We're Supposed to Enjoy the All-Star Game, Not Care About It
How ironic is this? The only American League run comes on a home run by Adrian Gonzalez, but the team loses, meaning that the Red Sox (if they make the World Series, not counting chickens here) will not have home field advantage.
This terrible idea, which reportedly comes from Fox Sports, is a perfect example of choosing player punishment over fan enjoyment. It stems from a year when the game was played to a tie, and a furious Selig took that as a shot at MLB (which it probably was). But no real fan cared, and by now the tie game would be a mediocre trivia question. The All-Star Game is a pleasant novelty. Having it determine home field -- replacing the old system of alternating years, which was fair in the days when there was no intraleague play because it recognized league differences -- makes about as much sense as consulting an astrologer.
Once again, like the Wild Card, something important that the long season should determine is left to virtual chance. (The Red Sox, for example, can't possibly control the outcome of the All-Star Game with only three or four players on the roster.)
Change it back, Mr. Commissioner. Please. We just want to the game to be fun. If Ryan Howard hits a ball to Chicago, we want to watch it fly, not think about what it cost us. There are plenty of other games that do matter.
This terrible idea, which reportedly comes from Fox Sports, is a perfect example of choosing player punishment over fan enjoyment. It stems from a year when the game was played to a tie, and a furious Selig took that as a shot at MLB (which it probably was). But no real fan cared, and by now the tie game would be a mediocre trivia question. The All-Star Game is a pleasant novelty. Having it determine home field -- replacing the old system of alternating years, which was fair in the days when there was no intraleague play because it recognized league differences -- makes about as much sense as consulting an astrologer.
Once again, like the Wild Card, something important that the long season should determine is left to virtual chance. (The Red Sox, for example, can't possibly control the outcome of the All-Star Game with only three or four players on the roster.)
Change it back, Mr. Commissioner. Please. We just want to the game to be fun. If Ryan Howard hits a ball to Chicago, we want to watch it fly, not think about what it cost us. There are plenty of other games that do matter.
