The MLB All-Star Game needs a facelift
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
I don't care if the home-field advantage of the World Series is decided by the winner of the All-Star Game … for me, the game doesn't have the same meaning for this baseball fan as it once did.
There are probably many reasons as to why, even though I'll watch most of the game, it no longer has the same feel as it once did. There are two moments in the past 15 years or so that I can truly say I have gotten the ol' warm fuzzies from the game, and that was in 1999 when Ted Williams threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park as that was the closest any one of us will see a real-life "Field of Dreams" as he was surrounded by the game's greatest players at the time (I have that on tape somewhere) and in 2001 when Cal Ripken, Jr. hit a home run in his final All-Star Game appearance (still gives me goosebumps).
I honestly try not to be cynical about the MLB All-Star Game because there was once a time where I looked forward every year to the game. I would had a glove and ball with me as I watched the game, in awe as a kid watching my real-life superheroes. (Admit it, when Ken Griffey Jr. was in Seattle … he could actually fly.)
Maybe the game doesn't mean as much to me anymore because I'm older, or there are (too) many interleague games, or the fact we can see highlights whenever we want, have game articles for every game available and can view every game at the click of a remote control button or keyboard.
The All-Star Game has lost a lot of its luster, or as one of my buddies said to me, "it's lost its novelty factor to today's fan."
I agreed.
As a kid, the players were superheroes to me, and for any kid who is a baseball fan, that is the way it should be, because always remember, at the heart of it all, baseball is a kids' game. Growing up, Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey, Jr. were "the" baseball players I gravitated toward. I hope it is still that way for kids today with players like Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto or whomever they choose to cheer for.
It's not to say I hate or even dislike the All-Star Game … I don't, as it's usually the only all-star game I actually watch. It's just I'd like to see some changes made to it to make the entire process better.
I have some ideas (I always have ideas and opinions, right?), so I figured I'd share them as the rosters have been set (except for the final spot on each side) and the game will be here Tuesday, July 10 in Kansas City.
Until then, here are some changes I'd like to see to the "Mid-Summer Classic," which would truly make the game have "actual meaning" once again.
• Not every team needs represented
This rule became outdated once the All-Star game winner gained home-field advantage in the World Series (we'll get to that later). It makes absolutely no sense … none … that a player is only on the team because every team needs represented.
I don't want a player from a last-place team who is only on the team because his team needs to be represented, to determine an important factor … such as home-field advantage for the World Series. It just makes no sense. None.
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• Treat it like an actual game
The MLB All-Star game isn't little league, so how about the game be played like an actual game, instead of everyone getting a turn to play?
Again, home-field advantage is at stake (so I don't really consider this an exhibition game), and let's say a player from a team who won't sniff the World Series is a part of a clutch situation because the manager wanted a majority of the players to be a part of the game. That player doesn't need to be batting, pitching or playing in the field for the simple fact he was the last player available due to a mass amount of substitutions in the early innings because everyone needed to play.
Keep the players who are the best in the game for the entire nine innings, instead of a couple innings each just to make everyone happy.
• Treat it like an actual game (Part 2)
I wasn't around when the All-Star Game was actually treated like an actual game, but it must have been a sight to behold. I've seen the films of Pete Rose barreling through Ray Fosse at the plate to score a run for the National League, only to basically end the career of Fosse with an injury he never got over.
I know the game is just an exhibition, but if the stakes are as high as home-field of the World Series, then I'd like to see the All-Star Game treated as such. Remember, when Rose played in that game, home-field advantage wasn't at stake.
• Change the voting
I hate how the fan vote picks the starters. I'm not saying fans shouldn't have a say-so (I voted a few times), but some of the starters this year make little sense. The starters, backups and even pitchers to an extent should be based on a combination of votes by fans, players and managers/coaches.
Wait, a manager and/or players wouldn't hold a grudge against a couple players for something, let's say for debates sake a brawl from two years ago … would they? There is no way the best second baseman in the National League (Brandon Phillips) … name one that is better, I dare ya … and a pitcher with the fourth best ERA (as of Monday) with nine wins (Johnny Cueto) could be left off an All-Star team. No, that could never happen ... wait a second, it did happen.
I don't care if Cueto couldn't have pitched in the game (he pitches Sunday before the break), but he deserved to be voted onto the team, and then replaced. Look at the stats of Cueto compared to some of the others … no doubt he deserved to be on the team.
I think the combo of all three levels of baseball folks (add the media who cover these players on a daily basis for more of a broader view) voting for the entire team would be the best way, as long as a player from each team didn't have to be put on the roster … and as long as the game is for home-field advantage in the "Fall Classic." If MLB wants every team represented, make the stakes lower.
• Don't make the game for home-field advantage of the World Series
Just because the '02 All-Star Game was a tie because the managers then treated the game like it was a roster full of little league players (everyone must play in an MLB All-Star game … give me a break), that doesn't mean MLB needed to come up with a catchy slogan ("This Time it Counts") and a gimmick (I hate gimmicks) to make folks watch the game again.
