The MLB All-Star Game is designed to showcase baseball’s best players at the mid-way point of the season. Of course, this may not always be the case once the rosters are selected through a vote by fans and players, and additions by the respective league’s managers. That said, it’s still an important piece of our nation’s favorite pastime.
The All-Star Game has been trending towards younger players over recent years, and I like that shift. Younger guys like Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay), Ryan Braun (Milwaukee), Ryan Zimmermann (Washington) and players who have been on a major league club just three years are now making the team. This is very different from the days when my brother and I played. Back then, guys like Call were perennial All-Stars and the teams seemed to be made up of the same players every year.
While I like this younger trend and think the game is headed in a great direction, I do wish there was a way to honor the veteran ballplayers…even if they’re going through an off-year. A great example is Atlanta Braves’ third baseman Chipper Jones. A 17-year MLB veteran, Jones is one of the best switch hitters of all-time, with a career batting average of.306. If he decides to retire after this season, it will be a shame that he wasn’t on the National League’s All-Star roster in his final year. A quality veteran like Jones deserves a spot on the All-Star team, even if his numbers aren’t quite what they once were.
Every year there are going to be guys who get snubbed. But I would like to see the rosters expand so guys like Jones get a chance to play. I may have a lot of ideas about the game, but I’ll admit that I certainly don’t have all the answers or the solution on how to make this happen. I just think it’s the right thing to do for the veterans who have put in their time. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?
Filed in: MLB.
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Absolutely agree with you Billy. One of my best memories was the 2001 All star game, the way Cal and Tony Gwyns careers were celebrated. I believe both were voted in, but I have absolutely no problem with expanding the roster for special veterans if they’re not voted in or chosen by the manager. By the way I personally hope they do something special for Bobby Cox this year. I’m not sure if Charlie put him on his staff, but he sure deserves it. Great blog by the way, I just discovered it from Ripken Baseball on facebooks link.Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading more in the future.