It must be great to be a San Francisco Giants fan.

Not only did a late push of fan votes elect three starting position players (Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Melky Cabrera) to the NL lineup, but now the Giants will also have Matt Cain as the starting pitcher.

John Harper of the New York Daily News tweeted at 9:23 a.m. that “Source says Dickey is not starting All-Star Game. Will be Cain vs. Verlander.”

No knock on Cain, whose perfect game this season certainly warrants an All-Star start, but R.A. Dickey has been the feel-good story of the year.

Here are the results of a National Poll taken by ESPN shortly after the announcement was made: Click the image to embiggen.

More than two to one of over 34,000 votes tallied thus far would have preferred to see R.A. Dickey over Matt Cain.

NL manager Tony La Russa had been rumored last week to be on the fence about starting Dickey based on Posey potentially having difficulty handling the knuckleball. Posey will instead catch his regular battery mate Cain to open the game.

Either way though, whoever is catching will have to handle the pitch, since obviously Josh Thole will not be heading to Kansas City. Posey and Carlos Ruiz are the only catchers on the NL roster, so most likely Posey will be catching Dickey anyway.

While we are bound to see Dickey at some point, it’s a shame he’s not getting the start. He’s tied for the NL lead in wins, is second in strikeouts and is fifth in ERA.

Dickey said that he wanted the start since he’s a competitor and any competitor would want to start the game.

So both Mets representatives have now been swindled out of their potential starting roles in the mid-summer classic. David Wright’s fate rested with the fans, so that is not as egregious as the Dickey decision.

You would think that an actual baseball mind in La Russa would be able to make the right choice. I guess not.

This post was updated at 3:30 PM

But this year, instead of seeing guys such as Ryan Braun, Felix Hernandez, Mariano Rivera and some guy who just reached a thousand hits for the third time, we’ll be treated to the likes of Scott Rolen (.241, 5 HR, 36 RBI), Russell Martin (.220, 10 HR, 36 RBI), Brandon League (1-4, 3.44 ERA).

In other words, we’re not seeing the All-Star Game. Rather, we’re seeing the Some-Star Game, where some stars will make courtesy appearances and the rest of the players will need to wear name tags for anyone to recognize them. (Aaron Crow? Jordan Walden? Kevin Correia and his 4.01 ERA and .270 opponents’ batting average?)

Things weren’t always this way at the Mid-Summer Classic. The 1971 All-Star Game featured nine future Hall of Famers in the outfield alone. No one needed to be introduced to Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, Lou Brock, Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Al Kaline or Reggie Jackson. They let their résumés speak for themselves. In all, there were 20 future Hall of Famers who played in that All-Star Game, including Rod Carew, Brooks Robinson, Luis Aparicio, Harmon Killebrew, Jim Palmer, Johnny Bench, Willie McCovey, Steve Carlton, Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal, and “The Franchise” himself, Tom Seaver. In addition, both managers (Earl Weaver and Sparky Anderson) were elected to the Hall of Fame.

None of those players called in sick (I’m talking to you, Mariano Rivera). None of the pitchers needed the extra rest because they pitched on the Sunday before the All-Star Game (that’s a silly new rule) and none of them were physically or emotionally exhausted (you figure it out).

The fans vote these players into the All-Star Game because they want to see them play on the national stage among their peers. Let’s take a random All-Star and change his name so as not to single out any particular player. We’ll call him Dirk Jitters. Mr. Jitters received millions of votes from the fans to start for his respective league in the All-Star Game. But Dirk decided he’d rather take the time off and not even bother to show up to the game that he was voted to start in.

That would be similar to Americans voting Barack Obama into the White House, only to have him say “you know what? I think I’m going to stay home and watch the White Sox instead, but thanks for voting.”

Unlike some of this year’s All-Star crop, including the aforementioned Dirk Jitters (remember, we changed his name to protect the guilty), San Francisco Giants’ closer Brian Wilson actually gets it. He’s thankful for the opportunity to represent his league and feels other All-Stars should not take this honor for granted, saying:

“I would say that you (should) show up, unless you need these three days to recover. You are representing your team, so it would be good to be here. I don’t know if (it’s an) obligation, but it’s one of your duties as a player, out of respect, knowing that there was a guy that really wanted to be on the All-Star team, and his stats were right there, and he would have loved the chance to be here.”

