MLB Off-Topic

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I pretty much agree with all of the above. The only thing I would say here is...

To me it's pretty simple. The team with the better regular season record has home field advantage. To me that's a no brainer. I know that's how the NHL does it (don't know how the NBA does it).

This really is fine by me as long as they still have a remedy for no ASG ties. There's one simple way: make it play out and don't call it no matter what! Make the position players pitch, heh. Happens in regular season games. The scariest thing that can happen to this sport is a rule ten years for now that allows for ties in regular season games. Oh, I quiver with fear!

The only thing about the regular schedule that people will have a bone to pick is that the schedule itself is not only unbalanced, but the NL and AL teams really only play just a few mutual teams as is. Not that this is a bad system, but then I'm legitimately curious why there is a division and league series if we already know the top teams in both leagues? That's just a devil's advocate position is all.

Trust me, I'm fine with it. I'm just saying that no matter what we put in, somebody will always take opposition to it somehow. That said, the MLB probably thinks the same way and is saying, "If we're going to get complaints regardless, we aren't going to change it."

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I pretty much agree with all of the above. The only thing I would say here is...



This really is fine by me as long as they still have a remedy for no ASG ties. There's one simple way: make it play out and don't call it no matter what! Make the position players pitch, heh. Happens in regular season games. The scariest thing that can happen to this sport is a rule ten years for now that allows for ties in regular season games. Oh, I quiver with fear!

The only thing about the regular schedule that people will have a bone to pick is that the schedule itself is not only unbalanced, but the NL and AL teams really only play just a few mutual teams as is. Not that this is a bad system, but then I'm legitimately curious why there is a division and league series if we already know the top teams in both leagues? That's just a devil's advocate position is all.

Trust me, I'm fine with it. I'm just saying that no matter what we put in, somebody will always take opposition to it somehow. That said, the MLB probably thinks the same way and is saying, "If we're going to get complaints regardless, we aren't going to change it."

A couple of things here. For a sport that is having a "golden age" but still is regrettably so unpopular with most Americans (way behind NFL, behind NBA/NASCAR), most publicity is good publicity for MLB. This includes hand wringing over ASG snubs. Especially that. That's been going on longer than I've been alive.

Secondly, and this is cynical of me, but I don't really think getting the correct ASG rosters is as important to MLB as having fans ping their webpages zillions of times thus generating all that quantifiable fan interest/click revenue. Without fans picking the teams, the page views would likely go way down and talk about the league would decrease in these dog days of summer. The fan involvement aspect is not something a major sports league is really wanting less of these days.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Exactly this. If they remove the rule the game becomes an automatic joke because no one will care. And you will start to see final scores of like 20-15. And the game look nothing like a regular baseball game.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I must've read this post 100 times and it doesn't make any sense to me.

The ASG is an exhibition. You're talking about it like its a sacred, meaningful game. If the players dont care, that's probably because the game is irrelevant. Putting a stipulation on an exhibition game to make the players play harder is asinine. We might as well give HF to the team with the best record coming out of Spring Training.

I guess my point is, if the ASG ends 20-15, who the hell cares? Why does it even matter? It's just the All Star Game.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Exactly this. If they remove the rule the game becomes an automatic joke because no one will care. And you will start to see final scores of like 20-15. And the game look nothing like a regular baseball game.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Same here.
It's the only ASG of the four major sports that means something and resembles an actual game.
I can't remember the last time I watched the NFL, NBA or NHL ASG's, but I never miss MLB's.

I think it also helps that it's easier to be embarassed in a baseball game than any other sport.
You can't phone it in at the plate or the mound.
If you're going to half-*** it, you'll look like a fool.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The MLB All-Star Game resembles an actual game because it's the least physical of any of the major sports. You can play hard in baseball and not risk getting hurt on every play, unlike in the NFL, NBA, and NHL.

This has nothing to do with having HFA riding on the outcome. As others have said, the game has been competitive and played most like a regular season game (in terms of effort) before there was any reason to actually win.

[19]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Saunders (AL) & Belt (NL) win final votes.

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't think you can really compare the Rose/Fosse ASG to today's version. Interleague play, free agency and just general exposure has changed things. League pride isn't what it used to be.

As a Braves fan in the 80s, the ASG was one of the few times I got to see AL players, and I wanted all the players I was familiar with - having watched them on TBS throughout the summer - to beat those guys I only heard about.

That said, I don't think the ASG needs anything to be competitive. The fact it's baseball is going to make it competitive, as Jr. said. But I don't really have an issue with it deciding HFA for the WS either, especially when the previous method was just to alternate leagues every year.

Best overall record is probably the best way to go about it, but even that's not perfect considering teams aren't playing the same schedules.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

C'mon, people.

Place the blame where it oughta be.

It's Torii Hunter's fault.

Spoiler

If he didn't rob Barry, the game maybe doesn't end up tied. Which then means, Bud Selig doesn't force the home field advantage thing the next year.

Spoiler

Seriously though...it was an awesome moment.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4kt1VEAMcow" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The MLB All-Star Game resembles an actual game because it's the least physical of any of the major sports. You can play hard in baseball and not risk getting hurt on every play, unlike in the NFL, NBA, and NHL.

This has nothing to do with having HFA riding on the outcome. As others have said, the game has been competitive and played most like a regular season game (in terms of effort) before there was any reason to actually win.

I agree with you, Jr. The ASG has always had the most "entertainment" in terms of getting a decent product and the players really trying to perform well. This was the game, years ago, that made Bo Jackson Bo.

As far as today goes...players get upset when another guy raises his fist triumph at beating another guy so I don't see any lax in an exhibition game. Baseball has been a pride sport and it's definitely magnified when it's put up in prime time. It doesn't matter whether there is something at stake or not...I think the result will be the same regardless.

On a personal level, I would like to reduce the participation trophies and get back to where being an all-star actually means something. But, that's both me getting on a soapbox and a topic for another day....

[Mabster]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It better be Ryan Dull that replaces Kimbrel on the AS roster.

He's set the record at 36 for 36 inherited runners stranded this year. That needs to get recognized.


Edit: Darn, it's Aaron Sanchez instead.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

75 years ago yesterday

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dl-kCHHg8-4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm glad to see Sanchez get an All Star Game appearance. (hopefully) He's been the most consistent starting pitcher for the Jays this season and we're starting to see what he can be over the next few years. A guy who can eat up innings AND get a lot of Ks.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It better be Ryan Dull that replaces Kimbrel on the AS roster.

He's set the record at 36 for 36 inherited runners stranded this year. That needs to get recognized.


Edit: Darn, it's Aaron Sanchez instead.

Man it's absolutely ridiculous that Dull didn't get in. He's the best pitcher that no one knows about outside of Oakland.

[franch1se]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Going to the Futures game today, excited to see a lot of these guys. Can't wait for Mon and Tues

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Going to the Futures game today, excited to see a lot of these guys. Can't wait for Mon and Tues

What is the criteria to be in this game? AA or AAA level?

[franch1se]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

What is the criteria to be in this game? AA or AAA level?

There is a mix of all levels from low A-AAA