I have been a baseball fan my entire life. Not only a fan of playing the sport, but of watching it played at the highest level as well. I started playing baseball when I was three years old, and continued playing through high school, college, and I dabble into wooden-bat adult leagues even now. Because of this, I follow Major League Baseball very closely, and have rather strong opinions about certain aspects of the professional game. For those of you who watch professional baseball, you know that the All-Star game was played last night, with the National League beating the American League for the third straight year, with a final score of 8-0. It was while watching on television and listening on the radio coverage and opinions of the All-Star game, and what it has developed into, that I decided to come off of the fence, and pick a side of a much debated topic. Should the All-Star game mean something concrete, and if so, how should it be accomplished?
For decades, Major League Baseball's All-Star game has been an exhibition game that carried no significance other than the honor that goes along with being selected by the fans as one of the top players in the game for that particular season. Many "baseball pundits" have debated the ongoing discussion of why the game has come to mean less and less as years passed, and why the players care less and less about participating. As a result of these never-ending debates, and the topic constantly rearing its ugly head, Major League Baseball's commissioner, Bud Selig, decided to implement a new rule/feature of the All-Star game, giving what was once a fun exhibition game for the fans huge merit. This rule states that whichever league wins the All-Star game shall be given home-field advantage in that year's World Series. So, if the American League wins the All-Star game, whichever team represents the American League will receive home-field advantage in the World Series.
This was such a terrible move by Bud Selig, that I could write forever about how awful of a decision this was, and why the All-Star game should have remained the way it was, and how this impacts Major League Baseball in a negative fashion. However, since I don't have forever, and you certainly wouldn't be reading forever, I'll focus on the main reason why this move was heinous. Essentially, it is the luck of the draw for whatever teams make it to the World Series. A team's previous record in the regular season, or in the playoffs is worthless. There is absolutely no correlation between the teams that made it to "The Show", and whether or not they boast home-field advantage. Actions performed by players for teams that might not even make the playoffs dictate which team gets an extra game at home, despite that team's accomplishments which ultimately led to their being at the World Series. For example, last night, Melky Cabrera was voted the All-Star game's Most Valuable Player, based on his strong night at the plate, going 2-3 with a 2-run home-run. Melky Cabrera plays for the San Francisco Giants, a team that has struggled mightily this season, and unless something drastic happens, will most likely miss the playoffs. That's right, a player on a team that won't even sniff the playoffs is the reason for whatever National League team DOES make the World Series will receive home-field advantage over their American League opponent.
It may seem like I'm beating a dead horse, but that's how little sense this change to the midsummer classic makes to me. Teams and players that have no business deciding which team should receive the extra game at home (which should be decided based on a team's regular season, playoff, or combined record) are deciding that outcome. Bud Selig has been Major League Baseball's commissioner for several years now, and it seems as though he feels he is entitled to make whatever decision he sees fit, whether the fans agree or not. He has been questioned about this very topic several times in numerous interviews, and every time he either dodges the question, or chalks up some extremely weak answer as to why this change was made, and why it will stay this way. The All-Star game needs to go back to its traditional value. A venue where players are recognized for their exceptional performance, and nothing more.
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