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I can't go purely by the current season, because then you never consider the second halves of seasons, which are just as important (if not more so) than first halves. Think about it. A guys gets off to a hot start, it's the only year he's ever done anything, he gets named to the All-Star team, but then tails off in the second half, and in later years you wonder how this guy ever made an All-Star team. It happens. Just read the rosters of All-Star teams past. Conversely, sometimes a guy gets of to a so-so start, then really cranks it up in the second-half and ends up doing well in the MVP or Cy Young race, even though he didn't make the All-Star team. I've seen that happen many times. So I give the edge to consistently good performers, guys you know who are going be there at the end of the year.

I think you have to at least consider the previous season (if not career value) in making close decisions on All-Star selections.

A guys gets off to a hot start, it's the only year he's ever done anything, he gets named to the All-Star team, but then tails off in the second half, and in later years you wonder how this guy ever made an All-Star team. It happens...Conversely, sometimes a guy gets of to a so-so start, then really cranks it up in the second-half and ends up doing well in the MVP or Cy Young race, even though he didn't make the All-Star team. I've seen that happen many times.

So it does. And I'm not entirely crazy about the thought, either. Unfortunately, you cannot pick an All-Star Game based on what a player could do, or might do, or should do, but what he did do. And unless you think baseball is ready (I'd better not talk too loudly, the assholes running the game now just might go for it) to play the All-Star Game after the World Series (I sure wouldn't consider it, considering the regular season grind and the assoholically-assembled longer postseason, but what do I know, I think baseball should never have gone to three divisions and the wild card), to paraphrase Art Rust: last season's a canceled check and the rest of this season is a promissory note.