We always hear about fans making bad decisions and leaving deserving players out of the All-Star Game, but now some players are chiming in about their own choices.
Rays starter Blake Snell was left off the American League squad despite leading the league in ERA (2.09) and being tied for second in wins (12).
He still might get in as players drop out for various reasons, but the snub bothered teammate Chris Archer, who asked on Twitter how it happened.
"I know how," he wrote. "Because we, as players (the ones who vote for the pitchers), didn't do our due diligence. We have to collectively take the time & effort to responsibility (sic) fill out our ballots. It's totally on us & I'm calling out everyone who didn't take the energy to determine who is most deserving to represent our game in the mid summer classic. This stuff matters. BLAKE SNELL IS AN ALL STAR, not an alternate, replacement or backup."
Astros ace Justin Verlander, who was voted in, replied to Archer's tweet by adding: "Also, because we vote waaay too early. Could easily punch in our votes on an iPad a couple days before instead of the old school envelopes weeks before."
Both are right.
Snell should've been an All-Star, and players should've been paying more attention to his season when they cast their votes. And the idea of players voting a few weeks ahead of the announcement is lame in this technological era.
It's easily fixable next year, but that could be too late for Snell.
