As stupid as the policy is, the All Star game in Major League Baseball actual does matter.  Home field advantage in the World Series is a huge advantage, and a very silly reward for such a silly game.  There are many reasons the NL hasn’t won an All Star game since July 9, 1996.  I’ll take a unscientific, fairly obvious stab at why they lost last years.

NL starting outfield in 2007:

• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Barry Bonds
• Carlos Beltran

An argument can be made for Beltran in the starting lineup.  It is pretty much a toss up between Beltran and Berkman for the 3rd spot in the NL outfield.  However there were two outfielders that crushed all three in nearly every offensive category for 2007:

• Matt Holliday
• Carlos Lee

Sure the AL is just as susceptible to popularity contests outweighing statistical output and upside, but the NL is and has been hampered by aging icons that get the nod based on past performance. 

Home field advantage is too important to award a team that indirectly benefits from irrational fan voting behavior.