Paul Skenes' All-Star selection is reminder of what game is really about

He's having a down year for the standard that he has set for himself, but it's still solid by Major League standards.

It is just not really All-Star worthy this season.

He is 15th in the National League in ERA among qualified pitchers.

His WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is 24th. 

Statistically speaking, he has not even been the best starting pitcher on the Pirates. That is a distinction that belongs to second-year starter Braxton Ashcraft, who is currently topping Skenes in both ERA and WAR.

But what's especially surprising about the decision is that the Pirates rep is a pitcher of any kind and not a position player.

As good as Ashcraft has been, and for as big a name as Skenes is, the Pirates' pitching staff is the biggest thing that has been holding them back this season. 

Their offense has been one of the best in baseball as a group and includes a couple of worthy players. The offense is what is even keeping them in the playoff race.

At the top of that list is second baseman Brandon Lowe, who leads all National League second basemen in home runs, is third in OPS and third in WAR. He was one of the Pirates' offseason acquisitions to help fix what was, a year ago, baseball's worst offense, and he has been everything they could have possibly hoped for him to be. If anything, he has been even better defensively. 

Outfielder Bryan Reynolds has also been one of the National League's most productive hitters in terms of OPS and WAR, while his 2.9 WAR is tops among all National League left fielders. 

As if that is not enough, Skenes is not even going to be eligible to pitch in the game, as he is slated to start their game on the Sunday before the All-Star break. All starters for those Sunday games will not be eligible to pitch in the game. 

It is understandable as to why the league wants to put the biggest names in the game. They are the biggest moneymakers for the league and the players they can easily market. But it does not always produce the most worthy players in a given season. Names matter above all else.