Detroit Tigers Snub & So Many Other Wrongs at the All Star Game

When the Detroit Tigers only have one player in the All-Star Game, you know that something is wrong. When that player only gets one at-bat, you really know that something is wrong.

With the Kansas City Royals manager, Ned Yost, playing his darling Eric Hosmer in six of the innings, a clear message was sent to Cabrera and the rest of the Tigers. That message was a total lack of respect.

Hosmer was the only starting player to play for six innings. Instead of putting Cabrera in to bat for him in the bottom of the sixth, Yost let Hosmer hit against former Tiger Max Scherzer. This seemed like the ultimate smack in the face to Cabrera and the fans of the Detroit Tigers.

So many fans wanted to see the Big Man face his former teammate. What a moment that would have been, not just for Cabrera, but for Scherzer, too. Of course, Hosmer grounded out in his at-bat against Scherzer – so much for any type of moment.

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By the time that Cabrera got up to the plate, the game was already in the hands of the American League. He was facing Fernando Rodney. Despite the fact that Cabrera’s numbers are not good against Rodney, there still was little to be excited about seeing Miggy in the top of the eighth against this former teammate. Miggy struck out looking and wandered back to the dugout.  

Fortunately, fans got to listen to the kindest words from John Smoltz who schmoozed all over the Big Man. Smoltz described Miggy as the best hitter he ever faced. Yet, he only got one plate appearance, in the eighth inning. Did Yost not hear the immense cheer that Cabrera got from the crowd at Petco Park? Did he not realize that people want to see the best hitter ever at the plate?

Maybe I should calm down a bit, because the truth came out at the end. According to ESPN, Cabrera told Yost to keep Hosmer in so he could get that extra at-bat and win the MVP. This is just one more reason why Miguel Cabrera should have had more time playing – simply because he is one classy guy and one good ball player with an immense fan base. 

It makes me wonder if Hosmer would have done the same for Cabrera? Unfortunately, since Miggy did not even get to start, despite being “the best first-baseman on the planet” – we will never know. What we do get to know is that Miggy has nothing to prove – especially at this game.

Unfortunately, the Tigers fans who wanted to see Miggy get some more playing time were just as disappointed as I was.

It sure didn’t feel right.

There is seriously something wrong when a team that is above the .500 mark and is in second place in their division has only one player to represent them. Thanks, MLB for making a mockery of the Detroit Tigers.

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Sadly, there were plenty of other teams with only one representative: Diamondbacks, Braves, Angels, Brewers, Twins, A’s, Phillies, Mariners, and Rays. Considering that a total of 64 men made roster spots on the AL and NL teams, the fact that 33 percent of the teams accounted for 16 percent of the roster spots is troubling. The MLB needs to think about its fans in all of the markets and give them a reason to watch the game. They didn’t do it tonight.