ARLINGTON, Texas The MLB All-Star Game is still a treasure, and certainly far better than the disaster that is most of those other all-star games. And yet, it still needs help lots of help. (Much more on that below, but first a word about the other all-star games.) The NBA All-Star Game features so little defense you and I could go for double digits. The NHL All-Star Game is improved in a gimmicky way, but its not hockey, according to my hockey expert. Of course, the NFL Pro Bowl cant ever work because, understandably, no one wants to risk life or even limb in a lightly watched exhibition. More From Jon Heyman As for the Midsummer Cla sic, it isnt close to hopele s. It is fixable. And thats where we come in. While it still kills other star showcases for repute and ratings not only does the All-Star Game draw a bigger TV audience than other star events, even the Home Run Derby outdraws those other games ratings hit new lows five of the past seven years. Rob Manfreds MLB could fix the All-Star Game. AP It also feels like its lost a little luster. We have enough suggestions to help (and there should be hope because overall MLB ratings this year are up on Fox, ESPN and MLB Network). Here goes. 1. Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuna Jr. (when active) and legit superstars play the whole game. Its sweet to get everyone in, but these upper-tier stars need to play nine. That should be obvious. Aaron Judge wont play the entire All-Star Game on Tuesday. Getty Images 2. The selection proce s needs an overhaul. Somethings wrong when the Padres have five All-Stars and the Mets only one. That West Coast bias is a powerful thing, but this is just ridiculous. Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor (whos tied for third in WAR with Harper) should be here. Lindor ascribed his absence to needing to have a better start, and Nimmo to needing to Johnny Grubb Jersey be more popular. Reality: Its the system. I dont want to name names, but a couple of the guys have no more busine s being here than Angel Hernandez. Mets star Francisco Lindor was snubbed from the All-Star Game. Jason Szenes for the NY Post For years we worried about fan voting. But it turns out the real i sue is player voting. Players are too busy competing to study all the stats. Lets face it, compared to engaged fans, some of them dont know jack. Employ a statistical system for reserves. And dont insist on a set number at each position. If there are four deserving shortstops, so be it. See Also And definitely dont require a player from every team. Some teams are tanking. Tanking teams dont deserve All Stars. 3. Dump the dumb American and National League uniforms for each players regular team unis and caps. This is basically unanimous. (If you dont agree, tweet to me, and Ill know to mute you because you have no taste.) 4. Get the true sluggers to do the Home Run Derby. We shouldnt have to rely on Pete Alonso to save the derby every year. Ohtani and Judge need to be in, too. Judge suggested extra days to rest might help, and OK, Im all for it if it gets him and Ohtani in. If its about a fear of me sing up ones swing (Judge said thats not it, by the way), MLB.com number crunchers say thats a myth. I suggested they raise the prize, but an Ohtani insider said that wont do it. (Thats no surprise since weve learned he really isnt about money. And neither is Judge.) Shohei Ohtanis power would add to the Home Run Derby. Getty Images 5. Use aluminum bats for the Home Run Derby. This one is controversial. In fact, one MLB person protested, saying, Someone would get killed. Harper said wed see Judge hit the ball 140 mph. (Good, I say!). Harper had some safety concerns, too, but he seemed intrigued, and suggested the aluminum could be pulled out for the last five balls. Harper did wonder if it might be dangerous for the kids fielding balls in the outfield and even fans in the bleachers. (Id say the kids in the outfield should go, anyway. But Id take my chances from 330-plus feet.) Viewership for the MLB All-Star Game has steadily declined. Lets be frank. The best Home Run Derbies came during the steroid era. Back in 2002, before we discovered some guys were juiced, guys were hitting balls that flew out of the Brewers stadium. This would be similar. But juice the bats, not the bodies. 6. Add a skills competition. The bunting competition/hit placement event was interesting for Futures competitors. You could add a throwing competition, and a running event. Lets see whos faster between Garrett Mitchell, Bobby Witt Jr. and Elly De La Cruz. Skills competitions are kind of cool, Harper said. We agree. 7. Pick managers based on current year performance. No disrespect to Bruce Bochy, whos the best manager the last quarter century, or Torey Lovullo, a sweetheart of a man who pulled off a near-miracle last year. But why the teams are managed by last years World Series managers I have no idea. Why not make it the best manager this year Rob Thomson, Pat Murphy, Stephen Vogt and Alex Cora make more sense. 8. Make the game count again. We need to incentivize victory somehow. Traditionalists shouted this idea away, and maybe Im in the minority here, but effort and interest rise if somethings at stake. OK MLB, the baseballs in your court now. Bill Almon Jersey