If I wanted to watch a “Some-Star” game, I’d watch a Mets game, because the Mets have “some stars” on the team. But when I tune into the All-Star game, I expect to see the best players in the major leagues. I don’t want to see players no one voted for. I don’t want to see players who were replacements for injured players who were replacements for players who would rather be on paid vacation. I want to see the players who will someday join those members of the 1971 All-Star squads in the Hall of Fame.

As fans, we deserve to see the best players participate in the All-Star Game. If only the players could see the same thing.

This weekend, the rosters for the 82nd annual MLB All-Star Game were announced.

As we all know, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran will be representing the Mets in this year’s game—played next Tuesday night at Chase Field in Arizona.

However, the lingering question is should Reyes and Beltran be joined by one of their teammates: Dillon Gee?

Despite his great start to this season, the answer to the preceding question is “No.”

Gee has been a very pleasant surprise for the Mets this season. He picked up right where he left off (and then some) from his strong September last season.

He currently is 8-2 with a 3.47 ERA through 13 starts. He is also tied for the league lead in winning percentage at .800.

However, only 13 starts are probably what hurt him the most when NL manager Bruce Bochy was selecting his staff. Gee was brought up when Chris Young went down for the season.

If Gee had made those five more starts with some success, he might have earned a spot on the team. But for now, let’s be content that he is pitching great and leave it at that. If he duplicates this performance in the coming years, he should definitely be an All-Star at some point.

While the non-selection of Gee seems to be justified, the same cannot be said for Bochy leaving off a few NL pitchers having even better seasons that Gee.

Bochy selected four pitchers from his own San Francisco Giants pitching staff: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Brian Wilson.

Wilson—the closer—should obviously be there. Even Vogelsong—who’s been a career journeyman—rightfully deserves his first All-Star selection after posting a 6-1 record with a 2.13 ERA.

However, the selections of Lincecum and Cain—normally two of the games top pitchers—might just be Bochy rewarding his own guys.

Lincecum has had an off year and sits at 6-7 with a 3.04 ERA. Cain meanwhile is just 7-4 with a 3.02 ERA. Though maybe one could have made the team, taking both over other deserving pitchers doesn’t seem too fair.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson was probably the biggest snub. He’s 10-4 with a 2.52 ERA and has the lowest batting average against in the league at .193. If those aren’t All-Star numbers, than seriously what are?

Even Pirates starter Kevin Correia could be considered a snub. At 11-6, he’s tied with Jair Jurrjens and Roy Halladay—both on the NL team—for the league lead in wins.

These snubs may get a chance, however, to make the team as last minute replacements. Cain and Cole Hamels are scheduled to pitch Sunday so won’t be available for Tuesday’s game.

Hanson, Correia or maybe even Gee may get the call to fill in those spots. Either way, hopefully Gee will continue this output in the second half.

Lots of things have to bounce right, but it feels good knowing the Mets have a great shot at the postseason and a more-than-we-thought-before shot at actually reaching the Fall Classic.  Hence my opening line, which is only partially in jest.

It sure would be nice if we added a Roy Oswalt, who would look great as a true #2 starter behind Johan, but this team will probably win 85 to 90 games either way.

Are you optimistic?  Are you pessimistic?  Honestly, since we weren’t picked to win, and since no one expected the Mets to finish about fourth place, all the pressure was off.  And combined with great chemistry, unbelievable pitching and the resurgence of David Wright, it’s made this team a contender again.  So let’s do this thing.  Let’s get into the second half on a roll and make a statement that the Mets are for real, and might just be for real into October.

Finally, after 13 years, the National League ended their winless drought and beat the American League 3-1 in last night’s All-Star Game.

The Brave’s Brian McCann had the biggest hit of the night when he stroked a three-run double off of White Sox’ reliever Matt Thornton in the seventh inning. The long drive into the right field corner proved to be the turning point of the game and earned  McCann the game’s Most Valuable Player honor.

Leading 3-1 going into the ninth, things got a little dicey for the NL with the Dodgers’ Jonathan Broxton on the mound. But after allowing a leadoff single to Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, rightfielder Marlon Byrd made a tremendous heads-up defensive play when he threw out the slow-footed Ortiz at second base after a bloop by John Buck dropped in front of him. Byrd grabbed the ball, turned and fired a bullet to second base to pick up the second out of the inning and avoided having the last remaining reserve, Alex Rodriguez, come into the game with the tying runs on base.

