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BY JOSH FRYDMAN

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This year’s Major League Baseball All-Star game may be missing one important element—Stars. Baseball Tonight analyst John Kruk thinks it’s letting down the fans if the players they vote in, want out.

“But the guys who are elected by fans, they know on Sunday that they made the team, they should be at the All-Star Game whether they can play or not. Now Alex Rodriguez’s case, a little different, cause he’s having surgery. But I think other guys who have been elected should be there because that’s what the fans wanted to see, you were one of the most popular players in the vote, you should be there at the all-star game.”

Six pitchers are ineligible to play because they pitched on Sunday, including C.C. Sabathia, Justin Verlander and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez.
Of the other 10, many are citing injuries, yet only four are currently on the disabled list. Those choosing not to play include Derek Jeter, David Price and Mariano Rivera.

Fox announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, who will call the game, told San Diego’s KSWB - many of the All-Star dropouts still want to attend the game, but are just unable to play.

“I think these are guys that are banged up. It’s a long year and their first allegiance is to the team that’s paying them a lot of money to perform during the regular season. So whether it’s Jeter and his calf, or A-Rod and his knee or David Price and his toe or whatever it may be, we are not there to say they are not hurt or should be playing no matter what.”

For some replacement All-Stars, the invite arrived too last minute to make it to Arizona.
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez already had plans to spend the break with his family in his native Dominican Republic.
Ramirez told the Chicago Sun Times,

''It was the last day, so I already have plans for my family. If [they asked Saturday], probably. It gives you a day to [adjust]. But I show up [Sunday] morning, and they told me. No chance. I couldn't make it.''

Sporting News writer Stan McNeal  says the Mid-Summer Classic just won’t be the same without the marquee names.

“Not only are some of the All-Stars not coming to this game, but before the teams were ever announced, you were missing out on guys like Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Joe Mauer, so when you factor in the fact that those big names aren’t here, in addition to the guys who have pulled out of the game, ya it definitely takes away some of the shine off the All-Star.”

Those players withdrawing from the All-Star game still qualify for their All-Star bonus written in their contract, the biggest of which goes to Derek Jeter, who will get $500,000 for making the team -- even if he doesn’t go.
 

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