All Star Game Discussion

[RedFlash]

My only thing is this.....

 

Why is managers so gung-ho on only allowing the starting lineup to have 1 or 2 at-bats in the game? If I was manager, and I wanted to win this game, I much rather have the likes of Pujols/ARam/Utley/Ramirez/Berkman etc in the game for 3-4 atbats, over the likes of Hart/UgglyGuzman, etc, etc, having 4 or 5 at-bats.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hurdle just over managed the NL team. Brian Wilson did just fine in the 8th, bur he wanted to get Wagner in there ASAP, and he couldnt hold on to the soap.

 

At least all of our pitchers looked lights out. I only made it through 9, but Marmol and Demp had 5 strike outs and 0 walks between them. I was almost sure marmol would have ended up with the loss if it came down to it.

[Tracer Bullet]

My "All Star Game Fix Its" solutions, if going to keep this idiotic mentality of "IT COUNTS!" towards the ASG:

 

- Allow position players to re-enter if comes a time that all available players have been used before the end of the game, especially in extra inning contests [Dan Uggla, Christian Guzman, Cory Hart, Ryan Ludwick, etc getting 4 or 5 ABs in an ASG??]

 

- That or expand the rosters so won't run out after 10 innings

 

- Expand the pitching rosters to avoid running out in extra inning contests

 

- Make the coaches actually use their brain, and stop trotting guys out when they obviously are killing their side's chances of winning [ie, Hurdle and Uggla]; yeah, I know, didn't have a choice because of no players available to replace him with, but still

 

 

- But first and foremost, remove the "winning side gets WS HFA" rule and make it so that the team with the best record at the end gets HFA

 

My only thing is this.....

 

Why is managers so gung-ho on only allowing the starting lineup to have 1 or 2 at-bats in the game? If I was manager, and I wanted to win this game, I much rather have the likes of Pujols/ARam/Utley/Ramirez/Berkman etc in the game for 3-4 atbats, over the likes of Hart/UgglyGuzman, etc, etc, having 4 or 5 at-bats.

 

Managers burn through the roster b/c they want everyone to get into the game. If they had known it would go 15 innings, they'd let the starters play 7 or more. But if you add 5 more guys to each side, you'll just see managers start makings switches earlier. Even though they want to win, they're not going to keep 7 guys on their bench for the whole game. Most of the fun of being selected an All Star is actually getting to play. I think making it count just makes the game stressful for the manager. It's hard enough balancing 30 egos, but to be stuck in extras with no bench b/c you tried to get every player into a 9 inning game is just BS.

[Schwarber Fan]

I mentioned this in the GDT - Michael freakin Young, a Ranger wins the game again. The American League WS winner should start writing thank you notes to the Rangers.

[Mizzou]

Thanks for giving the AL home field advantage, Uggla.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So did every player on both rosters get used, aside of course for Tim Lincecum, whose 140 lb. frame simply couldnt hold his liquer?

[Jehrico]

Uggla and Wagner deserve every bit of derision they get, but let's not forget about Lidge and his old habit of giving it up in high-pressure situations as well. He needs to be nicknamed "Choke."

 

Let's also crap on Hurdle. Since the game is supposed to mean something, since it's supposed to count, you don't try to get everyone in the game. You try to win. The tie wasn't that long ago, it should have been on his mind that he needs to be prepared for a long game. He was managing the game as if he were managing an AS game in the 90s when it meant nothing.

 

Cubs pitchers for the night: 4IP, 1 H, 0B, 6 K. I like it!

[Jehrico]

Also, ROFLMFAO @ Z throwing that weak curve ball at Manny's head...

[Tracer Bullet]

Uggla and Wagner deserve every bit of derision they get, but let's not forget about Lidge and his old habit of giving it up in high-pressure situations as well. He needs to be nicknamed "Choke."

 

Let's also crap on Hurdle. Since the game is supposed to mean something, since it's supposed to count, you don't try to get everyone in the game. You try to win. The tie wasn't that long ago, it should have been on his mind that he needs to be prepared for a long game. He was managing the game as if he were managing an AS game in the 90s when it meant nothing.

