WARNING: You are being advised that this piece may come off sounding a little Andy Rooney.I remember while growing up in my more formative years just how significant the Major League All-Star Game seemed in my life. Despite the fact that they didn’t used to play for World Series home field advantage, everything just seemed to mean so much more back then to both the fans as well as the players themselves. Though the legendary players were much smaller physically, they seemed more lager than life back in prior eras. Now the All-Star game is nothing more than an exhibition than an actual sporting event.
Perhaps this outlook of mine is due to the fact that I was a naive youth back then, or like many old-timers in other professions, maybe I am trapped in the proverbial: “everything was just better in the old days” outlook on baseball.
If it is the latter reason, then I seriously doubt I am in the minority on this subject. Certainly, I doubt I am the only person to write on the subject this week. Today I am going to tackle that subject: What the hell to do with the abortion that has become of both the All-Star Game as well as the other competitions affiliated with the break itself.
Let’s first start off with the game itself. By now everyone knows that this game isn’t quite played with the same gusto that players in previous eras played with. (One famous, and most obvious, example is the Pete Rose home plate collision with former Indian Ray Fosse. This happening today just seems unfathomable to any fan who remembers that moment.) However, the lack of intrigue when it comes to watching the game is shared by the fans as well.
I remember a decade ago in the pre inter-league play era there used to be at least some excitement in the game because fans wanted to see Atlanta’s Greg Maddux versus Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. who was both in their respective primes at the time. Why is this significant? Well because they only faced each other in either the World Series or in spring training. Every era prior has a similar example: Mickey Mantle vs. Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton vs. George Brett, and every undeserving token Indian “all-star” from the 80’s vs. a young Dwight Gooden in his prime.
Dan Haren vs. Barry Bonds? Hey man, we've seen that game already this year...twice as a matter of fact.
I am aware that the benefits of inter-league play have done wonders for attendance around baseball. Hell, without this attraction the Indians would be even lower than their current ranking of 25th in baseball attendance. Not bad for a contending team. However, I fully blame this for the dilution of fan interest in the All-Star Game itself. Naturally, if you ask the owners, they’ll take the boost in attendance over All-Star game ratings any day of the week.
My next gripe is with the “festivities” surrounding the All-Star game bonanza itself. Let’s start with the atrocious seemingly ESPN run celebrity softball game. Given to the fact that only poker seems to be the only sports related show on TV during the break, I have subjected myself to this game more than once. It is truly a bad thing when we are stuck with Chris Berman calling the shots while Kenny Mayne is the funniest guy on the field. Hey, where are the real celebrities? How many times can we see Joey McIntyre in this thing before he can finally have a hit beyond the New Kids? Anyone on board with this one? Anyone???
What I’m thinking is how about we bring back the old MTV Rock N’ Jock format for the celebrity game’s watchability factor? That means bringing in relevant celebrities along with current all-stars for the game...hell, we'll even throw in the a few MLB mascots to boot. All apologies to Bell Biv Devoe and the Nelson brothers, we are talking current celebs. I’m talking about a scenario in which Albert Pujols hits a screaming hot smash down the third baseline to an utterly frightened and defenseless third baseman Nicole Ritchie. Another scenario dancing in my head involves Gary Sheffield getting nasty and taking out celebrity catcher Lil’ Bow Wow in a home plate collision. Who wouldn’t watch this? Of course, we need actual comedians to call this game for TV’s sake. Sorry Berman, Morgan and the gang, maybe in another lifetime.
Aside from borrowing a round of “dizzy lizzy” game (above from the minor-league promotion department, my last gripe is with the most popular event of the weekend. That of course is the Home Run Derby. I have to say I agree with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa’s ideas for shortening the event. LaRussa, who is also the National League’s skipper this year, has a legitimate beef with just how long this over the top and boring event truly can be. His idea is to shorten the rounds from 10 outs per player to 5 outs per hitter. Considering the even ran over three hours on Monday night, I think this is a very reasonable proposition.
Frankly, due to the fact that these were the best ideas that I could possibly come up with above to fix the All-Star break, it looks like the current format is here to stay. Baseball just has too many limitations when it comes to coming up with other events that both fans and players would be enthusiastic about watching or participating in. Seriously, what can be done? Have the players sprint around the bases? Have outfielders throw from the right field corner to a target? I suppose one could make an argument for those and a few others, but one thing baseball does have going is the fact that fans won’t have to worry about watching a “3-Ball” competition during their All-Star break. Then again, with Bud Selig and ESPN working together, anything is possible.
Read the complete post at http://kidcleveland.blogspot.com/2007/07/can-all-star-break-be-fixed.html