We’re in the thick of the All Star Team selection process, and I’m already seeing LOTS of whining in various comment sections on the order of “How can you choose this player over this one?”

I suspect a lot of these people are forgetting some very important things. First, you’re not simply selecting the Top 30 Players By Wins Above Replacement (or whatever number you want). You’ve got to field a team. What use is having six shortstops when you only have one first baseman? And there are a few other good rules, too.

First, fans get to vote for the starting players (except for pitchers). Some complain about this, but “crowdsourcing” that rarely fails. You can argue if you want about who should get the actual honor, but the fans don’t make egregious mistakes.

Second, there’s a rule – and it’s a worthwhile one – that each team must have a representative on the roster. For teams in the basement, seeing one of their players on the field at the ASG may be the only bright spot their fans have all season. Also, every team has at least one player who should at least be considered for the honor. The Oakland A’s are in the middle of a historically awful season – but their centerfielder, Esteury Ruiz, is leading the majors in stolen bases. Surely there’s a spot for him on the roster?

So, put those rules together, and let’s see what happens.

1. For every team not represented in the fan-selected starters, pick their best or most deserving player, keeping in mind that you’d like to have at least two players to cover each position. Of the 30 roster spots, that should fill up 15 to 20.
2. Now you need pitchers. Assume the starter goes two innings, and then maybe at most one pitcher per inning after that. So that’s seven or eight pitchers. If you’re lucky, some of those spots are already taken with the “best or most deserving player” choice for a team.
3. That leaves you with anywhere from two to eight spots left for other worthy players.

Not that easy to avoid “snubbing” a player, is it…….

I can understand a little disappointment if your Favorite Player doesn’t make the team. But the game isn’t for the hard-core fans; it’s for the casual fan – the person who may have heard of Shohei Ohtani, but couldn’t pick him out of a lineup even if he was in uniform. The All Star Game is a nice break in the middle of the season, when there are absolutely no other major sports vying for attention. If aliens were challenging us to a game over the fate of the human race, then I could see some serious arguments over who should be on the team. But it’s an exhibition game; it always has been. Some arguing is fine and welcome, as always. Just don’t take it seriously.