Every year, the most notable omissions from the National League and American League All-Star teams reignite the debate over the All-Star selection process.
The fan balloting is -- largely -- a popularity contest. How else do you explain why Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro finished seventh at his position in the fan poll when he ranks among the American League's top five players (at any position) in both home runs and RBIs?
Palmeiro has been one of the most productive players in the 1990s. He has more total bases than anyone else. But it took an injury to Boston Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn to send him to Colorado for Tuesday's game.
Is this fair?
Obviously not.
It doesn't have to be. Baseball is a popularity business, and the All-Star balloting is the one real opportunity for the paying customers to play a decision-making role during the season.
"It's the fans' game," said Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken, who will be making his 16th All-Star appearance Tuesday. "The fans have the say. They have control. You're trying to market the game to the fans, and this is a way to get feedback on who they want to see and who they want to be there.
"In a lot of ways, it's a popularity contest, but any system is going to have some holes in it."
Is there a better way? Not under the present single-game All-Star format. But what if Major League Baseball were willing to shorten the regular season by a couple of games for the sake of an All-Star Week celebration that included two games?
The sport should hold a five-day festival -- not unlike Super Bowl Week -- that includes both a "People's Choice" and a "Players' Choice" All-Star Game.
The fans would determine the rosters for one game and even vote for their favorite pitchers. The players would vote for the starting lineups for the second game, with the pitchers and reserves chosen by the managers and league presidents.
Obviously, a lot of players would appear in both games, but the league presidents would be in a position to correct any glaring omissions and balance the pitching staffs. The two-game format also would ease the roster crunch that has come with the addition of four expansion teams in the 1990s.
Even the players undeserving of All-Star consideration would benefit from the longer midseason break, getting more time with their families and a better chance to recuperate from the rigors of the first half.
There is a precedent. Baseball experimented with dual All-Star Games from 1959 to '61. But that was before the modern era of sports marketing. It might be time to try again.
Phillips gets second chance
The Toronto Blue Jays signed 39-year-old outfielder Tony Phillips to a minor-league contract on Wednesday and apparently plan to rush him back to the big leagues in just a couple of weeks if he performs well at Triple-A Syracuse.
Phillips' career appeared to be over after a 1997 season in which he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine in August (he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession in November), but he says that he turned down training camp invitations from the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and Oakland Athletics this spring.
Frankly, it's surprising anyone would take a chance on him after he refused an offer from the Angels to undergo drug treatment and filed a union grievance to force that club to reinstate him after the arrest embarrassed and disrupted the franchise last August.
"I'm of the opinion that he deserves another chance," said Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash. "If he screws up, it's adios. I know he's going through an after-care program and he'll be tested on a regular basis. Baseball also has mandated certain things he must do and we have support mechanisms that have worked well with others."
Don't misunderstand. This isn't an altruistic gesture on the part of the Blue Jays. They are gambling on Phillips because they are still within range of a wild-card playoff berth and they have been unable to deal for offensive help.
"Given the status of our club now and my inability to get a trade done, this is somebody who could play a role for us," Ash said.
Eat your hearts out, O's fans
When Wilton Guerrero stole second base against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, it was the first time anyone had stolen successfully against Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez since May 24. He has thrown out 23 of 36 potential base stealers this year.
Harnisch available
The Cincinnati Reds probably will trade veteran starter Pete Harnisch before the July 31 trading deadline, but probably not to the Orioles.
Harnisch is more likely to land in Texas, where the Rangers need pitching help and are bouncing the names of minor-league prospects off the Reds.
The deal might already be done if the Rangers were willing to give up promising Double-A left-hander Corey Lee, but they are holding out hope that Todd Van Poppel will emerge as a quality starter and make the deal unnecessary.
No popularity contest
Minnesota Twins shortstop Pat Meares wasn't expecting to be voted to the All-Star team, but it had to be a bit humiliating to finish 11th -- behind Kansas City's Felix Martinez, who has been in the minor leagues for the last month.
"I looked at the fan voting three days ago and saw Felix Martinez ahead of me," he said. "I'm like, 'What do I have to do, kick somebody in the face?' "
Martinez is the guy who was suspended early this season for kicking Twins outfielder Otis Nixon in the face and breaking his jaw. He was batting .129 when he was optioned out on June 3.
Meares isn't having an All-Star season, but he has been a productive everyday player.
Wait until next year
Chicago Cubs fans were not pleased with the omission of pitching phenom Kerry Wood from the National League All-Star team, but NL manager Jim Leyland made no apology for his selections.
"I love Kerry Wood, and I know it's exciting for baseball and all, but he didn't deserve to be on this year, in my opinion," Leyland said. "I know the fans love him, but if they want to let the fans pick the whole team, let the fans pick the whole team."
Leyland made his pitching selections with a mathematical formula, taking the top six healthy starting pitchers. Wood ranked 15th in that selection process.
No-trade guarantee
There have been rumors that the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers may try to pull off a deal for Tampa Bay reliever Roberto Hernandez, but manager Larry Rothschild did his best last week to squelch them.
"We have no desire to trade Roberto Hernandez," Rothschild said. "We signed him with the purpose of having him close games, and that he was going to do it for a long time. [That] speculation needs to be ended."
That makes sense. The Devil Rays may be in last place, but they are not a rebuilding, small-market club. They are trying to develop a respectable club in a relatively short time, so they will need a solid closer to solidify their bullpen.
Back together again
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall and Dodgers outfielder Gary Sheffield tried to beat each other to a pulp a week ago at Dodger Stadium, engaging in a fight that led to a three-game suspension for each of them. But they will be reunited as All-Star teammates at Coors Field.
"As far as I'm concerned, what happened is now over between me and him," Kendall said. "I'm not holding a grudge about it and I hope Gary Sheffield isn't, either."
Back to the future
Last weekend's series between the Yankees and Mets brought outfielder Darryl Strawberry back to Shea Stadium, and got him to thinking.
"If I don't stay with the Yankees, I would like to stay in New York," Strawberry told reporters. "Would I return to the Mets? Of course I would return to the Mets. If they keep some of the guys they have -- if they keep [Mike] Piazza around -- and I'm not with the Yankees, well, maybe I can fit into the lineup."
The Yankees hold a $2.5 million option on Strawberry for 1999, but there is no guarantee they will exercise it. He appears to have revived his career with a solid first half, but the roster is crowded with quality outfielders, and designated hitter Chili Davis is due back from the disabled list in August.
Pub Date: 7/05/98