All Star Game

Votto so incensed that he's immediately thrown out of the Cubs game.

Are you a fan of the all star game SM?
I love it so much I am going away for the few days.

Exactly, who really cares? I know it's been all the talk during games recently (Strasburg in or out in particular) but apart from home field advantage in the World Series, it's pointless.

Just like late in the season when you get people commentating on baseball obsessing over who is going to be the MVP/Cy Young, or who is going to get the next $180m contract, I just switch off and pay no attention to it.

For me, which teams are winning the games is what matters, although that seems to be secondary for some people at times. I do accept that the American point of view is different, but it doesn't mean I have to adopt it.

Not really fawwon but my innate sense of natural justice, or something, would like to see the most deserving players selected. By any standard Joey Votto has been better than Ryan Howard this season.

Also, it seems to have upset Votto (admittedly Ted Lilly throwing at Votto's head might not have helped much either).

The all star game voting is not about how well a player has played in the season, I know it should be, but unfortunately it's not. It's about a player's reputation and what team they play for...

If you let the fans vote, you'll always turn it into a popularity contest. No different to those ridiculous reality TV shows really.

Fair enough that the fans didn't vote in Votto, he was never going to beat Pujols, but for Charlie Manuel to pick Howard (and Infante) ahead of him is ridiculous.

Two more bombs in last night's game for Votto. That's more homers in one game than Omar Infante has THIS SEASON.