MLB All-Star Game: Open Letter to Bud Selig

Mr. Selig,

For the sake of fans across this great nation, I implore you to make a choice regarding the All-Star Game. Baseball fans would be better served with an All-Star Game that either truly “matters” or does not matter at all.

The current method of selecting home field advantage in the World Series is as rational as choosing where to vacation by throwing a dart at a map. If the stakes of the game are as important as you purport them to be, changes must be made to ensure that both teams have the best chance of winning.

Suppose that you continue to claim that the All-Star Game matters. It is a logical conclusion to make that the managers of both teams manage the game as if it were Game Seven, not the All-Star Game. This would have many ramifications:

1. Managers choose the entire roster. This would mean utility players that could pinch run for say, David Ortiz in the bottom of the ninth.
2. Pitchers who are pitching well would pitch more than two innings. A manager that did that in a real game would be ran out of town.
3. Hitters can’t be expected to perform well when given so few chances to bat.
4. All-Star teams should not have to include a player from every team. There is no room for such silliness in a game that matters.
5. Players would show more focus and determination, leaving less room for joking around. This is seen every September during the playoffs.

What is gained by having a game that matters? I feel that very few people are drawn to the game because of the stakes.

Your alternative is to forego a game that matters for one that is truly an exhibition. The All-Star Game is designed to EXHIBIT the best players in your league to a national audience with more casual fans than usual.

A game with no stakes does not have the issues that my scenario above has. In case you forgot, the reason for having an All-Star Game that matters is because of the draw a couple years back. A better solution to this is allowing players to re-enter the game after the ninth inning. Of course, a game that has meaning should never have rules different than the rest of the games, right?

Since it matters, I (a fairly astute baseball fan) got wrapped up a little too much in this game. The midsummer classic should be like summer vacation in high school: a relaxing diversion.  This game left me with a bad taste in my mouth for the following reasons:

1. I should not have a strong rooting interest in the All-Star Game. I should be admiring all great plays and pitching performances, not just the AL side in hopes that the Yankees will have home field advantage. How would Red Sox fans feel if A-Rod came up in the bottom of the ninth and won the game in walk-off fashion?
2. I found myself getting a little excited when there were talks of the rally monkey showing his face. (I realize it’s not up to the monkey.) I generally despise the rally monkey, but he was on my side. This did not feel right.
3. As much as I like Swish, his All-Star cred is pretty low. The online vote for the final spot is as much a popularity contest as high school class president.
4. The announcing crew. Not really your direct call, but still...not many people are as bad as Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.

Also, while I have your attention, the Home Run Derby needs a little sprucing up. A golden ball at nine outs isn’t cutting it.

I’m talking about other events in between rounds, similar to the happenings at NBA, NHL, and NFL skill competitions. After all, aren’t those guys your competition? Three quick ideas:

1. A 90 foot race between the fastest all-stars. Aren’t you curious who the fastest person in your sport is?
2. Have outfielders test their arm strength. Set up one of those booths where you throw a ball and it tells you the speed. But, put the players in the outfield and the booth at home plate.
3. A water balloon toss between teammates; put them at each foul pole and see who gets wet.
   

Something to break up the home run action would be much appreciated, especially now that the Hulk and “Macho Man” Randy Savage aren’t hitting 500 foot dingers.

Of course, the legacy you would like to leave is one that preserves the history of the game with as few changes as possible. This goal, while noble, leaves fans feeling that the MLB is the dinosaur to the NFL’s cooler, more adaptable animal (chameleon?).

The fact is, potential fans have many more options to spend their valuable time than they did sixty years ago. The game must change to stay competitive in the entertainment industry. So fix your All-Star Game, add some instant replay, and have some afternoon playoff games.

Signed,

Concerned fan

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