 

Cubs pitchers for the night: 4IP, 1 H, 0B, 6 K. I like it!

 

Wait, Hurdle is to blame for playing all of his players? I watched most of the game and I could have sworn that Buck said Francona only had 1 player left on his bench in about the 6th or 7th. So the managers managed the same way (to get everyone into the game).

 

The AL is just deeper than the NL, when it comes to talent. The starters for each league are pretty evenly matched. But the AL bench was far superior to the NL bench, if you ask me (sizemore, Longoria, Morneau, Kinsler). And the RPs are much better (Nathan, Paps, KRod, Rivera in consecutive innings - holy crap).

[Derwood]

There has to be a rule added that says any starter who pitched on Sunday either can't pitch in the ASG or is on a strict pitch count. Someone's season is going to get ruined by this nonsense

[abuck1220]

 

The AL is just deeper than the NL, when it comes to talent.

 

come on...they played 15 innings of absolutely evenly matched baseball. i don't think you can make any definitive statement about either league based on that.

[UMFan83]

If you want to fix the All Star game and make it a legit "this time it counts", its simple. Other than the pitchers, manage the game like it was a real game. Starters play all game unless they are PH for in certain situations. Screw people's feelings. You are an All Star, who cares if you don't play. I'm sick of seeing ASG's decided by Nate McClouth and Ryan Ludwick instead of Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman.

 

As for pitchers, its really stupid to have a starter throw 7 innings in the game, but the first 2-3 pitchers should be prepared to pitch 3 innings. If you're worried about overworking players in an exhibition game, make a rule to limit all pitchers PC to 50 pitches. This way when the 9th inning comes around you can actually have choices.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Steve Phillips argues that the game shouldn't count and Kruk says if they are going to make it count, then they should let each team bring fifty guys.

 

Probably the first time I've agreed with those two.

[abuck1220]

it's funny how literally NO ONE thinks it should determine home field. not the players, not the fans, not the commentators, not the writers...no one.

 

were people really that upset about the tie? i would think the only people who cared about that would be crusty old timers who woke up the next morning (they certainly didn't stay up that late the night before) and shook their fist at a cloud because games shouldn't end in a tie and in his day warren spahn threw 16 innings in an all-star game or whatever.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

it's funny how literally NO ONE thinks it should determine home field. not the players, not the fans, not the commentators, not the writers...no one.

 

were people really that upset about the tie? i would think the only people who cared about that would be crusty old timers who woke up the next morning (they certainly didn't stay up that late the night before) and shook their fist at a cloud because games shouldn't end in a tie and in his day warren spahn threw 16 innings in an all-star game or whatever.

 

I think FOX really pushed for the "This Time It Counts" thing when the game ended in a tie. They wanted to have something to make the game marketable and significant. I think they were the biggest proponent of the idea. I may be wrong, but that's what I think happened.

[SouthSideRyan]

Steve Phillips argues that the game shouldn't count and Kruk says if they are going to make it count, then they should let each team bring fifty guys.

 

Probably the first time I've agreed with those two.

 

Yeah, let's have 100 all stars a year!! Absurd. They had pitchers go 15 innings. There are regular season games where managers are on their last pitcher in the 15th. There was no problem. The all star game probably won't go 15 for another 20 years, no reason to make changes based on the worst case scenario.

[abuck1220]

Steve Phillips argues that the game shouldn't count and Kruk says if they are going to make it count, then they should let each team bring fifty guys.

 

Probably the first time I've agreed with those two.

 

Yeah, let's have 100 all stars a year!! Absurd. They had pitchers go 15 innings. There are regular season games where managers are on their last pitcher in the 15th. There was no problem. The all star game probably won't go 15 for another 20 years, no reason to make changes based on the worst case scenario.

 

like they did after the tie a few years ago.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Steve Phillips argues that the game shouldn't count and Kruk says if they are going to make it count, then they should let each team bring fifty guys.

 

Probably the first time I've agreed with those two.

