All Star voting flaws

We are now entering the juicy part of the Major League Baseball season, and a point of contention, which concerns the voting for the All-Star Game coming up in July.

In addition to fans stuffing the ballot boxes with their votes an unlimited amount of times, they also can vote on the Internet.

Fans are able to vote as many times as they choose online, including voting for players who have been on the Disabled List all season, or those who haven't had a good season in years.

Let's start with the chosen few who actually select the names that appear on the ballots.

Fans do not have a say in that and presumably Major League Baseball does, but it would be nice for the fans to know how it works and the criteria necessary in order for players to appear on the ballots.

That aside, the whole system needs to be scrapped so we can see players on the All-Star Team who are actually playing on the field during the period when voting is taking place, and not those who have been on the DL all season.

There should be a threshold in order to be considered an All Star.

Additionally, becoming an All Star shouldn't necessarily be based on the first eight weeks of the current season, but should include the player's previous year's final numbers and awards, such as the Batting Title or Gold Glove Awards and accomplishments in the Playoffs and World Series.

It's evident that fans are not voting based on any particular year's statistics anyway, so requiring qualification guidelines would at least be better than picking players ad hoc because of how they played 10 years ago, or play for a particular team, or because they have an unusual sounding surname.

The best way for the All-Star Team to be chosen should be similar to the way the Academy Awards or Golden Globe Awards are handled.

They are chosen by the Motion Picture Academy or actors, respectively, and in this case should be chosen by the field managers and the players.

The fans could then cast votes for alternate players and give opinions on the pitchers chosen by the managers.

The way it is handled now, the field managers only choose alternates and pitchers and the players do not participate at all.

Additionally, it shouldn't be required that every Major League team have at least one All-Star player.

The purpose is to put deserving All Stars on the field.

This is not a popularity contest. It's baseball!

Nor should it be a politically correct game, with MLB being afraid to exclude a non-deserving player, because a particular team may not get to be represented.

Let's face it. Not only is the current criteria questionable, but this year several players have either been on the Disabled List all season or a good part of it, and yet lead in the voting.

Again a need for clarification.

In Nomar Garciaparra's case, he is leading in the number of votes for shortstop in the American League, even though he has yet to play a game in 2004.

In addition, his play in the 2003 Playoffs was abysmal when he didn't even bat .200.

His replacement at SS on the Boston Red Sox this season has been Pokey Reese, and he is listed on the ballot as a second baseman, a position he hasn't played at all this season.

Could MLB at least correct this inaccuracy?

Jason Giambi has either been a DH or on the DL this season and he leads all first basemen in number of votes for the American League.

Derek Jeter had a wonderful 2003 post season, but was awful in Spring Training this year, yet he is right behind Garciaparra in the number of votes for SS.

The fans should speak out about amending this flawed system.

It's bad enough Bud Selig made these games statistically count, as the winning team decides the which team has home field advantage for the World Series.

If that's the case, then only the best players should be put on the field with a qualifying requirement.

After all, these guys all get mega bucks added to their contracts if they make the All-Star Team.

Finally, if players are selected for the All Star Team, they should have the courtesy to show up, unless they're injured.

Otherwise, guys, forfeit your bonuses and have your names deleted from the list.

If you're too big for the game, Mr. Barry Bonds, do us all a favor and remove your name from the ballot before we have to start hearing you whine again this year that you're not going to play, or if you do show up, won't participate in the Home Run Derby competition.