Thoughts on the MLB/MLB All-Star game?

[Beerfest]

So the winning league at the All-Star gets home field advatage in the World Series.

The Rangers finished ahead of the Cardinals in the regular season standings. Yet are at a disadvantage right now.

Personally im not a fan of the All-Star game determining home field advantage in the world series.

[habernac]

It was a misguided attempt to get players to give a crap about playing in the all star game. It's the most watchable of all the sports, but is still a lazy scrimmage like the others.

[troutman]

I like it.

Maybe the Rangers had a better record because they play in a weaker division/league? It is hard to compare records between the two leagues. Unless there is a balanced schedule, giving home field to the "best record" may not be fair.

[dustyanddaflames]

I agree, it is the most watchable of the all star events, and I actually think that it serves a purpose. If they are going to continue on down this path - then let the best players be there. Enough of this crap where each city gets a representative. The amount of firepower left off the roster just so we can see one player from Kansas City and one from San Diego is brutal.

You want to award home field to the winner of the all star game - go ahead. But damn well let the players that at least have a chance being in the WS, be there.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Personally, I like that the All-Star game determines home field advantage for the World Series (and this is coming from a Rangers fan, the only AL team to NOT have the advantage since this policy was implemented IIRC).

However there are downsides:

If the game means something, shouldn't it be managed like a regular game? If that means Roy Halladay for 8 innings and Brian Wilson close it out, shouldn't that be how it's played, not 8 or 9 different pitchers? Not to have everyone play, but play to win?

Additionally, I'd add the caveat that if the winning league's champion was the wildcard winner, then they lose the advantage. Therefore the league only gets home field advantage if they won the all-star game and their World Series representative won their division.


I don't know if I buy the west division argument. If that was the case, why do the Yankees, Red Sox always put up big numbers? The last number of years the Rays are there too, so there's 3 of 5 teams that are 3 of the top 5 teams in the AL in the same division and yet they still have amazing records. Shouldn't their win/loss records be artificially low?

[SuperMatt18]

Crazy thought but if you want it to mean something give the players more time off and make it an ALL-STAR SERIES. A three game series for home field advantage in the World Series.

They take enough pitchers and players already to play three games any ways, and you can slightly expand the rosters to ensure no stars miss the game. Everybody will get in at least one game and pitchers cannot pitch on back to back days.

Stop regular season play on the Tuesday night.

Have the home run derby Thursday Night, Game 1 Friday night, Game 2 Saturday night, and if necessary Game 3 on Sunday Afternoon.

Resume games on the following Wednesday.

This would help solve Maritime and Dusty's complaints where all the best players are not represented, and that the games are not treated like real games.

[dustyanddaflames]

Interesting thought - it does make some sense. Another thing I would like to add, is that if they are continuing to do this, maybe with some tweaks going forward - take out the ability for players to decline going to this event. I know the season is a grind, and people need time to heal bumps and bruises - but if they are going to continue playing for home field advantage - make sure that the healthy players are going.

Enough of this watered down garbage we are seeing, where players are healthy enough to play the last game before the break, then all of a sudden a hurt. If you aren't DL'd going into the break, it is a mandatory attend. Not only is it a showcase for the fans of the talent the MLB has, but a lot of people who declined last year, were on teams that were battling in this year's playoffs. Boggling to me.

[Lil Pedro]

Personally, i love what MLB does with the all-star game, however I find it would be hard with hockey to follow suit. It would be a cool concept to adopt but it just suits the MLB better than the NHL.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

If the game means something, shouldn't it be managed like a regular game? If that means Roy Halladay for 8 innings and Brian Wilson close it out, shouldn't that be how it's played, not 8 or 9 different pitchers? Not to have everyone play, but play to win?

The last game of the regular season between the Yankees and Tampa meant something, and the Yankees used more pitchers in that game than either the NL or AL did in the all-star game!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

So the winning league at the All-Star gets home field advatage in the World Series.

The Rangers finished ahead of the Cardinals in the regular season standings. Yet are at a disadvantage right now.

Personally im not a fan of the All-Star game determining home field advantage in the world series.

I'm no fan of it either, but point of fact: home field advantage in the World Series was not based on overall record prior to this ASG nonsense. It alternated between leagues on a fixed schedule, and the NL held the advantage in odd-numbered years. As such, the Cardinals would have had the advantage anyway.