You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor

[Willets Point]

For All-Star game voting, the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have announced an alliance. Basically, Red Sox fans vote for the Giants in the NL and Giants fans vote for the Red Sox in the AL

On the one hand I find it amusing, but on the other hand it just seems to show how meaningless the All-Star Game is these days. Why not vote for the players you think are the best instead of a straight ticket? Why do these two teams specifically need to ally especially when they are both likely to have a good share of All-Star representation regardless? And why do we need a reminder that no team will ever ally with the Mets?

Edited May 25, 2011 by Guest

[Guest Edgy DC]

Any system that allows you to fill out as many ballots as you can possibly stand is corrupted from the beginning. Of course people are going to abuse it and drain meaning from the outcome. But $$ > meaning.

[TransMonk]

Interleague, Wilpon and now this alliance thing have really made me hate baseball this week.

[seawolf17]

I like voting for all Mets in the NL and the worst players on the ballot in the AL.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

There are players on the All-Star ballot besides Mets?

I like Wolfie's plan, but I just can't get myself to vote for Derek Jeter, even if he is the worst shortstop in the league!

[Ceetar]

seawolf17 wrote: I like voting for all Mets in the NL and the worst players on the ballot in the AL.

I always vote (almost) all Mets and then whoever has a chance at beating a Yankee.

[Guest themetfairy]

Vote for Eamus!

[Frayed Knot]

Once upon a time teams that wanted to see their guys in the ASG had enough class to limit their actions to subtle encouragement - and even then such stuff was seen as a sign of small-town hucksterism.
MLB should be embarrassed that now virtually every team engages in a some kind of blatant rooting that often falls just shy of handing out pre-punched ballots at their stadiums next to a neon path of arrows on the floor directing fans as to where to drop them.

[Willets Point]

I did a Google search for "Mets alliance" and while no AL team is joining us for voting for the ASG there is a Facebook group called Red Sox-Mets Alliance (I joined) and a Twitter feed called Dutch Mets Alliance (I'd follow but I can't read Nederlands).

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Once upon a time teams that wanted to see their guys in the ASG had enough class to limit their actions to subtle encouragement - and even then such stuff was seen as a sign of small-town hucksterism. MLB should be embarrassed that now virtually every team engages in a some kind of blatant rooting that often falls just shy of handing out pre-punched ballots at their stadiums next to a neon path of arrows on the floor directing fans as to where to drop them.

I'm fine with that, but stop pretending that it's a competitive game instead of an exhibition to show off the players the fans want to see most. (i.e. popularity) But also mandate that they to do the skills competitions, like the Home Run Derby. Fans love watching Jose Bautista hit home runs? well make him hit home runs.

[seawolf17]

themetfairy wrote: Vote for Eamus!

Kid's been gone a month and she's already forgotten how to spell his name.

/shakes head sadly

[Guest themetfairy]

seawolf17 wrote: themetfairy wrote: Vote for Eamus! Kid's been gone a month and she's already forgotten how to spell his name. /shakes head sadly

Oops - can I call that a precaffeinated typo?

Vote for Emaus!

[soupcan]

I remember a story that I read years and years ago from the late '50s early '60s where the Cincinnati Reds organized a movement among their fans to stuff ballots for the All-Star game. The result was that the 8 starters chosen (not the pitcher) were Reds. The Commissioner, not being pleased with this outcome, then hand-picked 2 players from other teams (one being Willie Mays) to start alongside the 6 other Reds.

Now I'm sure I remember reading this somewhere but thinking rationally about it now I doubt it happened. Primarily because I don't think fans voted back then and I'm not even certain that fans voted at any point during Mays' career.

Anybody know if there is any shred of reality to my story or was it possibly a dream I had as a child?

[Guest Edgy DC]

You've got almost all the details right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game#Stuffing_the_ballot_box

[Ceetar]

soupcan wrote: I remember a story that I read years and years ago from the late '50s early '60s where the Cincinnati Reds organized a movement among their fans to stuff ballots for the All-Star game. The result was that the 8 starters chosen (not the pitcher) were Reds. The Commissioner, not being pleased with this outcome, then hand-picked 2 players from other teams (one being Willie Mays) to start alongside the 6 other Reds. Now I'm sure I remember reading this somewhere but thinking rationally about it now I doubt it happened. Primarily because I don't think fans voted back then and I'm not even certain that fans voted at any point during Mays' career. Anybody know if there is any shred of reality to my story or was it possibly a dream I had as a child?

Wikipedia confirms. Was actually 7 Reds and Stan Musial. Commissioner Ford Frick appointed Willie Mays of the New York Giants and Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves to substitute for Reds players Gus Bell and Wally Post, and took fan voting rights away in future games. (until 1969)

[soupcan]

I'm awesome!

Thanks Ceetar.

OE:...and Edgy!