It may count for something, but the annual MLB All-Star game has become a snoozefest. That was evident in Tuesday night's 3-1 victory by the National League, which ended the American League's 13 game winning streak. The active career home run leader (Alex Rodriguez) didn't even get in the game.
Here are 10 ways to improve the All-Star festivities, in no particular order and off the top of my head:
1. Get rid of the game all together. Okay maybe that's not what MLB would have in mind. How about making the game affordable for the average fan. There were plenty of empty seats in the upper tier in Anaheim last night. Bad economy Bud. C'mon!
2. Not my original idea, but get players who didn't make either team into the home run derby. The NBA does it with their dunk and 3-pt contests- it's good marketing for the league and players. Mark Reynolds, Adam Dunn, etc. could have put on quite a show.
3. Have no games the entire week, Monday thru Friday. Yeah, it would make the season slightly longer (God forbid they reduced the 162 game schedule so they're not playing the World Series at Thanksgiving.), but then maybe pitchers who go on Sunday can pitch in the game. Move the game to Wednesday so there are 2 days off before and after.
4. Stop the nonsense with the "This time it counts". The All-Star game should never have an impact on home field advantage for the World Series. It's even worse than when the AL and NL cities were alternated every year for home field. A team's record should be the only thing that ever matters.
5. Why stop at one player from each side for free substitution? It's an exhibition, remember? Why not have the ability to have every position player re-enter once?
6. Have a skills competition. Yeah, there's a risk of injury, but there is in the game itself. Timed running the bases. Catchers trying to hit a target at 2nd base. And so on.
7. Don't make us listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver during the game. Don't make us listen to Chis Berman during the HR derby. Perhaps this should be the #1 way to improve things. Hmmm.
8. Get rid of the final vote. Seriously, the roster is already huge and the player/team campaigns are embarrassing (though Nick Swisher's was funny as well.). If the fans, players, and manager didn't pick or vote you in originally, you probably don't belong. Except if you're Joey Votto, though what an idiot you turned out to be.
9. Get rid of the pitcher batting in the NL parks. Why waste a player just to pinch-hit? Plus if a team has a really good offensive inning, why should they (the AL specifically) send their pitcher up there or be forced to remove him. Of course, the DH should be in all of baseball, but that's a rant for another time.
10. You want the players to really care and go all out. Money. That's what it is all about. Give the winning team $20,000 per man, half of which goes to a good cause for each player. And don't tell me you don't have the money Bud. Hmm, I applied for a job in the commissioner's office. Perhaps I should delete this. Nah.
2. Not my original idea, but get players who didn't make either team into the home run derby. The NBA does it with their dunk and 3-pt contests- it's good marketing for the league and players. Mark Reynolds, Adam Dunn, etc. could have put on quite a show.
3. Have no games the entire week, Monday thru Friday. Yeah, it would make the season slightly longer (God forbid they reduced the 162 game schedule so they're not playing the World Series at Thanksgiving.), but then maybe pitchers who go on Sunday can pitch in the game. Move the game to Wednesday so there are 2 days off before and after.
4. Stop the nonsense with the "This time it counts". The All-Star game should never have an impact on home field advantage for the World Series. It's even worse than when the AL and NL cities were alternated every year for home field. A team's record should be the only thing that ever matters.
5. Why stop at one player from each side for free substitution? It's an exhibition, remember? Why not have the ability to have every position player re-enter once?
6. Have a skills competition. Yeah, there's a risk of injury, but there is in the game itself. Timed running the bases. Catchers trying to hit a target at 2nd base. And so on.
7. Don't make us listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver during the game. Don't make us listen to Chis Berman during the HR derby. Perhaps this should be the #1 way to improve things. Hmmm.
8. Get rid of the final vote. Seriously, the roster is already huge and the player/team campaigns are embarrassing (though Nick Swisher's was funny as well.). If the fans, players, and manager didn't pick or vote you in originally, you probably don't belong. Except if you're Joey Votto, though what an idiot you turned out to be.
9. Get rid of the pitcher batting in the NL parks. Why waste a player just to pinch-hit? Plus if a team has a really good offensive inning, why should they (the AL specifically) send their pitcher up there or be forced to remove him. Of course, the DH should be in all of baseball, but that's a rant for another time.
10. You want the players to really care and go all out. Money. That's what it is all about. Give the winning team $20,000 per man, half of which goes to a good cause for each player. And don't tell me you don't have the money Bud. Hmm, I applied for a job in the commissioner's office. Perhaps I should delete this. Nah.
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