Ian Kinsler would fly out to end the game and earn Broxton the save. The Yankees’ Phil Hughes was the losing pitcher, while Matt Capps got the win.

Our own David Wright played 4 1/2 innings and picked up two hits and a stolen base before being replaced in the sixth inning by Scott Rolen. Wright has now hit in his fifth straight All-Star Game, the longest streak since Wade Boggs did it from 1998-2002. He is 6-13 and holds a .475 batting average in All Star play.

With the win, the NL will now have home field advantage during the World Series.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today via Twitter, the Mets will host the 2013 MLB All-Star Game.

Selig will say Wednesday that KC will host the 2012 All-Star Game.The Mets will get the game in 2013, Minnesota in 2014, and DC in 2015.

Hopefully, Citi Field will have already hosted a World Series by then…

St. Louis is a great baseball town, and the Cardinals are one of Major League Baseball’s most historic and great baseball teams. Having said that, I have no interest at all in the All Star Game. This morning I was watching the news on the FOX station here in New York, and the sports anchor referred to the All Star game as the summer’s premiere sports event. I guess he figured there were very few NASCAR fans around who would argue with him. Also with FOX carrying the game, he had to make it sound good. Of course the game will be extra unbearable with FOX’s Joe Buck and Tim McCarver working the game, but I won’t get into that.

I’m not alone in not liking the All Star Game. MLB realized that fans were losing interest and decided to add something to it, whatever league wins the All Star Game, gets homefield advantage in the World Series. Big whup!! I’m sure the people in cities like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City are really concerned about that. I don’t even think the people in Los Angeles really care about that.

Then there is this silly unwritten rule that every player selected to the All Star team gets to play. If the game counts toward something, why have every player play? Why not leave the best of the best in there and see who wins? The idea of every player having to play reminds me of my son’s old T-ball team. A few years ago we saw what happened when everyone got to play. They ran out of players and the game ended in a tie! And you thought there were no ties in baseball.

Next thing I don’t like is how the manager’s get to pick “extra” players. Who could ever forget those years when Joe Torre was managing the All Star squad for the American League and he selected so many Yankees it looked like a Yankee spring training game?

Now they have this internet vote. I understand Shane Victorino was the NL winner of that vote. Good for him. I was watching the S.F. Giants game last week, and the Giants announcers were practically begging the fans to vote for the Giants player in that poll.

While I am against the All Star game, I am all in favor of the All Star break. This is a great time for the players to get a few days rest, and for the managers to adjust their pitching staffs and make any other necessary adjustments. I would prefer to see David Wright sit out the All Star Game and enjoy a few days off. But that’s just one fan’s opinion.

Werth will join his fellow Phillie outfielders Raul Ibañez and Shane Victorino in St. Louis for the All-Star festivities.  Ibañez was voted in by the fans as a starter while Victorino made the team this week as the winner of the Sprint Final Vote.  Werth enters tonight’s action with a .268 batting average, 20 HR, 54 RBI, 59 runs scored and 12 SB.  He has been on a power tear, hitting home runs in four consecutive games.

Werth joins teammates Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the aforementioned Ibañez as only the second foursome in baseball history to each hit at least 20 HR before the All-Star Break.  The 2000 Toronto Blue Jays were the first team to accomplish this feat when Tony Batista, Raul Mondesi, Jose Cruz Jr. and Carlos Delgado all hit 20 long balls before the break.

While Werth’s numbers are certainly deserving of an All-Star nod, this just adds more insult to injury (no pun intended) to the Mets and their fans.  Charlie Manuel is already managing the National League All-Star team.  Imagine if he chooses to have all three of his outfielders play at the same time.  With Ibañez being activated from the disabled list today and able to play in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday, it could very well happen.  Looks like I won’t be watching much baseball on Tuesday.

The three days off were supposed to serve as a temporary respite from all the negativity surrounding the Mets over the past few weeks as their position in the standings kept moving south.  Now the Mets and their fans will have to watch the Phillies all over the TV screen on Tuesday.  I’m already seeing red because of the Mets’ recent play.  Do I have to be forced to see so much red on the TV as well?

If you recall, during last year’s All-Star Game, Mets third baseman David Wright had been asked by National League manager Clint Hurdle to pitch if the game were to continue past the 15th inning.  Brad Lidge had entered the game for the senior circuit as the last pitcher available.  Commissioner Bud Selig had already said that the game would be played until its completion no matter what.  Wright appeared to be all for the idea.

