Jim Leyland must not have been able to see his name on the roster because of the plumes of cigar smoke clouding the list of potential all-stars. That or Leyland completely forgot that he was still in the league because Leyland is an old senile bastard. He didn’t even make the final five vote. He’s a fan favorite and he’s having an incredible year. Slammin’ Sammy Sosa belongs in San Francisco for the All-Star Game.

The Rangers only all-star representative is short stop Michael Young, who has had a pretty nice year. Sammy Sosa, however, has had a better one. I’m not saying Michael Young should be removed from the roster and replaced, but why isn’t Sosa on this list as well? Is it because he plays for last place Texas who nobody seems to really care about? Is it because of the lingering opinions about him being on steroids?

Sosa’s 63 RBI’s are good enough for fourth in the American League and his 14 home runs are as many as he had through his entire season in 2005. He’s anchored a Texas Rangers team that has been without a healthy Mark Teixeira all year and completely without third baseman Hank Blalock. He’s been a feel good story this year after resurrecting his career and hitting his 600th career home run. Sosa belongs because Barry Bonds slipped in without much discussion but Sosa, who has the same “off the roids now but still cheated before” reputation, didn’t even get a look.

I was under the impression that the all star game was “supposed to count” this year. If that holds true, then why aren’t managers picking the best team available. So they can fill the roster with one player from each team? Screw that. If it means home field advantage in the World Series you should build the best team possible. Sorry Pittsburgh, but you didn’t deserve much of an all star this year. Ditto Kansas City. One person who did belong was Sammy Sosa.