Now that Mark Redman is an All-Star and Francisco Liriano, Justin Verlander and Curt Schilling are not, Major League Baseball can restore credibility to its Midsummer Classic in one of two ways: Either change the name to the All-Teams Game or get rid of the rule that requires the selection of at least one representative from every team.

Since the All-Teams Game doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, let’s just abolish the silly rule that resulted in Redman, the Kansas City Royals lefty who has a 5-4 record and 5.59 ERA making a team that Liriano (9-1, 1.99), Verlander (10-4, 3.13) and Schilling (10-2, 3.54) did not make.

Redman couldn’t crack the rotation of the White Sox, who have Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Javier Vazquez and Jon Garland. And he’s an All-Star?

Back when the Saturday Game of the Week provided the only television exposure for players from the opposite league it was nice for National League fans to catch a glimpse of a player from each American League team. Now, nearly every game is available on the Internet or on special cable packages. Most home runs are shown on SportsCenter every night. We know what all the players look like and just want to see the best in the All-Star Game.

In today’s world, it makes sense to require that just the host city must be represented by an All-Star. The tradition of having a player from every team is outdated. Don’t fear change.

Even most maudlin traditionalists who screamed at the foolishness of the All-Star Game determining the home-field advantage in the World Series would have to agree the move renewed interest in the game that had lost some of its appeal with the advent of interleague play.

Former Kansas University chancellor and American League president Gene Budig, who has nothing if not common sense, weighed in on the topic by phone from his home in South Carolina. Since he agreed with me, I’ll quote him.

“I like the new format,” Budig said of next week’s All-Star outcome determining the World Series home-field advantage. “The All-Star Game is of real importance today. It clearly plays a role in determining the eventual World Series champion.”

As for the composition of the rosters, Budig said: “Major League Baseball must be sure that both the American and National League teams are made up of the very best players available. The host city should be guaranteed a player. Major League Baseball has a responsibility to the host community too.”

Redman representing the Royals in the All-Star Game just brings more national mockery down upon the franchise that has been playing better baseball lately. It will be assumed by many that Redman is KC’s best player. Although Redman has gone 5-0 with a 3.74 ERA in his last five starts, center fielder David DeJesus, batting .320, has been the biggest factor in the Royals’ recent improvement. Since the return of DeJesus (left hamstring) from the disabled list, the Royals went 16-16 heading into Monday night’s showdown against Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana. Given the numbers put up by outfielders throughout the AL, DeJesus isn’t close to All-Star worthy either.

Redman, with his sixth team in six seasons, never made the All-Star team with the Twins, Tigers, Marlins, A’s or Pirates for good reason. He’s not good enough.