Until the game is treated like an actual game, added with what I've been harping on about not having every team represented (NFL and NBA at least do that right) … there is no need to have a home-field location of the overall championship series determined in an exhibition game that isn't treated like a game that "actually" matters.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
There are probably many reasons as to why, even though I'll watch most of the game, it no longer has the same feel as it once did. There are two moments in the past 15 years or so that I can truly say I have gotten the ol' warm fuzzies from the game, and that was in 1999 when Ted Williams threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park as that was the closest any one of us will see a real-life "Field of Dreams" as he was surrounded by the game's greatest players at the time (I have that on tape somewhere) and in 2001 when Cal Ripken, Jr. hit a home run in his final All-Star Game appearance (still gives me goosebumps).
I honestly try not to be cynical about the MLB All-Star Game because there was once a time where I looked forward every year to the game. I would had a glove and ball with me as I watched the game, in awe as a kid watching my real-life superheroes. (Admit it, when Ken Griffey Jr. was in Seattle … he could actually fly.)
Maybe the game doesn't mean as much to me anymore because I'm older, or there are (too) many interleague games, or the fact we can see highlights whenever we want, have game articles for every game available and can view every game at the click of a remote control button or keyboard.
The All-Star Game has lost a lot of its luster, or as one of my buddies said to me, "it's lost its novelty factor to today's fan."
I agreed.
As a kid, the players were superheroes to me, and for any kid who is a baseball fan, that is the way it should be, because always remember, at the heart of it all, baseball is a kids' game. Growing up, Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey, Jr. were "the" baseball players I gravitated toward. I hope it is still that way for kids today with players like Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto or whomever they choose to cheer for.
It's not to say I hate or even dislike the All-Star Game … I don't, as it's usually the only all-star game I actually watch. It's just I'd like to see some changes made to it to make the entire process better.
I have some ideas (I always have ideas and opinions, right?), so I figured I'd share them as the rosters have been set (except for the final spot on each side) and the game will be here Tuesday, July 10 in Kansas City.
Until then, here are some changes I'd like to see to the "Mid-Summer Classic," which would truly make the game have "actual meaning" once again.
• Not every team needs represented
This rule became outdated once the All-Star game winner gained home-field advantage in the World Series (we'll get to that later). It makes absolutely no sense … none … that a player is only on the team because every team needs represented.
I don't want a player from a last-place team who is only on the team because his team needs to be represented, to determine an important factor … such as home-field advantage for the World Series. It just makes no sense. None.
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• Treat it like an actual game
The MLB All-Star game isn't little league, so how about the game be played like an actual game, instead of everyone getting a turn to play?
Again, home-field advantage is at stake (so I don't really consider this an exhibition game), and let's say a player from a team who won't sniff the World Series is a part of a clutch situation because the manager wanted a majority of the players to be a part of the game. That player doesn't need to be batting, pitching or playing in the field for the simple fact he was the last player available due to a mass amount of substitutions in the early innings because everyone needed to play.
Keep the players who are the best in the game for the entire nine innings, instead of a couple innings each just to make everyone happy.
• Treat it like an actual game (Part 2)
I wasn't around when the All-Star Game was actually treated like an actual game, but it must have been a sight to behold. I've seen the films of Pete Rose barreling through Ray Fosse at the plate to score a run for the National League, only to basically end the career of Fosse with an injury he never got over.
I know the game is just an exhibition, but if the stakes are as high as home-field of the World Series, then I'd like to see the All-Star Game treated as such. Remember, when Rose played in that game, home-field advantage wasn't at stake.
• Change the voting
I hate how the fan vote picks the starters. I'm not saying fans shouldn't have a say-so (I voted a few times), but some of the starters this year make little sense. The starters, backups and even pitchers to an extent should be based on a combination of votes by fans, players and managers/coaches.
Wait, a manager and/or players wouldn't hold a grudge against a couple players for something, let's say for debates sake a brawl from two years ago … would they? There is no way the best second baseman in the National League (Brandon Phillips) … name one that is better, I dare ya … and a pitcher with the fourth best ERA (as of Monday) with nine wins (Johnny Cueto) could be left off an All-Star team. No, that could never happen ... wait a second, it did happen.
I don't care if Cueto couldn't have pitched in the game (he pitches Sunday before the break), but he deserved to be voted onto the team, and then replaced. Look at the stats of Cueto compared to some of the others … no doubt he deserved to be on the team.
I think the combo of all three levels of baseball folks (add the media who cover these players on a daily basis for more of a broader view) voting for the entire team would be the best way, as long as a player from each team didn't have to be put on the roster … and as long as the game is for home-field advantage in the "Fall Classic." If MLB wants every team represented, make the stakes lower.
• Don't make the game for home-field advantage of the World Series
Just because the '02 All-Star Game was a tie because the managers then treated the game like it was a roster full of little league players (everyone must play in an MLB All-Star game … give me a break), that doesn't mean MLB needed to come up with a catchy slogan ("This Time it Counts") and a gimmick (I hate gimmicks) to make folks watch the game again.
Until the game is treated like an actual game, added with what I've been harping on about not having every team represented (NFL and NBA at least do that right) … there is no need to have a home-field location of the overall championship series determined in an exhibition game that isn't treated like a game that "actually" matters.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.