Posey and All-Star outrage

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There are only a few more hours left in fan voting for the All-Star game. So knock yourself out. Email until your thumbs fall off.In truth, I have no horse in this race. Doesnt really matter to me how many Giants or Athletics get voted to the All-Star game. I dont vote, I think all the players deserve a few days off.But I do like to stand up for the West Coast. And so if its irritating people in other markets that Buster Posey is leading the All-Star voting, thats a good thing. And a valid reason for pummeling the keyboard to make sure Posey and Pablo Sandoval and Melky Cabrera are all voted in by midnight tonight.Hell, throw in Brandon Crawford and Ryan Theriot while youre at it.There may be nothing stupider than getting outraged about All-Star voting but that seems to be what some people are doing. The Chronicles Henry Schulman wrote an amusing blog item about fans in St. Louis getting upset that Posey is ahead of Yadier Molina in the right to squat in Kansas City on July 10.Hey, this isnt a scientific process - its a popularity contest. Thats why some years the American League All Star team looks exactly like the Yankees starting lineup.Teams encourage their fans to stuff the ballot box and its workingvoting is breaking records right now. The teams with the most fans have a chance to load up on All-Stars and the Giants have a lot of fans: theyre third in attendance in the league at 1,580,975 fans through 38 home games (behind Philadelphia and Texas). Thats nothing to apologize for and if part of the fan experiencealong with paying 8.75 for a beer and dressing up in a pointy hat to get in Brian Wilson Garden Gnome Express Line - is stuffing the ballot box, so be it.RELATED: Last chance to vote for All-Stars -- voting ends at 8:59 PT
Theres no right to be an All-Star. Statistics dont automatically win out. The question is who do you, the fan, want to see? Yadier Molina has made the last three All-Star rosterstheres no clause that a Molina must be included in every midsummer classic.San Francisco fans may have put Posey over their top with their relentless ballot stuffing, but anyone who argues he doesnt belong there is an idiot. The kid won a World Series and Rookie of the Year in his first year. He suffered a gruesome injury that sparked debate around the league in his second year. Hes come back and he caught a perfect game.Posey named to the All-Star game? Seems like a perfect part of the narrative arc.Of course, Posey might want that week off to rest his ankle and run after the twins. But his vote doesnt carry any more weight than that of the guy in the gnome hat.

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