It’s one of Bud Selig’s worst ideas, ever, and that’s saying something.

The other part of it that is poor, is that there is no resolution to take if the game ends in a tie.

My suggestion would be to allow each team to carry one extra pitcher. This pitcher would be told up front that he would only pitch if the game goes to extra innings (so that the manager would not be pressured to get him in the game in the 9th in order to use everyone). So, hey, enjoy the game and relax for 9 innings.

Then if the game goes to extra innings, this pitcher would throw the 10th.

If the 10th ends in a tie, then the game is called and the League that did not have home field advantage in the WS gets to have it in the current season.

Thursday, Cleveland. Washburn, I believe.

Olson, actually.

What?!?!?! How can you hate the All-Star Game?

ok, two things:
one, I actually meant to type “break” instead of “game”. I hate the all-star break. I know the teams need the break etc. selfishly, I wanna watch baseball tomorrow. I’ll get over it.

two, the actual game is really hard for me to buy into. I’d like to see Ichiro hit a HR in his first AB. Barring that, I don’t know how long he’ll play, who will pitch, is Felix in yet? Will he be back next inning? It’s way too segmented to feel like an actual game. I know it’s an ‘exhibition’, I don’t like exhibitions.

That said, I’ll listen to someone trying to hit 8 home runs in the second round etc. Then I’ll tune into the start of the game Tue. (DON’T get me started on the eternal pre-game rituals) All the while, I’ll miss baseball and look forward to Thursday, Cleveland. Washburn, I believe.

Why wouldn’t the ASG be even more of a coin flip, regardless of who plays on each team?

Their might be argument against having the ASG counting for home field advantage. But, I’m not really sure the fact that the “best” players don’t all make it really sways the outcome enough to complain about it.

Not to mention that managers and players make just as many dumb selections as the fans do…

Having the All-Star game determine which league gets the extra home game in the World Series, should encourage fans to be more objective in choosing the best players. (Although they would presumably choose the worst players for the opposing league)

If the All-Star game is going to determine post-season play, who should be selecting the players? I don’t know that there’s a good answer to that, as having a computer select the best player may not go over that well.

It’s one of Bud Selig’s worst ideas, ever, and that’s saying something.

5. WE’RE ACTUALLY PLAYING FOR SOMETHING! (home field advantage in the World Series)

And this is where I start to have problems with the ASG (which I otherwise enjoy, FWIW). If it is going to “mean something” then both leagues should be able to field the best players: players chosen strictly by their performance rather than fan votes (in which case your starting AL CF would be Franklin Gutierrez, BTW) or selected by the two managers. If you’re going to allow the fans to stuff the ballot boxes to see their favorite players (whether they’re having particularly good years or not), that’s fine too — but then it shouldn’t “mean something.” Home field advantage in the World Series should not be indirectly decided by a popularity contest. The ASG is either an exhibition game full of fan favorites played for fun, or it’s a serious game with the best players deciding something important. Pick one.