The following is an edited version of the originl article which, as you'll see in the comments section, failed to mention that home-field advantage is no longer at stake in the All-Star Game. It doesn't change the fact that I think the fantasy game needs to reward its owners for having players selected, whether it's by the fans or the managers.

All-Star games are supposed to be fun. While their formats have varied throughout the different sports and over time – Major League Baseball has had the best players from the American and National Leagues squaring off while the NHL once had the current year’s all-stars take on the previous season’s Stanley Cup champions – these games have long been considered exhibitions played for the enjoyment of the fans. But after the 2002 MLB All Star game ended in a 7-7 tie as both sides ran out of pitchers to use, then-Commissioner Bud Selig announced that, from the 2003 season and on, the winner of the All-Star Game earned World Series home-field advantage for its respective league. “This Time It Counts,” was the tag-line used.

The decision to put some skin in the game for both the managers and players taking part in the mid-summer festivities was met with resistance from the baseball purists, but the mandate had held firm over the last 15 seasons and the sentiments against having the game count diminished. Managers adjusted their selection process of certain players and the games have had some serious excitement to them. Just think about 2008 when J.D. Drew crushed a two-run homer in the seventh inning to tie the game which ended in a 15-inning, 4-3 win for the American League.

During this past offseason, however, as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, home field advantage for the World Series is no longer at stake. The stodgy old farts won out and the new guard will just have to settle for their bat flips and rules preventing players from policing themselves. But just because they’ve taken that away from the All Star Game, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t adjust the fantasy game to include the stats from the Mid-Summer Classic in some way.

The primary argument against is that Major League Baseball doesn’t count the game’s statistics in its final numbers for players. As far as I can tell there is no sound reason for that. The season may be 162 games long, but should that be a limit for the time frame in which to produce stats? If so, then what are we to do with a player who may end up playing 164 games because he was traded to another team that may not have played the same number of games at the time of the deal? Are we to ignore his stats for the two extra games?

In fantasy, why shouldn’t teams get added stats for having players so good they are selected to the All Star Game? Having a strong first-half of the season should be rewarded in some way. If you want to complain about ballot-box stuffing, well, MLB has apparently taken added precautions to prevent that and has even disallowed votes due to fraud in the past. If you want to say that players in a bigger media market stand a better chance, you can always alter your draft strategy if you think the added stats will make that much of a difference.

It’s really as simple as that. Take the chance and grab a New York Yankee before you take Seattle Mariner. When you’re talking about the top players, the ones who routinely find themselves voted in or selected to play the game, you’re not going to pass up on a better talent just in the hopes of someone getting one extra game, but when you’re looking at the supporting cast, why not? That could have been the difference between taking a 21st round shot on Aaron Judge over stashing Austin Meadows.

And if you’re still stuck on not allowing the game stats to count towards fantasy, then how about a bonus for players voted in or selected by managers? If you’re player wins the Home Run Derby, how about getting an extra 3 points in the aggregate home run category? If your guy hits the game-winning home run in the All Star Game, you get a one-point bonus in the category? There are a variety of ways you can award bonuses both for pitchers and hitters and if the game supposedly counts in real life, then make it count in fantasy in some way.

Some owners like the break from fantasy the Mid-Summer Classic provides. Me? I want it to count. Why shouldn’t I be rewarded for drafting players who perform so well they receive this esteemed honor? You’re really not upsetting the balance in any way here and who knows…maybe it adds to the excitement, both during the festivities and the end of your fantasy season.