Choosing Players for the All-Star Game

Every year without fail some deserving player is left off the All-Star roster. Every year people trot out articles on how it is time to change the selection process so that teams who don't have a "real" All-Star don't take away a roster spot from a more deserving player.

There are three truths about the All-Star game:

- MLB dictates that every team have a representative at the game
- Every year some deserving players are left off the roster
- the game is a made for TV exhibition

People always seem to debate about the first two truths while completely forgetting the third. Sure Frank Thomas may have been more deserving than Ken Harvey but guess what - there will be TV viewers in Kansas City who watch the game just to see Ken Harvey get his at-bat. Every ratings point counts.

I find it kinda ironic that the same people who complain the loudest about big market teams "buying championships" are often the same people who think the one representative per team rule has outlived its usefulness. Am I alone in seeing these concurrent attitudes as incongruous?

The All-Star Game is fine for the most part. I would leave it alone. The only rule change I would earnestly support is allowing each manager to bring back 2 position players and 2 pitchers who have already been in the game if the exhibition reaches extra innings.