It's been done before. In 1983, Bowie Kuhn added Carl Yastrzemski and Johnny Bench to the All-Star Game squads, after they had announced that they would be retiring at the end of the season. I have no problem if the same is done for Pujols this season. It's an exhibition game, and his career accomplishments warrant an honor of this kind.

Miggy Cabrera would probably be the AL guy, right?

Cabrera's batting .308, ninth in the American League … not that he is an All-Star on the merits, but that's pretty good in a .240 league.

Henry Aaron went to the All-Star game in 1975 even though he was hitting .236/.333/.386 with 9 homers at the break. And of course he should have gone: He's Henry Aaron, a star by anyone's definition, plus the game was in Milwaukee.

Pujols is 1 for 21 - a single - with no walks and 8 K since June 14. His last extra-base hit (ever?) was on May 22.

I have no problem with him putting on the uniform and waving to the crowd.

but unless it's a blowout, leave his impotent bat on the bench. I'd rather see deGrom bat, as he's a better hitter at this point.

but unless it's a blowout, leave his impotent bat on the bench. I'd rather see deGrom bat, as he's a better hitter at this point.

I get what you're saying, but I think its kinda funny you would only play him in a blow out, as if the game meant anything.

If it's a blowout, Pujols will probably pitch.

It's the all star game, who freaking cares about an aging player getting a single at bat? Ultimately it's just a relatively meaningless game where fans watch it because it showcases players.

What I find funny is this silly voting for who is going to end up starting for the game... Does anyone really think the runner up isn't going to make the team? I mean if Machado beats Arenado in the voting, do you really think Arenado isn't going to make the team? This voting system is idiotic on the face of it.

Let the fans vote, top vote getter is put in, it's not really necessary to make it more complicated than that. Let the league, manager or whoever put in the rest of the squad, etc... for whatever reasons they want. About 10-20% will back out for reasons, and another small handful will be put in... it's really not that complicated.

Miggy Cabrera would probably be the AL guy, right?

he would be a fine choice, but he's under contract for 1 more year. Nothing wrong with just having the one guy who has announced retirement.

I fear that this will become a regular thing, and next year we get Yadier Molina and Nelson Cruz.

A regular thing would be fine ... a "so regular it's basically required" thing will have some embarrassing years. As noted, it's been done in the past and nobody (except maybe grumpy old me, reserving my rights) will object if it's done for Molina. Cruz may not be iconic enough to "deserve" it but as long as it doesn't get to the point of "Oliver Perez is the oldest active guy, he's got to go on" then why is it a problem?

And if they put Pujols on the team, of course he's gonna get an AB -- that's the whole f'ing point of putting him on the team, otherwise you just make him honorary 1B coach and lineup presenter. And hopefully the pitcher throws him a Ripken special. Can he still hit them in BP? Put him on the HR derby team.

Cabrera's batting .308, ninth in the American League … not that he is an All-Star on the merits, but that's pretty good in a .240 league.

Tigers need somebody on the team. Miggy is the only regular with an OPS+ over 100. They don’t have anyone who’s stayed in the rotation all year with an ERA under 4. Several of their relievers are pitching well, but if the choice for Tiger rep comes down to Miggy or Gregory Soto that’s an easy choice for me.

Yes. On this Tigers team, Miggy is an easy choice for the token rep. The top players by WAR who aren't currently on the IL are 4 relievers, the backup catcher, and a SP with an ERA+ of 95.

On this Tigers team, Miggy is an easy choice for the token rep.

The obligation to have every team represented may kick in before the Commissioner gets around to his discretionary picks, so it could be two Tigers, unless Cabrera is somehow named as one of the regular picks.

I get what you're saying, but I think its kinda funny you would only play him in a blow out, as if the game meant anything.

it doesn't, of course. but Pujols striking out after flailing on 3 pitches is not great entertainment and could be a little embarrassing. if he does bat, I guess they might as well have 78-year-old Denny McLain on the mound - which also would be pathetic.

I like this idea better with a legend who no longer is All-Star level, but who might get a legit hit.

that ain't Pujols (who of course, as I check, has a single and a double tonight. I need a little more, lol)

Pujols is 1 for 21 - a single - with no walks and 8 K since June 14. His last extra-base hit (ever?) was

Today. A double.

Make Zack Greinke the AL legend, and have him face Pujols. That way it probably won’t end in a strikeout.

78-year-old Denny McLain

Imagine the sponsorship battle among MLB's Gaming Partners.

it's always weird which players live forever and which ones don't.

SABR bio about HOF OF Elmer Flick:

"In a revealing article published in the July 22, 1907 [he was only age 31], issue of the Cleveland Press, Flick disclosed that “playing the game day in and day out [was] ruining his health,” that he was “on the verge of physical collapse,” and that “the time of his retirement [was] not far distant.”

AND

"Flick was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1963, an honor he treasured until he died from congestive heart failure at 8:25 A.M. on January 9, 1971, only two days before his 95th birthday."

McLain, meanwhile, has led a rathered checkered life - to be kind.

and yet, here he is.

As was said earlier in this thread, there is precedent for this: In 1983, Yaz and Johnny Bench were added to the roster by Bowie Kuhn.

Why recreate the wheel, right? We should do as Kuhn did, and put Yaz and Bench in this year's All-Star Game.

Why recreate the wheel, right? We should do as Kuhn did, and put Yaz and Bench in this year's All-Star Game.

He's only hitting .231, he doesn't deserve it.

And Manfred has pulled the trigger, and named both Pujols and Cabrera to the All Star teams.

And Manfred has pulled the trigger, and named both Pujols and Cabrera to the All Star teams.

And Manfred could not wait until the All-Star rosters were announced to do this? Granted Miguel Cabrera would have been the token Tigers All-Star, but if so he would at least have “made” the team on performance and not by a special pass from the commissioner. If Miggy was not chosen to be the token Tiger, then Manfred could still have named him afterwards. And yes, I do think there are people who will see the commissioner choice as even less worthy of recognition than being the token team pick…

#22 Interestingly Miggy doesn't appear in the top 10 Tiger players by WAR.

Although ... Michael Fullmer's BWar is within method error of RMc's and I think they're equally worthy of representing the Tigers in an All-Star game (so yeah, I'd have gone for Miggy)

Now they have been named All-Stars, MLB needs to find a role for Pujols & Cabrera. How about a race across the outfield warning track during the 7th inning stretch?

Now they have been named All-Stars, MLB needs to find a role for Pujols & Cabrera. How about a race across the outfield warning track during the 7th inning stretch?

Good lord, aren’t baseball games long enough already?

Now they have been named All-Stars, MLB needs to find a role for Pujols & Cabrera. How about a race across the outfield warning track during the 7th inning stretch?

Yes, any excuse to bring back the Freeze!

Not along the warning track, across the warning track. Fifteen feet seems like as much running as those two guys should be doing.