays' All-Star selections has been how many players the team would send. The franchise has sent at least two players to the Midsummer Classic each season since changing the name to the Rays.

Major League Baseball does so many things right by its fans, especially when it comes to putting on a show, but the one mystery the people running the sport have never figured out is the All-Star Game. 

The fan voting is an integral part of the process, as it should be. Despite what Bud Selig might have you believe, the game doesn't really count; it's just a fun way to get the biggest stars on one field to market the game.