Monday, July 06, 2009

THE ALL-STAR JOKE...ER...GAME

***THE GAME***
This used to be an interesting interlude during the season, showcasing the best players in the game for that year (for the most part). Now, however, they have completely changed this into a circus with very little focus on the original intent of the game. Part of the problem is the increase in the number of players from which to choose. In 1960, with 16 teams, there was a pool of 400 players to supply two 25-man teams, which means you had a 1 in 8 chance of being picked. The choices weren't all that hard: Mantle, Mays, Musial, Koufax, etc. Now you pick 66 players from a pool of 750, AND every team has to be represented. Back then, they tried to win the game, too. The starting pitcher went 3 innings. If the 2nd pitcher was hot, he went 3 innings, too. When the game was over, there might be 8 or 9 guys on the bench that didn't get in. So be it.
Now managers try to play everyone, pitchers seldom go more than one inning, and you end up with tie ball games. There is no rhythm to the game and the final score has no relation to the quality of the players. On top of which, this farce of a game determines the home-field advantage for the World Series, the ultimate championship of professional baseball. It's just an exhibition game. Maybe they should just flip a coin instead of playing the game.

***THE CHOICES***
No matter who picks them, there will be arguments over those choices. Fans pick famous names regardless of the kind of year they're having. One year, Cincinnati fans stuffed the ballot box and picked 8 Cincinnati Reds to start the game. Ford Frick, in his one burst of intelligence, exercised his "good-of-the-game" clause, deleted three of them and reassigned three other players. Geeky analysts would pick based on some mathematical basis which will irritate everyone else.

What's the difference? Have your home run derby, play your crazy game and take a 4-day break from the pennant chases. Picasner hasn't watched the game in ten years and won't again this year. Maybe there'll be a cup-stacking tournament on TV.

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