(Site note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game here. To read Loyal Homer’s argument about Manny being banned from the All-Star game should he be voted in, click here.)
It doesn’t matter what else is going on in baseball, you just know that Manny Ramirez is always going to be good for a little drama. If you thought something as small as a 50-game “break from baseball” could keep Manny from mixing things up, well you are sorely mistaken!
Granted, he didn’t create this drama directly, but nevertheless, it’s just…
The Sports Geek raises an interesting question for this debate. I think that the wording of Sports Geek’s question is just as important as the debate itself, and we must always come back to that wording…
“…does he have a legitimate right to play in the game?”
The question is not ‘SHOULD he play in the game’, but ‘does he have a legitimate right’? My answer is ‘Of course he does.’
SHOULD he play in the game? Probably not. Many people (myself included) will view it as being in poor taste if he is named to, and participates in, the All-Star Game. But, let’s be honest, he wouldn’t be crashing the party uninvited, and he didn’t cheat in the voting (as far as we know) to get the invitation. If the current trends continue, then Manny Ramirez, despite the 50-game suspension, will be invited to participate in the All-Star Game, as he currently sits in 4th place in NL Outfield voting, and is definitely within striking distance of Carlos Beltran.
Let’s consider the situation for exactly what it is. He cheated, he got caught, and he is paying the penalty for the actions he took, a 50-game suspension. That 50-game period does not span across the All-Star Game, though, and nowhere in the details of his suspension does it prohibit his participation in the game. On paper, he will be eligible to play.
Let’s consider how he “earned” his invitation. That is where the real issue lies. Despite the intention behind it, the MLB All-Star Game is not an exhibition game between the best statistical performers of the AL and NL, respectively, over the first half of the season. That concept should be thrown into the garbage, since Bowie Kuhn decided to reinstate fan voting to populate the rosters in 1970. Instead, it became a popularity contest.
Rest assured that we would not be having this conversation if the Owners, Managers, or Players decided who would represent them, but that’s no longer the case. Thanks to the miracle of fan voting, the masses can see who they “want” to see, rather than the best players. That means that a guy like Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez (right now at 6th in OF balloting), who is currently hitting .332 with 17 HRs and 46 RBIs, could be snubbed and not get an invite because Manny Ramirez has his name on the ballot, despite missing more than half of the games leading up to the All-Star Game because he cheated.
But, that’s the risk you run when you let the masses decide. It is a popularity vote, and the fans have seen fit (at least thus far) to keep him in serious consideration to make the team as a reserve player at minimum.
If it was good enough to keep Sanjaya Malakar on American Idol, it’s good enough for Manny. Whether you like it or not, that’s the system in place. If he gets the votes, and is not on suspension at the time the game is played, then he has a legitimate right to play in the game.
I’m just going to start off by saying this: “fan voting” is a joke. It should be done away with. Most fans do not have the knowlege to be voting on this. Many fans voting will not even watch the actual game. AND most knowledgeable fans do not even participate in the voting process.
That said, if elected to the roster, Manny Ramirez has every right to participate as long as he has served his suspension. However, based on his current numbers and the reason he has missed games, should he be elected to start? Of course not.
My problem with this is what would have happened had a player been suspended two weeks after Manny had been? Or what if one of the current voting leaders has an announced suspension the first week of July? Or what if MLB would have waited to announce the suspension? Then it becomes a timing issue with MLB, especially if these tests, like Manny’s, were taken in spring training. It is totally ambiguous. In the future, I think the following scenario is probable:
You have a star player, Player A, who tests positive for a banned substance in early July. His team is in the pennant race, yet the annoucement of his suspension of 50 games doesn’t come until late August. At that point, he misses his team’s postseason games. Whereas another player, player B, has a suspension annouced two weeks before player A, and cleared to play in his team’s playoff games.
In conclusion, it would be wise for MLB to abandon fan-voting altogether, and set definitive guidelines this offseason, in respect to similar situations involving players who have tested positive for banned substances.
Do you think it’s a baseball conspiracy that Manny is back JUST in time to participate in the game, should he be elected?
Great comment!!!
Seezy, I think you make a good point.
The challenge that is faced in regard to enforcing this rule is to remain consistent. People think that exceptions can be made and Bud Selig can do whatever he wants. They want him to “wave a wand” and prohibit Manny from playing in the game, but it’s not that simple. This is Manny’s job, just like you and I have jobs. Rules have to be set and followed to the letter, otherwise, MLB could open itself up to some big lawsuits.
I’m actually including more about this in my reply to the Loyal Homer’s argument tomorrow, so check back!
Absolutely not, because the suspension should have been announced sooner anyway. If it was announced later, MLB would take some heat for taking a star out of the game after they had sat on the test for 2 months. No-win situation for all parties involved.
What difference would it have made for MLB to announce Manny’s suspension 8 days later than they did? It would have kept him out of the game, and it would have prevented this very scintillating debate!
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