Friday, July 19, 2024

The three best players in each league should play the entire All-Star game

There would have to be some way to designate this. Maybe among the starters, the top three in OPS in each league would play the whole game (they could be called co-captains or something like that). Or, it could be the top three vote getters among the starters (indicating that they are fan favorites).

I would like to see guys like Judge and Ohtani for the full game (my guess is that many other fans would, too). There would still be plenty of chances for the managers to get substitutes into the game. But there must be some players that the fans would especially like to see. 

In the later innings of a close game, I want to see big guns coming up, not lesser stars. These would be guys who were stars before the current season and are having good or great seasons once again.

Here are suggestions for this years game for both leagues. The OPS of each guy at the break is after their name. In parentheses is their OPS+. Then something about their careers prior to 2024 that suggest they are marquee players.

Judge 1.112 (207) Rookie of the Year 2017 & MVP 2022
Soto .985 (175)  Co-winner of Babe Ruth Award 2019 (post season MVP)
Henderson .956 (174) Rookie of the Year 2023

Ohtani 1.036 (189) Rookie of the Year 2018 & 2 time MVP
Yelich .933 (159) 2018 MVP
Harper .983 (174) 2 time MVP

These are all top stars, big name players who are having outstanding seasons once again. They should be featured in an all-star game to give fans their money's worth. That is the idea of the game, right?

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