“I told him I was ready.  I was just hoping to get one out, so I’d have an ERA in the All-Star Game.”

Unfortunately for the National League, Wright never got to show off his pitching skills that night, as Brad Lidge loaded up the bases before yielding a game-winning sacrifice fly to Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, barely scoring Rangers shortstop Michael Young.  Had Lidge gotten out of the jam, Wright might not have fared much better.  After the game, Wright was asked about the last time he had pitched in a game, to which he responded that it was probably during his Little League days.  When asked if he was any good on the mound, Wright provided the quote of the day:

“I’m not a pitcher now, am I?”

Kudos go out to Bud Selig for adding an extra pitcher to the All-Star roster.  Considering the game counts for home field advantage in the World Series (don’t even get me started on that), the game should be played to its conclusion without having to stretch relief pitchers past their usual one or two innings of work.  Teams should not be penalized by having one of their best pitchers throw too many pitches in an exhibition game.  The game should also not have to resort to gimmicks like bringing in a position player to pitch in a game that would determine which league gets the coveted potential Game 7 of the World Series.  Not every All-Star game is going to last 15 innings, but at least Selig is thinking ahead so that when it eventually happens again, the managers will be prepared to handle the pitching situation properly.

Now if they could only get rid of that rule where every team has to be represented by at least one player…

1B: National League- Albert Pujols. Pujols has almost doubled up Prince Fielder and will likely start in St. Louis. Pujols will and should win, but Joey Votto should be higher. Carlos Delgado is 4^th.

American League: Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis has had a productive season, even though he spent time on the DL, but he has an equalizer; the Boston fan base. To his credit though, he leads in OPS. Miguel Cabrera leads all 1B (and the American League) is batting avg. Carlos Pena leads the AL in HR. Justin Morneau is leading in RBI, and is having perhaps the best all around season. Mark Teixeira is close in stats and votes. Any of them are deserving, but it will likely be Youk or Tex.

2B: National League- Chase Utley. Brewer fans have jammed the ballots for 2^nd place Ricky Weeks (who is out for the season), but if you take out his votes, Utley has almost doubled up on 3^rd place Orlando Hudson. Luis Castillo is 5^th.

American League: Ian Kinsler. Kinsler is beating out his former Arizona St. teammate Dustin Pedroia, but Toronto’s Aaron Hill is having the best season among AL second basemen.

SS: National League- JJ Hardy. Okay, this is Milwaukee ballot stuffing in effect. Hardy leads Hanley Ramirez by 37,000 votes, the closest of any margin. Hanley will likely take it as voting goes on. Jose Reyes is 4^th.

American League: Derek Jeter. Jason Bartlett of the Rays is having a better season, but Jeter’s a Yankee.

3B: National League- David Wright. Wright leads Bill Hall (Brewer ballot stuffing), who leads Larry Jones, who leads Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman and Wright are having the two best years for 3B’s, but it will likely be Wright.

American League: Evan Longoria. Longoria is blowing all other AL third basemen out of the water, in stats and in voting.

Catcher: National League- Yadier Molina. Molina leads Jason Kendall of the Brewers. Yadier Molina isn’t even the best Molina, as Bengie of the Giants is having the best season. But he’s a Cardinal, so he will likely start.

American League: Joe Mauer. Mauer leads Victor Martinez, but Mauer has been nothing short of amazing since he returned from the DL. Mauer’s finally showing power to go with his high average.

Outfield: National League- Ryan Braun, Alfonso Soriano, and Carlos Beltran. The Ballot stuffin’ Brewers have three outfielders in the top seven. Raul Ibanez of the Phillies is 6^th. And the most notable story of the day is that Manny Ramirez is 4^th, 34,000 votes behind Beltran. It would be a hilarious disaster if Manny was voted in.

American League: Jason Bay, Josh Hamilton, and Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro has had a bad year, but he gets Japanese votes. Bay is deserving, but there are other outfielders having a better season than Hamilton, who spent time on the DL. Nick Markakis and Carl Crawford are 5^th and 6^th. Torii Hunter, who has been having a great season is 10^th. Also, Ken Griffey Jr., who is living off past popularity, is 1,000 votes behind Ichiro for 3^rd.

Voting ends July 2.

Trivia: Who was the first Met outfielder to be voted in as a starter in the All-Star game, and in what year?

Till Next Time