Many contracts have a bonus for being voted to the all-star team, it doesn't say 'play in the all-star game'. Baseball's game has become bloated, close to 90 participants this year with injuries and those not eligible to play (pitchers starting the previous sunday). It is a meaningless game given some weight, not much, by virtue that the winning league has home field advantage in the world series. If it involves the regular season outcome, then 'every team must be represented, every player must take the field' nonsense should be gone, the team rosters reduced and the voting done by players, coaches and designated sports writers. If it's a fanfest, give them what they want, then let the fans vote, allow unlimited substitutions, players can come back into the game, pitch underhand, who cares. But it shouldn't decide anything about the world series. Basketball, football, hockey aren't much different. The NHL has changed it's format for the game numerous times. The only one that ever made sense was decades ago when it was allstars against the defending Stanley Cup champions. When it was a 6 team league, that made sense. Now? Not so much.
