The 2008 MLB All-Star Game was a unique one. In terms of actual playing time, none before had ever taken as long. This scenario provided fans and analysts with a true sense of what can become a major problem in a baseball "exhibition" game.
The starters for the evening were voted on by fans and are theoretically the most popular, if not most talented, players the game has to offer in a given year. However, in an effort to try and be fair to all players, and allow everyone some playing time, most of these starters are pulled early.
In a game that only lasts the standard nine innings, or in a timed game without strict substitution rules (basketball or hockey),this is a great idea. Fans are able to see the maximum number of players, and with MLB's rule that all teams must be represented, every fan will get to see someone from their favorite team.
Yet, a year like this one proves how this philosophy can't really carry over from basketball/hockey to baseball. With no time limit, baseball games are theoretically endless and can drag on for several innings and hours past the original nine.
Therefore, by taking out your starters (and best players, at least in theory) early if a game heads to extra innings, a bulk of the playing time, and most of the late-inning heroics, is performed by All-Stars, but not the same ones who are usually on the covers of videogames or breaking home-run records.
- B/R Ticket Guide
This is not an entirely bad situation.
Most people get tired of hearing about the same dozen players over and over again, and it is refreshing to see the unique spectacle of an All-Star game being played by what can only be referred to as second-tier All Stars.
However, is it a good marketing move for the already beleaguered MLB to have guys like Dan Uggla and Russell Martin playing the exciting final innings while household names such as Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, and Manny Ramirez have all been removed from play?
I must admit that I don't have a solution. The real problem is that if the game is only going to last nine or so innings, the current strategy adopted by all managers makes sense. Fans are happy because they get to see everybody play, less experienced players are excited to get some playing time on a national stage, and the starters are allowed to rest.
However, if the game drags on, and with the added incentive of World Series home-field advantage, there is an ever-increasing likelihood that this might happen. There either aren’t enough players to comfortably field the team and/or the players that are still playing are excellent athletes, but not ones that draw in huge audiences through name recognition alone.
Ultimately, I don’t think either way is totally right or totally wrong, and I’m glad that the All-Star Game means something and isn’t called a draw after a set number of tied innings.
As this new “This One Counts” approach to the Midsummer Classic continues I think that managers will begin to better know how to handle this situation and perhaps MLB will grant an extra roster spot or two to the teams.
In the end, now that ties are no longer an option, we as fans will be treated to more and more exciting finishes like this year’s, whether it’s being played by future Hall of Famers or those guys simply glad to be a part of the second-tier.
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4 months ago
i thought of writing an article similar to this one today...i was thinking that if the game goes past nine innings a manager should be able to put starting position players back into the lineup...therefore in big extra inning spots we'd be seeing alex rodriguez try to break the tie rather than carlos guillen...just seems better for the game because everyone is still getting their time but in crucial situations we get the best product
from 4 months ago
I'm not for changing the rules of baseball - which is exactly what you're doing by allowing position players to re-enter the game. But I'd be for expanding the rosters to include more pitchers. You don't want to see a situation where Francona is running Kazmir out on no rest like that - let them bring 4-5 more pitchers. Or if a guy doesn't want to pitch, have him say so before the game - and that way, you can select a pitcher to take his place - a pitcher who CAN potentially go 3 innings. There's no sense in having guys on the game-day roster who really can't or don't want to pitch.
from 4 months ago
you're already bending the rules of baseball by having an exhibition game decide home field advantage
from 4 months ago
Cite which rule of baseball is being broken..or "bent" by rewarding home-field advantage in the WS to the league that wins the All-Star Game.
4 months ago
Is the fact that second-tier All-Stars get a chance to provide the late-game heroics really a big deal or a bad thing? It seems to me that that would just enhance your argument against hearing about the same dozen or so players day after day.
4 months ago
Remember last year when LaRussa didn't pinch hit Pujols in the ninth for a chance to win, and the NL lost? It's purely up to the coaches in how they play the players beacuse the fans select the starters and the coaches will select some of the reserves so, it is almost impossible to find the right balance.
I do like hearing new ideas about the all star game though.
4 months ago
Beleaguered MLB? How so? Count me among those that didn't realize that the sport was "beleaguered".
One thing you failed to mention is that half the starters in the All-Star game are not the best at their position in the first place. Geovanny Soto? Kosuke Fukudome? Dustin Pedroia? They are simply popular players who play for large-market teams. Not to say they aren't good, but most knowledgable people wouldn't rate them as the best at their positions.
In actuality, roughly half of the best position players start, and half of them come off the bench. So in the end, you've still got some of the very best players in baseball finishing the game. David Wright, Ian Kinsler, JD Drew, Grady Sizemore, Justin Morneau, and Russell Martin are arguably the absolute best players at their positions in their respective leagues. The fact that they didn't start doesn't mean anything. And you see the absolute best relief pitchers alive finishing out the games every year.
Plenty of the "best" players finish the game.
4 months ago
I agree with Darnell. The AL actually had the best AL infield in there for the most part.. Kinsler, Young and Morneau(you can argue about him and Youkilis) are all having better years than the guys they replaced. A-Rod certainly is the best player, so you lost him. But for the most part, both teams had some of their better players out there in the end. Plus, second tier? Come on now. All of these guys deserved to make it for the most part.
Like Darnell said.. You got Russell Martin out there for most of that game. He's by far a better catcher than Soto and McCann if you ask me..
from 4 months ago
I think one thing's for sure - Soto is good, but he comes after Martin & McCann.
Martin played a great backstop last night. McCarver couldn't get enough of him!
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