The 2002 All-Star Game, held in Milwaukee, ended in
controversy in the 11th inning when both teams ran out of available pitchers. Commissioner
Bud Selig declared that the game would end after 11 innings, and it ended in a
7-7 tie. Because of this, the All-Star Game as we know it changed. To provide
additional incentive for victory, Major League Baseball reached an agreement
with the players union to award home-field advantage for the World Series to
the champion of the league that won the All-Star Game.
Contrary to the popular belief that the team with the best
record had home-field advantage, home-field advantage in the World Series
alternated between the two leagues each year.
The American League took advantage of the new rule in each
of its first seven years: between 2003 and 2009. Even with the home-field
advantage, The American League only won four series and the National League won
three.
On April 28, 2010, MLB announced several rules changes for
future all-star games, effective with the 2010 edition:
- Rosters were expanded by one extra position player, to a total of 34.
- The designated hitter will be used in all games, even in National League ballparks.
- Pitchers who start on the Sunday before the game break will be replaced on the roster, but will still be recognized as All-Stars.
- Each manager may designate a position player who will be eligible for game re-entry if the last position player is injured or ejected. This is in addition to a rule that allows a player to re-enter to replace an injured or ejected catcher.
Since these changes in 2010, The National League champion has
benefited, winning the last three World Series (SF in ’10 & ’12), (Stl in ’11).
Does the All-Star game even have the best players anymore? The
American League had Clay Buchholtz (Bos), Yu Darvish (Tex), and Jesse Crain (Chi)
who were replaced by Matt Moore (TB), Glen Perkins (Min), and Bartolo Colon (Oak).
Colon was then replaced by teammate Grant Balfour. Justin Verlander (Det) and Hisashi
Iwakuma (Sea), who both pitched Sunday, were replaced by Chris Tillman (Bal)
and Greg Holland (KC). Don’t get me
wrong, all of these replacements are good players, but The American League
All-Star Team is without two of the best pitchers in baseball in Verlander and
Darvish. That would be like the NBA replacing LeBron and Kobe with Luol Deng and
O.J.Mayo.
The National League hasn’t had the same problems with
injuries, losing only three players. Freddie Freeman (Atl), the Final Vote
winner, was replaced by teammate Brian McCann. Mark Melancon (Pit) replaced
teammate Jeff Locke, and Sergio Romo (SF) replaced Jordan Zimmerman (Was).
Edward Mujica (Stl) replaces teammate Adam Wainwright, who pitched on Sunday.
The National League replaced three starters with three relievers, all first
time All-Stars.
And what’s the deal with teammates being replacements? I thought
this was about winning home-field advantage. Since Freddie Freeman won the
final vote and can’t play, shouldn’t Yasiel Puig, who finished second, get his
spot over Brian McCann?
It’s worth noting that there are a record 39 first-time
All-Stars following the additions of Melancon (Pit), Romo (SF), Tillman (Bal),
Holland (KC), Balfour(Oak) and Mujica (Stl), that’s four more than the previous
mark set two years ago in Arizona.
Maybe I’m a little biased since my team (Tex) lost The World
Series two years in row, but since home-field advantage is on the line I think
the All-Star Game should have the best players playing, not sitting. If it’s
supposed to mean something this important the fans shouldn’t be allowed to vote
in the starters. The entire process should be left to the Managers and Players,
they ultimately benefit from this. Matbe we can get another tie this year and
Bud Selig can make the Celebrity Softball game be the tie-breaker going
forward.
Until next time…
Geoff
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