From the ESPN rumor mill:

Although Jason Varitek's numbers show that he has declined offensively, his agent, Scott Boras, is eyeing Jorge Posada's contract from last offseason -- four years, $52.4 million -- as a benchmark for Varitek, according to the Boston Globe.

"The idea of it is there aren't many players in the marketplace who lead a team like Jason Varitek can, and that's got to be his value," Boras said.

Wow. REALLY? Varitek hit .220/.313/.359 this year. He has not had a good season since 2005. He is 37 years old.

This is one of those instances where I have to genuinely admire Scott Boras. If he can convince Boston, Detroit or the Dodgers to pay Jason Varitek anywhere near Posada money, I don't know why a player would go with any other agent. Varitek has earned over a 50% pay cut on this upcoming contract. If Boras keeps him in the same neighborhood as what he's currently being paid, he's some sort of double-talkin' jive genius.

Maybe if he showed them this awesomely stern photo, Varitek's stock would be more likely to stay where it was four years ago:

via farm3.static.flickr.com

8:05 on FOX, y'all. Let's take this stupid, pointless day as a chance to talk a lot of B.S. about players that have no real bearing on our team. Rock and roll, hoochie koo.

	Today's Starting Pitchers	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	BAA	HR	BB	K	W-L
	Ben Sheets - RH - Brewers	18	123.0	2.85	1.11	.235	13	28	108	10-3
	Cliff Lee - LH - Indians	18	124.2	2.31	1.03	.234	5	20	106	12-2

	National League	AB	AVG	OBP	HR	RBI
1	Hanley Ramirez - SS - Marlins	373	.311	.391	23	45
2	Chase Utley - 2B - Phillies	364	.291	.372	25	69
3	Lance Berkman - 1B - Astros	334	.347	.443	22	73
4	Albert Pujols - DH - Cardinals	286	.350	.466	18	50
5	Chipper Jones - 3B - Braves	298	.376	.472	18	51
6	Matt Holliday - RF - Rockies	309	.337	.421	14	51
7	Ryan Braun - LF - Brewers	377	.286	.324	23	66
8	Kosuke Fukudome - CF - Cubs	326	.279	.383	7	36
9	Geovany Soto - C - Cubs	316	.288	.369	16	56

	American League	AB	AVG	OBP	HR	RBI
1	Ichiro - RF - Mariners	391	.304	.366	3	21
2	Derek Jeter - SS - Yankees	352	.284	.345	5	42
3	Josh Hamilton - CF - Rangers	377	.310	.367	21	95
4	Alex Rodriguez - 3B - Yankees	279	.312	.392	19	53
5	Manny Ramirez - LF - Red Sox	328	.293	.389	18	60
6	Milton Bradley - DH - Rangers	269	.316	.440	19	57
7	Kevin Youkilis - 1B - Red Sox	328	.314	.381	15	63
8	Joe Mauer - C - Twins	301	.322	.418	5	41
9	Dustin Pedroia - 2B - Red Sox	395	.314	.357	9	47

Let me preface this by saying I actually like Jason Varitek. I have no problem with him. I don't care what team he plays for.

But he is having one God awful season.

And his fellow players have put him into the All-Star game.

There have been some terrible All-Stars over the years, sometimes due to the absurdly bad popularity contest that is the fan vote, sometimes just due to the fact that SOMEONE has to go from every team, and it's not always the most deserving guy. George Sherrill, 2008 Baltimore Orioles, for instance. You might have more need to have Sherrill there than, say, Brian Roberts. (Go vote for Brian Bob in the Final Vote!)

The problem I have is Varitek wasn't voted in by the fans. Even Red Sox fans have got to admit that Varitek freakin' sucks. And he wasn't even put there by his manager. He was put there by the moron players, who either just think he's a great guy or have a total misunderstanding of how good Jason Varitek is anymore. He used to be a hell of a ballplayer. That is no longer the case.

I'm sure if you ask Jason Varitek, he's pretty surprised he's going to New York for the game. Doesn't seem like the sort of cat that doesn't know he's having a bad season, or isn't really disappointed by it, or isn't working hard every day to find his swing.

What is the critera the players used to select Varitek? They know who he is? He's "respected"?

You can argue that it really doesn't mean anything, but that's as hollow as Major League Baseball insisting that the game does mean something. And if you're going to put this stupid exhibition game into the role of World Series home field advantage decider, then how can you really allow for someone as bad as Varitek to be there?

Here's an easy list: AL catchers ranked by VORP.

1. Joe Mauer, MIN, 27.1
2. A.J. Pierzynski, CWS, 14.8
3. Dioner Navarro, TB, 13.1
4. Gerald Laird, TEX, 9.3
5. Ivan Rodriguez, DET, 8.9
6. Jorge Posada, NYY, 8.6
7. Kelly Shoppach, CLE, 8.3
8. Miguel Olivo, KC, 7.6
9. Rod Barajas, TOR, 7.0
10. Mike Napoli, LAA, 5.6
11. Gregg Zaun, TOR, 5.2
12. Kurt Suzuki, OAK, 4.3
13. Ramon Hernandez, BAL, 1.3
14. Victor Martinez, CLE, 1.3
15. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, TEX, -1.2
16. John Buck, KC, -1.6
17. Jason Varitek, BOS, -2.3
18. Jeff Mathis, LAA, -2.5
19. Jose Molina, NYY, -6.3
20. Kenji Johjima, SEA, -8.2