It's not enough, apparently, for the New York Yankees to buy championships. Now, they're intent on buying All-Star berths, too.

Because, make no mistake, that's what's happened with Hideki Matsui.

	Hideki Matsui has only nine home runs at midseason.

Matsui finished with the second-highest vote total among American League outfielders, and the vast majority of votes came via the Internet from fans in his native Japan.

That's not only logical; it's laudable. Japanese fans are fiercely nationalistic and his accomplishments in the major leagues and rewarded him with (virtual) ballot stuffing.

As MLB seeks a higher international profile, stars such as Matsui, Ichiro Suzuki and Kaz Sasaki are helping broaden the game's appeal. America's pastime is, increasingly, a global pastime.

But Matsui's spot on the American League All-Star squad is largely the result of fans who haven't seen him play Major League Baseball, or least not on an everyday basis.

Is it jingoistic to find something wrong with fans halfway around the world determining the makeup of a game watched primarily by those in North America?

It's worth noting that Matsui's peers aren't nearly as impressed with his first-half performance as his countrymen. In votes by fellow players, Matsui finished sixth in the balloting.

Matsui has had a good -- but hardly great -- first half with the Yankees. While his 64 RBI tie him for sixth in the American League, he's not among the league leaders in batting average, total bases, runs scored, slugging percentage, on-base percentage or extra-base hits.

Despite his RBI total, Matsui doesn't come close to placing in the Top 10 in batting average with runners in scoring position. His .333 batting average in such instances, doesn't place him close to the leaders.

Matsui's RBI total, in fact, shows him to be beneficiary of the many baserunners in front of him in the powerful Yankee batting order. More often that not, Matsui has been the right man in the right place.

Despite his track record as a slugger in Japan, Matsui has yet to display much power playing Major League Baseball. Thoroughly slightly more than half the season, he has just nine homers. On his own team, four others -- Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Jorge Posada and Raul Mondesi -- have more homers and another -- Robin Ventura -- has as many.

Put another way: there are as many regulars in the Yankees lineup who have more homers than Matsui than those who have fewer.

	Hideki Matsui Outfielder New York Yankees Profile
	2003 SEASON STATISTICS AB BA HR RBI OBP OPS 352 .310 9 64 .370 .836

This is an All-Star?

All of which isn't to suggest that power numbers are the sole measuring stick of a player's performance. Certainly, Ichiro proved otherwise. But that's the point -- Ichiro has plenty of other skills to advance his cause.

Ichiro is arguably the best right fielder in the league, with perhaps the strongest throwing arm. Defensively, Matsui has played well in both left field -- where he began the year -- and center -- where he's replaced the injured Bernie Williams. But unlike Ichiro, Matsui won't be a candidate for a Gold Glove.

Offensively, Ichiro is also a stolen base threat, a superb bunter and an unparalleled baserunner. His mere presence in the lineup can change a game. Can the same be said of Matsui?

As a top-of-the-order presence, Ichiro is unmatched. As a No. 5 hitter, Matsui is rather ordinary. Matsui is a latter-day Wade Boggs, without the batting titles. He slashes and shoots doubles to the gaps.

He's to be commended for the way he's adjusted to the cultural differences and withstood the demands that come with playing in the media capital of baseball, his every move documented by a horde of Japanese media. Had Matsui failed -- as fellow import Jose Contreras has, to date -- he would have become an embarrassment to the Japanese people. Now that's pressure.

But the All-Star game isn't about overcoming obstacles or saving one's honor. It's about being among the game's best players, and for now, Matsui doesn't qualify.

In a game already compromised by a silly home-field advantage subtext and reeling from the embarrassment brought about by last year's tie, the last thing baseball needs is a PR campaign which feeds George Steinbrenner's ego and desire for world dominance.

Sean McAdam of the Providence (R.I.) Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com.