Don't Waste Time Worrying About MLB All-Star Game Starters

A wise man once said 'MLB All-Star Game starters are a popularity contest."  That wise man once said that to me a couple weeks ago. The second week of voting came out, and Brewers officially have no starters currently. Ryan Braun sits sixth, Jonathan Lucroy third, Jean Segura third, Aramis Ramirez third and Carlos Gomez fifth. There was some outrage last week, and it is continuing this week. This is one thing where people really shouldn't look too far into it, and fans shouldn't take it personally if their players do not become starters.

In all honesty, two of these players are clear All-Stars after the first two months of the season and it is Gomez and Lucroy. They have both played great this season. Everyone knows it whose watching Milwaukee this season. But this is all about the casual fans and teams featuring very public fanbases. As for Gomez, the national media made him out to be a bat-flipping hot head with one regional Sports Illustrated cover. This is how things go with a small market baseball player without much national appeal. It is such a tired thing to say but if Gomez played in Los Angles or New York, he would be a top vote-getter without question.  

Lucroy is playing like one of the best players in baseball, but he is in a tough spot. Catchers are premium position in the National League with some of the biggest names in baseball. San Francisco has Buster Posey. St. Louis has Yadier Molina. Atlanta has Evan Gattis.. oh shit wait that doesn't make sense. Yes, it is a joke Gattis is even in this discussion with Lucroy, Molina and Posey, but it is due to the large public fanbase of Atlanta around the whole South. It is not about the votes inside the ballpark. Some fan tweeted a Milwaukee radio personality outraged about all the ballots on the ground at Miller Park Monday night. Those votes are minuscule compared to what's being done on the Internet.

The best part about the month of June is the Brewers will be traveling for a great deal of it. If they continue their strong play and show opposing teams fanbases what they are missing on a nightly basis maybe the votes will increase for the non-public Brewers like Lucroy and Gomez.  Starting an All-Star Game is special, but at the same time, it really doesn't matter after the introduction. Most of the players get into the game plus there are so many replacement players, it is really hard to have a true blue snub for the All-Star Game especially when it comes to the offense players on the roster. Pitchers can be another story since a portion of them are not selected by the fans. 

If you really want to point where the flaws run deep in the voting system is Aramis Ramirez is the third-leading vote getter at third base. Granted, the third base options are weaker than a freshman high schooler's bird legs, but still, Ramirez has barely played in a month. It is all off name recognition thus why the Brewers aren't seeing more guys as top vote-getters. Ramirez is nowhere near an All-Star this season, but his name is one many fans know across the country hence why he is getting votes.

These things also have a slow build to them. If a player keeps playing well, the other fanbases start noticing whether it be due to fantasy baseball or something like FanDuel. Both Gomez and Lucroy will make a push towards the top with Braun maybe coming close to taking the top two outfield spots. Right now, the Brewers will have three or more All-Stars. They keep playing well that number should swell greater. This is nothing to waste energy on. 

Charlie.