Who's the best baseball player in 2001? Is it Barry Bonds and his record breaking homerun pace, rookie sensation Ichiro or the world's most expensive player, Alex Rodriguez?
The 2001 Major League All-Star game will be played July 10 in Seattle. You can help decide who plays in the game by voting for the players you think are having the best seasons. You can make your picks by picking up a ballot at your favorite team's stadium or you can vote online. The top vote-getters at each position will start the game at Safeco Field. It's no surprise that some of the top vote-getters are players like Ichiro, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds. These guys are having great seasons and deserve to be playing on July 10th.
Other players are getting thousands of votes even though they've been striking out all season. Take Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken is the leading vote-getter for American League third basemen - even though he's having a horrible season on a horrible team. The guy's 40 years old, has grey hair, is hitting a little over .200 and has just four homeruns. Ripken used to be a great player but that's no reason for moronic fans to be voting for him now. He should be sitting at home and drinking tea with your gramma. He should not be starting in an All-Star Game. But he's going to be playing - unless you and other fans start putting in your votes for someone else.
And what about Ken Griffey Jr. He hasn't even played ten games for the Reds this season - but he's fourth among National League outfielders in voting. Jr's a great player but he's not an All-Star in 2001. Why are people voting for him? Because he used to be good and has a candy bar named after him? That makes no sense. Griffey deserves to be starting in the All-Star game about as much as A-Rod deserves a pay raise.
If you vote for this year's all-stars - pick the
