I did not watch the HR Derby this year, but my big issue with the All Star Game is the proliferation of relief pitchers that make the squad. Yes, I understand the game is evolving, and relief pitchers are more important than ever, but, I believe this year's AL All Star roster has more relief pitchers than starting pitchers. Part of this may be due to the rule that all teams must have at least one All Star representative (maybe time to drop this? Let's just have the best players?) But, why does the AL roster need to contain 5 closers? (Doolittle, Holland, Perkins, Rodney and Uehara) Meanwhile, Chris Sale and Garret Richards, who have posted absurd and outstanding numbers, respectively, as starters, are relegated to the "last player fan vote", with Richards not getting a nod. Chris Sale would have a sub 2 ERA were it not for Mike Trout reaching down and poking a grand salami about a month ago on a completely nasty pitch down and out of the zone.....Starters with outstanding numbers are always more deserving, in my mind, than virtually any reliever - but that's just me.
