Opinion

The selection of mediocre ninth-inning reliever Matt Capps to the All-Star Game neatly sums up all the major reasons I get annoyed with the whole thing.

First, I really try not to care that much. After all, it's such an obviously flawed process that it seems kinda pointless to fret over each individual misjudgment. Besides, it's just an exhibition. Oh, wait, it's not just an exhibition anymore, is it? Since the All-Star Game determines home field in the World Series, now I'm compelled to care.

As we reach the midpoint of the season, the Florida Marlins have put themselves in an awkward position.

They are currently 38-43, fourth in the NL East division, and 9.5 games out of first place.

The record they have leaves them in a selling position, or does it?

Before we declare the Marlins sellers at this point in the season, we must ask ourselves these two questions:

Is the offense producing?

Yes.

Are the starting pitchers going deep into games?

Yes.

Every year, fans and writers bellyache over the MLB All-Star Game rosters. They complain that the teams are made up of fan favorites rather than rosters full of deserving league leaders. 

I am here to say, stop it!

Not only is this an issue each and every year, but it doesn't matter. The All-Star game serves the purpose of entertaining the fans. Period.

Will they ever get it right?

Since the All-Star game counts for home-field advantage of the World Series they should try to get it right.

Right off the bat, why is there need for a replacement DH? So we have to find the second-best DH instead of making that spot for someone more deserving?

Cue David Ortiz:

.259 BA, .364 OBP, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 43 R

Snub Paul Konerko and Kevin Youkilis:

Konerko - .296 BA, .384 OBP, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 46 R

Earlier I went over the American League All Star Game roster, so let’s now cover the National League. Here is the roster for the National League, which is led by Philadelphia Phillies’ skipper Charlie Manuel.

Starters

C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

2B: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies – Injured, will not play

SS: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins

3B: David Wright, New York Mets

OF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

Yesterday Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the All Star Game in Anaheim on July 13. Let’s take a look at the American League Roster.

Starters

C: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

1B: Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

SS: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

3B: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

OF: Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays

OF: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

OF: Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

DH: Vladimir Guerrero

Reserves

This particular type of talk in the Mets fan base has seemed to die down a bit, but there was a period of time within the last few weeks that the gradual deterioration of Johan Santana's stuff was fairly noticeable. It seemed Mets fans were pouncing on him from every direction just to put him down.

The point is, even now that he's gotten things back together a bit, what you see is what you get with an aging pitcher coming off of surgery. It is concerning that Mets fans have been getting on his case so much.