Allgemein » ver, Bairstow says it has been a journey and Dad would be as

There once was a time when every team in baseball deserved to have an All-Star to call its own. Unfortunately, that time was, oh, about 1957. Not now.So on Tuesday night, when the 2016 All-Star teams were announced, Eduardo Nunez wound up on this team -- as the Minnesota Twins mandatory rep -- but Carlos Correa didnt.And Alex Colome was on this roster -- as the Tampa Bay Rays designated All-Star -- but Aroldis Chapman wasnt.The Philadelphia Phillies had to have an All-Star, too, so Odubel Herrera will be jetting to San Diego. Not that he hasnt had a nice year. But Starling Marte wont be there (unless he wins the Final Vote nuttiness). And neither will Gregory Polanco. And thats just crazy.Now before I go on here and set the Twitterverse ablaze, I want you to understand where Im coming from. Im not writing this to dump ice water on Nunez, Colome or Herrera. Im genuinely happy for all of them. Theyre about to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. And I guarantee you that not so long ago, they never saw that coming.Nunez was once stuck behind that Derek Jeter guy in New York and didnt get a chance to play regularly until he was 29 years old. Colome is an emergency closer who probably would have finished about 18th on your preseason list of most likely Rays pitchers to make the All-Star team. And Herrera has now completed that improbable journey from Rule 5 pick to All-Star, which happens about as often as we launch a satellite to Jupiter.Im also not writing this to imply that I believe the Twins, Rays and Phillies should have their franchises wiped off the face of the baseball map. I obviously dont think that. I have tremendous respect for the history of those teams, the fans of those teams and the people who run those teams.So this isnt about them, even though I predict that about 750,000 people who wont bother reading this far will conclude otherwise. You know what this is about? Its about the All-Star Game. About what it means. And about what makes it great.Well, this just in: What makes it great isnt finding a way to cram a utility guy from a team 27 games under .500 onto the roster, only because somebody wearing that uniform has to be there.I laid out that scenario to a longtime baseball executive this week. Pointed out that Nunez, fine fellow that he is, was almost certainly going to make this team, but guys such as Correa and Ian Kinsler probably werent. The exec I was speaking with had an instant, heated reaction.That, he said, emphatically, would be wrong.And whats so wrong about it? Heres what: This is no longer just a show. No longer just three hours of yuks and big swings. No longer just an evening for the best pitchers in the sport to see what kind of crazy numbers they can hang on the radar board. And you know why?The. Game. Now. Means. Something.Doesnt matter how you feel about baseballs decision to use the All-Star Game to determine who gets home-field advantage in the World Series. Its a real thing. It has an actual impact on who rides on the parade floats. So why the heck arent the 36 biggest stars in each league about to line up on those foul lines Tuesday night?Well, they wont be. And wheres the logic in that?If it was just an entertainment thing, then who cares? the same exec vented. Put anybody you want out there. But if it matters, put the best players out there.This really isnt a complicated concept, is it? Does the sport want the game to count for something, or doesnt it? If it does, then the hallowed every team has to have an All-Star rule is dumb. Makes no sense. Doesnt fit the narrative.Big game. Huge game. Not just an exhibition game, like those other sports All-Star shows. This one counts! (Except for the part in which we overlook some of our biggest stars so other, less-deserving guys can go.)Where is Kinsler on that American League roster? Where is Adrian Beltre? Where is Dustin Pedroia? Where is Chris Davis? Where is Nelson Cruz? Those men are Stars with a capital S.Where is Brandon Crawford in the National League? Where is Matt Holliday? Where is Max Scherzer? Id be fine with Yadi Molina, because I understand the value of 12 years worth of brilliance. Id even be cool with Ichiro Suzuki, as he chases his 3,000th hit. Those gentlemen belong in an All-Star Game because they, too, are Stars.And if anyone ever elects me as the All-Star Roster Czar, I promise that I will always err on the side of star power. You want to make sure you continue to have the greatest All-Star Game in sports? Keep those stars coming. Its a star-driven society. Feed it.There must be other ways to acknowledge the best players on the worst teams in baseball besides giving them a real All-Star. How about, if youre on pace to lose 100 games on July 1, you get to send an honorary All-Star to the Midsummer Classic? He can wave to the crowd. He can get an invitation to the gala. He can hang out in the clubhouse. He just cant take up a spot that could be used on a more deserving luminary.Just follow my simple logic. You want the game to count? Send in the stars.And if you want someone there from every team? mused the exec quoted earlier. Send the mascots.Custom Mitch Richmond Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Custom Kings T-shirts . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). http://www.customnbakingsjersey.com/ . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Kings Jerseys China . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Cheap Custom Kings Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee.Jonny Bairstow chats about his electric form over a game of golf with Sky Sports pundit Sir Ian Botham.Bairstow is hitting it like a dream at the moment - but does that stretch to his golf game?That was not revealed as he played a round with former England captain Botham, but the wicketkeeper did discuss his outstanding form with the bat, the recent tour of South Africa and the upcoming challenges facing him and the team. The Yorkshireman called last weeks century against Sri Lanka on his home ground Headingley as an amazing feeling and one now ticked off the bucket list.Meanwhile, looking back at Englands victorious Test tour to South Africa in the winter, Bairstow claimed he had gained an identity, learned about myself and my game, and played how Jonny Bairstow plays for Yorkshire. Bairstow blog England keeper talks fancy dress, Finns batting and Leeds Rhinos The stumper also revealed that since I have been back I have done a heck of a lot of work on my keeping with Frenchie [England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French].ddddddddddddLooking ahead to the rest of the summer and beyond, though, the middle-order batsman thinks we can only go as far as we trust each other. It will be a tough summer against Sri Lanka and Pakistan and then we know how tough the winter will be in Bangladesh and India. We know how dangerous Sri Lanka can be, though.Talking about his now blossoming international career, however, Bairstow says it has been a journey and Dad would be as proud as punch up there.Hit play on the video above to watch Bairstow and Botham chat about the Yorkshiremans recent form...Also See:Bairstow blog: Hard to separate my two Test centuriesEngland v Sri Lanka LIVE!Woakes in for injured StokesThe 10,000 run club ' ' '