Webster's defines an All Star as: “composed wholly or chiefly of stars or of outstanding performers or participants”. Now, as I looked over this year’s rosters, I was ready to throw out my red flag and call for a replay on some of the players who were voted in. Not only do I already think the all-star game holds too much value in the fact that the winner gets home field advantage in the playoffs, but now it’s becoming more a joke to who is getting in the game. That right there, is something that really bothers me. How can an exhibition game where the fans pick the players actually mean how the World Series will be won? You have a bunch of 12 year old kids getting online and voting 25 times for Derrick Jeter because that is the jersey mom bought them for Christmas. I find it completely wrong and it takes away from the teams that finish with the strongest records. Bud Selig really dropped the ball on that call. When the change of the guard comes along and Selig steps down, that rule should be one of the first to go!

The all star game has all stars in it, no doubt, but there are plenty of stars that will sit at home because they don't play for the big name teams, or because they don't make commercials for Gillette shaving cream. I love to see David Ortiz up there swinging that monster stick or Fukedome with that wild running swing, but in reality these guys have been slumping. Ortiz hasn't swung a bat in weeks. The question is how do fans not just switch over and pick someone else. He isn't going to play in the game, so why not give the next guy a chance.

Now let’s look at the National league team and find out where things could have been changed. The first call I’d like to make is to Miguel Tejada. I for one would not even let this guy in after the nonsense he has pulled over the last year. First, with the steroid accusations and then to go on and lie about his age. What did baseball do about it? Nothing? That's a shame. Two players come to my mind when I look at the shortstop position that should be in there. I am all for Hanley Ramirez getting the starting nod but Christian Guzman and Tejada are the reserves. This is where a hard nosed player like Jimmy Rollins should be in there. Here is a ball player! Rollins understands the game so well that he took the benching of him a few months back like it was the correct thing to do. If you remember Phillies Coach Charlie Manuel benched him for not hustling on a routine pop out. Rollins took it to heart and didn't complain like a spoiled little brat, he simply said, “I messed up”. To me that's an all star, a guy who knows his mistake and is willing to make sure it doesn't happen again. That’s the kind of class I want on the National League. Same goes for Jose Reyes, now I know he isn't having the greatest season, but he has good enough numbers to be ahead of a guy like Guzman.

Why is Alfonso Soriano getting the All Star start? This is a guy now who wants to make sure he is back for the All Star game! Ridiculous! He has been on the DL for a while now. Cub fans please be serious when you take a look at this. Here is a guy who seems to be more concerned about being ready to play in this game rather than completely healthy and ready to play for your team. Not to mention, he isn't exactly Mr. Defense out there!

So now the American League and right off the bat, no pun intended, I see Jason Varitek on this roster. Look, I think Varitek is a great leader and a guy any team would love to have but he doesn't deserve to be on this roster. This is where I thought AJ Pierynski should have got the plane ticket to New York. AJ is hitting just shy of .300, he has been a great number two hitter in the Sox lineup and has helped keep the White Sox in that first place position. I understand his bad boy attitude might turn fans and players away but when you want to talk about someone who is willing to get the job done, well AJ is your man.

One other move that surprised me, and not to look like I'm favoring the White Sox, but where is someone on their pitching staff. Correct me if I'm wrong but don't they have the best ERA in the American League? I believe so! John Danks should be pitching in New York. So what if he has only 6 wins, his ERA is third best in the American League, you would think a first place team with the top pitching staff would have someone representing them in this game. Linebrink, Thornton or Jenks didn't get the invite either. This is where there is a glitch in the way this game is decided. Does Joe Crede belong on this years roster? Could someone like Jermaine Dye or one of the fine pitchers above gotten in instead of him? I would like to think so; Dye deserves to be there be just as much as anyone.

I love the game of baseball as much as anyone, but when I see this happening it makes me almost not want to watch the game. If the best players of this season aren't playing in the game, who’s to say it’s an All Star game and not just a popular name game!

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