The All-Star Game is a Joke

There. I've said it. Look at the starters:

AL
Joe Mauer C
Kevin Youkilis 1B (What a joke. Justin Morneau should be here)
Dustin Pedroia 2B (Again. Have you people seen how good Ian Kinsler is?)
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Derek Jeter SS (Might not deserve it. The game is in his House though)
Manny Ramirez LF
Ichiro Suzuki CF
Josh Hamilton RF (GREAT story. More credit should be given)
David Ortiz DH (Doesn't matter. He won't play)

Cliff Lee SP

NL
Geovany Soto C
Lance Berkman 1B
Chase Utley 2B
Chipper Jones 3B
Hanley Ramirez SS
Alfonso Soriano LF (I don't know about this one)
Kosuke Fukudome CF (Um...are you crazy)
Ken Griffey Jr. RF (Wh...wh...WHAT??? He's hitting .242)

Brandon Webb SP

Now the reserves:
AL
Pitchers:
Mariano Rivera (New York)
Scott Kazmir (Tampa Bay)
George Sherill (Baltimore)
Roy Halladay (Toronto)
Jonathan Papelbon (Boston)
Justin Duchscherer (Oakland)
Joe Nathan (Minnesota)
Joakim Soria (Royals)
Francisco Rodriguez (Los Angeles)
Ervin Santana (Los Angeles)
Joe Saunders (Los Angeles)

Reserves:
J.D. Drew (Boston)
Jason Varitek (Boston)
Joe Crede (Chicago)
Carlos Quentin (Chicago)
Grady Sizemore (Cleveland)
Carlos Guillen (Detroit)
Justin Morneau (Minnesota)
Milton Bradley (Texas)
Ian Kinsler (Texas)
Michael Young (Texas)
Dioner Navarro (Tampa Bay)

What the hell is Veritek doing here? Terry Francona and the people who put these reserves together should lose their right to be a part of the game (and I actually LIKE Francona). And has anybody noticed that Mike Mussina has 11 freaking wins?

UPDATE - the players voted for Veritek. Again, what a joke.

NL
Pitchers:
Aaron Cook (Colorado)
Tim Lincecum (San Francisco)
Dan Haren (Arizona)
Ben Sheets (Milwaukee)
Carlos Zambrano (Chicago)
Ryan Dempster (Chicago)
Brian Wilson (San Francisco)
Edinson Volquez (Cincinnati)
Kerry Wood (Chicago)
Brad Lidge (Philadelphia)
Billy Wagner (New York)


Reserves:
Brian McCann (Atlanta)
Aramis Ramirez (Chicago)
Matt Holiday (Colorado)
Dan Uggla (Florida)
Miguel Tejada (Houston)
Russell Martin (Los Angeles)
Nate McLouth (Pittsburgh)
Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
Ryan Ludwick (St. Louis)
Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego)
Cristian Guzman (Washington)

Whatever. Again - the All Star Game is a joke.

Alex Rodriguez tied Mickey Mantle tonight with 536 home runs. His wife will file for divorce tomorrow. Guess we'll need something to talk about since I officially deem the 2008 Yankees as lousy.

I have a pithy, mean-spirited comment. But I won't say it.