MLB All-Star Game
2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Tuesday July 10th at 8pm. The 2012 MLB All-Star Game. Will you be watching? I havn’t made up my mind yet.
The MLB is probably the most watched of the major sports all star games; that is the single thing it has going for it due to the fact that the winner gets home field advantage in the World Series.
Yes that’s right, the winner of a exhibition game made up of rosters fans voted for decides home field advantage for the World Series. Might as well have the winning league from the Home Run Derby get home field.
The question is, how long can the current format last?
I say make this the last year. If the league wants the All-Star Game to be the deciding factor for home field advantage here are some changes I think should happen.
1. Fans get less say in who is voted in – Do you think Derek Jeter wants Joe for Brooklyn making up his roster to see if he gets home field advantage. Hell no.
2. Not every team gets a representative- Sorry to the Astros and Cubs of the world but listen, your not going to make the World Series. There is a reason your at the bottom of the league and I don’t want your mediocre players up with a chance to win or lose the game. Id much rather add another top tier player that can actually help the team win.
(This year the Miami Marlins will not have a rep due to Giancarlo Stanton’s injury. The Marlins belived Justin Ruggiano should replace him. Proving my point about reps because Ruggiano has only played 32 games this year.)
3. Players who get voted to the game must play - If you get elected to play you must play. It’s amazing how many “all-stars” all of a sudden have minor injury’s the NEED to rest this week. I understand people get hurt but i mean come on this game does decide home field advantage! Would they need to sit out the wildcard game also to make the playoffs? I think not.
But heres the best idea of all.
DON’T MAKE IT COUNT FOR HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE! I’m sure this opinion has been beaten to death but who cares.
Make it that the best team in the league gets home field advantage. Wow look at that, a team that worked hard all year and won 98 games gets home field but nahhh that doesnt make sense, the Texas Rangers win 101 games but the National League won 2-1 during the All-Star Game, sorry.
I’m sure the league is worried that ratings will go down but I think most fans just want to see their teams players get a chance to do something and then change the channel. I will use my viewership as an example. I’m more likely to watch 9 innings of unpredictable baseball where Randy Johnson is throwing lasers at John Kruks head and Barry Bonds running into center field to toss Tori Hunter over his back(that game ended in a tie) over watching R.A Dickey get a chance to throw 2 innings and then get taken out so the next guy can get a turn to play. People will argue that no one wants a player to get hurt during an exhibition but some one can get hurt during the All-Star game, or any game for that matter.
What do I know though, the NFL Pro Bowl is being considered to be eliminated because no one watches; the NBA All-Star Game is a joke BUT ENTERTAINING. The NHL had a good idea letting captains pick their teams that made it a bit more interesting. Maybe having it stand for something makes sense and gets viewers but I for one, do not like it.
So will I watch? Ill wait to see R.A Dickey then catch the highlights on Sports Center.
Prediction: AL 7 – NL 4
Note-Looking back at the ASG vs WS champs I guess home field really doesn’t matter. Since 2003 when the ASG started to count AL ASG WINS = 7: NL ASG WINs = 2 …. AL WS Wins = 4 NL WS win=5
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