The best stadium to play at? The worst? What about this whole automated ball-strike system? MLB’s All-Stars had some thoughts.
We anonymously polled 20 of the game’s best players at All-Star Weekend on these topics, and more. Here’s what they had to say:
Automated Ball-Strike System: For or Against?
Winner: For
Just don’t call it “robo-umps.” The ABS technology has been used in the minors to challenge certain calls on balls and strikes. It was actually used in this year’s All-Star Game. But how what in regular season games?
“I don’t want full ABS. Being able to go down and pitch in Triple-A and rehab and other things, I’ve gotten experience with it. So, I think there is a use to it, but I don’t want to take the human element out of the game. I don’t want umpires to be completely out of it.” — NL All-Star pitcher
“I’m for the challenge system. I think having umpires and then the human element, they’ve got the hardest job on earth, man. They’re trying to dictate pitches coming in at 100 mph on the corners, trying to determine is this ball truly on the plate or not? I don’t envy their job at all. But I do think there is a human element, and if they miss one, having a team have the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, can we take a look at that? I don’t think that’s the worst thing, either.” — AL pitcher
“I don’t want to get rid of the umpire, but having some checks and balances would be cool.” — AL All-Star pitcher
Best Atmosphere?
Winner: New York Yankees
Opened in 2009 next to the original “House That Ruth Built,” Yankee Stadium is certainly one of the great cathedrals in sports. Some of the other iconic parks got multiple votes, but there is something about playing in the Bronx that appeals:
| Vote | Count |
| New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium) | 5 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium) | 4 |
| Philadelphia Phillies (Citizens Bank Park) | 4 |
| Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field) | 3 |
| Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park) | 3 |
| San Diego Padres (Petco Park) | 2 |
| Houston Astros (Daikin Park) | 2 |
| New York Mets (Citi Field) | 1 |
| Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers Centre) | 1 |
Most Shocking Crew?
Winner: Detroit Tigers
With a whopping six All-Stars this season and operating away with the AL Central, do not sleep on these Tigers. Led by back-to-back Cy Younger winner Tarik Skubal, this staff has put MLB on discover.
“The extent that they’ve been at, the consistency they’ve proven, could be very spectacular.” — NL All-Star
“I knew Detroit was good, however they’ve actually impressed me with the best way they’ve dominated.” — NL All-Star
“What they’ve been ready to do that yr, they’ve like six All-Stars or one thing like that. Constantly, what they’ve been capable of do is stunning.” — AL All-Star
Additionally obtained a number of votes:
Milwaukee Brewers: “Whether or not they began scorching or not, they completed actually scorching. So, good for them.” — AL All-Star pitcher
Boston Pink Sox: “Loads of expertise, however simply form of the beginning they obtained off to.” — AL All-Star
Acquired one vote:
Toronto Blue Jays: “What they’ve completed this final month has been spectacular.” — AL All-Star pitcher
Arizona Diamondbacks: “I believed they’d be higher.” — AL All-Star
| Vote | Count |
| Detroit Tigers | 7 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 3 |
| Miami Marlins | 2 |
| Boston Red Sox | 2 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 1 |
| Houston Astros | 1 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 1 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 1 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 1 |
| Atlanta Braves | 1 |
| Chicago Cubs | 1 |
Most Underrated Participant?
Winner: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians slugger looks like a deserving winner on this class though it is stunning the defending AL MVP, who simply eclipsed 350 profession dwelling runs, additionally getting a vote right here.
(Photograph by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
“Sure, [Ramírez] is a celebrity. However I simply don’t really feel like he will get lined the best way that the opposite prime 5 – 6 gamers within the league do.” — AL All-Star
Additionally obtained votes:
Aaron Choose, New York Yankees: “I simply suppose individuals put different gamers in his league, and it’s not proper. Generally it’s like, ‘Who’s the most effective hitter? Aaron or this man?’ And it’s not even a dialogue. There’s no shut second. I feel the truth that individuals put hitters in the identical dialog as him, offensively, makes him underrated. You possibly can take a look at the numbers the final 6-8 years and it’s probably not shut between anyone else.” — AL All-Star
Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels: “With the years that he’s put up and the performances he retains placing up, I feel he undoubtedly deserves extra consideration than he’s getting.” — AL All-Star
Framber Valdez, Houston Astros: “High quality begin after high quality begin from that dude. He’s a groundball pitcher. And he goes deep into video games.” — AL All-Star
| Vote | Count |
| José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians | 3 |
| Juan Soto | 1 |
| Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians | 1 |
| Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays | 1 |
| Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins | 1 |
| Luke Raley, Seattle Mariners | 1 |
| Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels | 1 |
| Otto Lopez, Miami Marlins | 1 |
| Luis Severino, Athletics | 1 |
| Framber Valdez, Houston Astros | 1 |
| Aaron Judge, New York Yankees | 1 |
Participant You’d Most Wish to be Teammates With:
Winner: Aaron Choose, New York Yankees
(Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Photos)
The Yankees celebrity runs away on this class. Who would not need to play alongside a two-time MVP?
Additionally obtained votes:
Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates: “I’m simply actually impressed with who he’s. Not many individuals had the accelerated path that he did with all the eye that he has had. I would like going and enjoying behind that man.” — NL All-Star
| Vote | Count |
| Aaron Judge, New York Yankees | 8 |
| Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers | 2 |
| Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 |
| Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies | 1 |
| Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers | 1 |
| Mickey Moniak | 1 |
| Mike Trout | 1 |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | 1 |
| Paul Skenes | 1 |
Group You’d Most Wish to Play For:
Winner: Boston Pink Sox
(Photograph by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Pink Sox/Getty Photos)
From the aura at Fenway Park to the 4 World Collection this century, a good quantity of All-Stars have a roving eye for that Inexperienced Monster.
| Vote | Count |
| Boston Red Sox | 4 |
| Atlanta Braves | 3 |
| San Francisco Giants | 3 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 |
| Texas Rangers | 1 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 1 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1 |
| New York Yankees | 2 |
| San Diego Padres | 2 |
Group You’d Least Wish to Play For:
Winner: Chicago White Sox
Or let’s assume, “loser” right here? Even with super-fan Pope Leo XIV presiding over the Vatican, there appears to be little enchantment to take up residence one Southside. As one participant polled stated:
| Vote | Count |
| Chicago White Sox | 4 |
| New York Yankees | 1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1 |
| Cleveland Guardians | 1 |
| Miami Marlins | 1 |
| Any California team | 1 |
Rowan Kavner is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand lined the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved again to the West Coast in 2014. Observe him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Day by day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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