What's An All-Star?

As a young Capital reporter in Albany, I thought every statehouse scandal was world-shattering. Today, with many years of perspective, my response to a Bible-thumping governor disappearing for a week of adultery in Argentina is detached bemusement. I've come to recognize that the main purpose of government is entertainment.

Likewise, All-Star elections used to pique my passions. Years later it ceases to rouse me much. (It's worth noting both with respect to government and All-Star games that I continue to vote.) Moreover, my philosophy on who should play has evolved.

In the old days, when social media meant phones in teenagers' rooms, I voted for the player having the best half season, regardless of his pedigree. Over time I realized that many of my choices were regressing to their natural level by year's end while the best players picked it up in the second half.

It seems to me a guy with a lifetime .750 OPS shouldn't start ahead of a veteran star after one good 75-game stretch, and that a superstar shouldn't miss a mid-summer classic because of an injury-marred first-half.

On the other hand, we do put years on the All-Star games. If a top player hits .190 through June, or misses all but 12 games, he probably shouldn't represent his league that particular year.

So when I voted for the 2009 All-Star teams, I chose the players having the best year among those in the top echelon at their position. Sorry Ben Zobrist: get a track record and I'll vote for you. Sorry Manny Ramirez: you can't be an All-Star when you don't play.

My AL All-Star ballot:
1B Kevin Youkilis
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Derek Jeter
3B Evan Longoria
C Joe Mauer
OF Torii Hunter
OF Adam Jones
OF Ichiro Suzuki

I picked Youkilis over Mark Texeira, Justin Morneau and Miguel Cabrera. Your mileage may vary. I valued his defense and on-base ability. Kinsler got the nod over Pedroia, who's not getting it done this year, and Cano, whose power is a figment of Yankee Stadium. If Longoria weren't already a great player, I might have considered ARod. Ichiro needs to hit .370 to be an All-Star, but that's what he's doing. And Adam Jones may not have a long history of Major League success, but he was a prodigy before he became a phenom. Carl Crawford also merits consideration. Anyone who fails to vote for Jeter or Mauer should have his ballot impounded.

My NL All-Star ballot:
1B Albert Pujols
2B Chase Utley
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B David Wright
C Brian McCann
OF Ryan Braun
OF Raul Ibanez
OF Matt Kemp

In the NL, the best players have done us the favor of having the best seasons at their positions. Only in the outfield is there any uncertainty. I couldn't pass on Ibanez despite the likelihood that he's playing over his head. Matt Kemp got the nod in part because women and children should not be exposed to a Braun-Ibanez-Adam Dunn outfield. Brad Hawpe and Justin Upton have gaudy, park-aided numbers, and haven't established their bonafides.

Season your ballot to taste and remember, you don't have to live in Chicago to vote late and often.

Sometimes the Bear Eats You

Just a quick note about the Cubs-Dodgers fiasco (for Chicagoans, anyway). The playoffs marked the fifth time this season that the Cubs lost three games in a row. It happens.

Also, a note about the Manny Ramirez pickup. According to Baseball Prospectus, Manny's performance post-trade deadline was among the best all time and added five wins to L.A.'s win total compared to a replacement-level outfielder. Of course, Manny was traded for Jason Bay, who is significantly better than a replacement-level outfielder, but even then, Manny added about three wins over only two months of the season.

Throw in, unscientifically, another half-win for the ancillary effect his acquisition had on the rest of the lineup and Ramirez was the difference for the Dodgers between facing the Phillies for the pennant and watching Arizona take on Chicago from their couches.

It's also worth noting, if it's any consolation to Cubs fans, that the best team in the NL did not lose to the playoffs' worst. With Manny, the Dodgers won 33 of 56 games, a 95-win clip. Add to that the returns of Nomar Garciaparra and team MVP Rafael Furcal, and this is no patsy. It's anybody's NLCS.

Let Manny Be....Someone Else's Headache

The Dodgers are reportedly sufficiently giddy over their acquisition of Manny Ramirez that they are talking about attempting to sign him after the season ends. In his first 119 at-bats, during which time LA has reoccupied the top of the NL West standings, Manny has clubbed 11 home runs and sports a nifty .403/.500/.748 line. He has patroled left field with gusto and verve. He has also behaved in the clubhouse in a manner approximating adulthood.

The Dodgers would be playing the role of fly in Manny's spider web. Ramirez is playing for that next contract, which will probably require something in the vicinity of four years and $80 million. That next contract is what seems to motivate him to light it up on the field and exercise self-control off it.

Once the season is complete and the t's are crossed on an agreement for 2009-2012, he will find it difficult not to revert to "being Manny." (It worked a lot better for John Malkovch.) Perhaps for a year he will slug like the Hall of Fame talent he is. Perhaps while torturing opposing pitchers he will limit his outfield antics to a tolerable level of complacency and maintain a confounding but ultimately benign air of irresponsibility. But then a couple of things are going to happen that will make Ned Colleti rue the contract offer.

First, Manny will age. He plays next year at age 37. He will slowly fade from all-time great to merely very good with the stick. His full effort will be required just to retain his general level of fielding ineptitude. His joie de vivre on the basepaths will lead to outs rather than joie.

Manny's greatness gone, management will find its patience for his off-field antics suddenly diminished. But with success on the field more elusive, Manny will struggle to continue acting unnaturally normal. Friends, it will get ugly. Imagine the pouting when Joe Torre pinch hits for him or inserts a rookie in the lineup in his sport. A $20 or $40 or $60 million albatross will hover over Chavez Ravine.

If a pennant-ready team can withstand his act and sign him for a year or two without breaking the bank, he might be a worthwhile investment. But for what it will probably take to secure his services, not signing Manny will turn out to be the best off-season move they make. You heard it here first.