Hard to take the All-Star Game seriously

Preface: Tonight marks the first Atlantic League All-Star Game I have covered. I missed last season's due to a "family emergency," the same excuse a lot of these players give, I'm sure. But, my newspaper sent a highly competent replacement to cover the game, not someone who clearly was out of his/her league. Hope you see the analogy.


I'm having a difficult time taking this All-Star Game seriously. Here is why:
First, the Atlantic League elected to name big-name stars with questionable stats to be starters. Some of the best players in this league are guys you have never heard of, yet Edgardo Alfonzo, Carl Everett and Jose Offerman were all named starters.
True, the fans supposedly vote in the starters, but, as someone with knowledge of the league, trust me when I say your vote does not mean as much as you think. The league micromanages every decision, it makes and it could easily change around the voting so the deserving players are the starters.
Then comes the next frustrating part. The act of surprise when players such as Alfonzo, Everett, Offerman, and Danny Graves decline the invitation.
All five of those players have been to a major-league all-star game (with 8 total selections between them) so what makes anyone think they even consider this selection an honor?
That said, it's no defense for the disrespect with which they treat the game. If you are good enough to play in the league all summer, you are good enough to play in the All-Star Game. Do you think they would have a "previous commitment" preventing them from playing in the Triple-A All-Star Game?
If you skip the All-Star Game, you should be forced to skip the second half of the season. These fans want you -- even though you are past your prime -- and you blow them off.
But back to the league...why is there surprise when this happens? Be prepared for it. You should not have to call players at home the night before the game and practically beg them to play -- which I've heard happened. You should not have a pitcher with a 4-7 record and a 6.17 earned-run average playing in the game.
Bottom line, it's not a true All-Star Game. It's an All-I-Had-Nothing-Else-To-Do-Over-My-Four-Day-Break-So-I-Guess-I-Will-Play-Game.
Or, if you prefer acronyms, the AIHNETDOMFDBSIGIWPG.
Or, if you prefer comedy, one Atlantic League beat writer referred to it as the All-Farce Game.
Maybe it will be different next year when Somerset plays host. But I think it might be an internal problem with the league and not its franchises.
You want big stars to play in the league but they don't care about your league or its fans. If you get people who do care, the talent level is going to take a big hit. It's a no-win situation.