MLB is in dire need of a rules change for the All-Star Game, and as a representative of the fantasy baseball community, I implore you and your league mates to become keyboard warriors and email the Commissioner’s Office immediately.
Put the participation trophies away.
Not every kid needs to play an inning, and not every MLB team needs to be represented at the Midsummer Classic.
Those who play in the All-Star Game should be All-Stars, not just the best player on their lousy, last-place team.
The snubs we’ve seen this season are an atrocity, and fantasy managers of those players should be outraged.
In the American League, we watched in horror as Joe Ryan, George Kirby and even Eric Fedde were left off the roster in favor of Angels starter Tyler Anderson.
Does the southpaw have a better ERA than all three?
Yes, but he loses out to all of them in almost every other metric, including WAR — which may not be a fantasy category, but it certainly measures the overall value of the player in relation to the rest of his contemporaries.
But because we have this inane rule that every team needs to be represented, so we don’t hurt the feelings of all the baseball snowflakes out there, we’re stuck with a lame-duck starter who will likely get pummeled during his one inning.
In the National League, why am I seeing Ryan McMahon on this roster?
He isn’t even the best player on his team, yet there he is while Christian Walker, Francisco Lindor and Willy Adames are all being sent home for the week.
All three have better power totals without spending half their games in Coors Field, and Lindor also has more stolen bases.
Where does McMahon shine?
How about that 28.1-percent strikeout rate?
That’s shining right in the middle of a place where the sun doesn’t. It’s an absolute travesty, and I look forward to watching him strike out in what will hopefully be just one plate appearance.
Why do we need representatives of the Angels, Marlins or Rockies at the All-Star Game?
All three teams are terrible, and no one on their roster has done anything worthy of a spot.
Even the Athletics, who also stink, had someone worthy of an All-Star nod in Mason Miller.
These other three teams?
Nothing.
Hot trash.
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We need a change for the All-Star Game, and it starts with a grass-roots campaign from the fantasy community.
We know more about what these players are doing than any casual fan, who casts a vote for their favorite player regardless of performance, and it’s about time we are recognized for our dedication to the sport.
People already make fun of baseball enough.
We need to stop giving them fuel for their fire.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.