<P> Until 2003, reserves and pitchers were chosen by the manager . Player voting was re-introduced in 2003 after the managers were criticized for picking players from their own team over more deserving players from other teams . This was particularly evident in 2002, when National League manager Bob Brenly selected his own catcher, Damian Miller, over the more deserving Paul Lo Duca; while American League manager Joe Torre selected his own third baseman, Robin Ventura, over the Oakland Athletics' Gold Glove and Silver Slugger - winning third baseman Eric Chavez . </P> <P> Before the 2009 game, Major League Baseball announced that an additional pitcher would be added to each roster, bringing the total for each league to 33 players . The following year, MLB announced that an extra position player would be added to each roster for the 2010 game and beyond, bringing the total to 34 for each league . </P> <P> One continuing controversy of the player selection process is the rule that each team has to have at least one representative on its league's All - Star roster . Supporters of the rule point out that this prevents the large - market teams from totally dominating the squad, and keeps fan and media interest in the game, as fans would not be interested in the game if their team did not have any players involved . Opponents of the rule contend that the purpose of the game is to spotlight Major League Baseball's best players, and that some players from stronger teams are left off the roster in favor of possibly less deserving players from weaker teams . </P> <P> Both these arguments were strengthened by the greater urgency of winning the game, due to the former rule that the winning league attains home field advantage in the World Series . A number of compromises were suggested in the sports / news media as measures to mitigate these selection issues, including limiting the number of representatives a particular team could have; or requiring only that a certain percentage of the 30 teams be represented; or expanding the size of the All - Star rosters . </P>

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