Pirates don’t have legitimate All-Star

leads the league with a 2.09 ERA, has 132 strikeouts in 116 innings and is holding opposing hitters to a .183 average. Where is the justice there?

Vazquez isn’t even close to the Pirates’ worst example of an All-Star. We’re talking about a team that has been the worst in baseball for more than a quarter-century. In 16 of those seasons, the Pirates had just one AllStar. In many cases, they shouldn’t have had any. Do you remember Carlos Garcia as an All-Star? How about Tony Womack? Ed Sprague? Evan Meek? Mike Williams? There was no bigger joke than Williams going to the 2003 All-Star Game with a 6.44 ERA.

That’s just one more reason the All-Star Game is a farce. Like the game in all sports, it’s nothing more than a meaningless exhibition. I still can’t believe baseball tried to make it seem important by awarding homefield advantage in the World Series to the winning league. At least it had the good sense to stop that foolishness last season.

I don’t believe the majority of players want to play in the game. They want to be selected, sure. They want the recognition. They certainly want the bonuses that often go with being picked. But they would rather have four days off from the rough grind of the long season. They would rather spend the time on the beach with their family instead of at the ballpark.

Speaking of those bonuses, is it just me or is there something wrong with Max Scherzer getting a $100,000 bonus for making the AllStar roster? His salary is $22,142,857 this season. Shouldn’t he be expected to be an All-Star for that kind of money?

I’ve been consistent with my views of the All-Star Game. I took a week’s vacation in 2006 — the most recent time it was in Pittsburgh — so I could avoid the nonsense. I haven’t watched a minute of the game since. I won’t be watching the Fox broadcast next week.

Watching Vazquez pitch to Perez might be must-see TV for you, but I’m going to pass.