 

Yeah, let's have 100 all stars a year!! Absurd. They had pitchers go 15 innings. There are regular season games where managers are on their last pitcher in the 15th. There was no problem. The all star game probably won't go 15 for another 20 years, no reason to make changes based on the worst case scenario.

 

Well, I agree that 50 all-stars shouldn't be there. My main point is that it is silly that HFA for the WS is tied to it so that the managers have to worry about it.

 

No team wants a star lost for a year because he had to over extend himself in an ASG. On the other hand, no one (including the players who give up their break to come to the game) wants to see the game end with half the team still on the bench. Fans who watch want to see their players get in, so managers are still going to sub after a few innings. Pitchers are still going one or two and then out.

 

I don't see why it's so important the game count for something. That's what I'd like to see changed.

[Joe_Cub]

it's funny how literally NO ONE thinks it should determine home field. not the players, not the fans, not the commentators, not the writers...no one.

 

were people really that upset about the tie? i would think the only people who cared about that would be crusty old timers who woke up the next morning (they certainly didn't stay up that late the night before) and shook their fist at a cloud because games shouldn't end in a tie and in his day warren spahn threw 16 innings in an all-star game or whatever.

 

the people at miller park booed selig, they might be the only ones who cared. or maybe they were booing about the leaking roof.

 

there was some faux outrage afterwards about players leaving to get to their vacation destinations before the game was over.

[Mizzou]

There has to be a rule added that says any starter who pitched on Sunday either can't pitch in the ASG or is on a strict pitch count. Someone's season is going to get ruined by this nonsense

Agree on the strict pitch count. Most of those people shouldn't be on the roster to begin with though. If they have zero intentions on playing (I'm looking at you Brandon Webb), then step aside and let someone take your place who will play.

[BigbadB]

Uggla and Wagner deserve every bit of derision they get, but let's not forget about Lidge and his old habit of giving it up in high-pressure situations as well. He needs to be nicknamed "Choke."

 

Let's also crap on Hurdle. Since the game is supposed to mean something, since it's supposed to count, you don't try to get everyone in the game. You try to win. The tie wasn't that long ago, it should have been on his mind that he needs to be prepared for a long game. He was managing the game as if he were managing an AS game in the 90s when it meant nothing.

 

Cubs pitchers for the night: 4IP, 1 H, 0B, 6 K. I like it!

 

Wait, Hurdle is to blame for playing all of his players? I watched most of the game and I could have sworn that Buck said Francona only had 1 player left on his bench in about the 6th or 7th. So the managers managed the same way (to get everyone into the game).

 

The AL is just deeper than the NL, when it comes to talent. The starters for each league are pretty evenly matched. But the AL bench was far superior to the NL bench, if you ask me (sizemore, Longoria, Morneau, Kinsler). And the RPs are much better (Nathan, Paps, KRod, Rivera in consecutive innings - holy crap).

 

Yes. Hurdle is to blame for this entire mess. Well, it's Selig's mess to begin with, but it's Hurdle's fault we lost. Isn't he the one who pick's his pitching staff? How can you honestly pick a pitching staff and not have Johan Santana and Jake Peavy on the roster? I don't care what their records are or what their other significant stats are, these are absolutely 2 of the best pitchers in the NL, and I'd much rather have these guys with a game on the line than Aaron Cook or Brad Lidge or even Carlos Marmol right now.

 

This is no longer about getting every player in the game. This is about home field advantage, as stupid as that may sound. I will applaud the first manager who says "screw playing time, I want to win this game". Ah, but the good ole boy network probably doesn't have a single manager who has the nads to buck the system.

 

This will forever stay one of the dumbest things Bud Selig did under his legacy of doing dumb things.

[Post Count Padder]

I kinda feel bad for Uggla but man he sucked. It was a very evenly matched games but I think of all the times the NL could have won.

[SouthSideRyan]

You're going to blame Clint Hurdle for taking Aaron Cook? He was a lock for MVP if the NL won.

[Derwood]

You're going to blame Clint Hurdle for taking Aaron Cook? He was a lock for MVP if the NL won.

 

that would have been the worst "MVP" performance in ASG history

[Guest]

I really was hoping this game would end in a tie too. The THIS TIME IT COUNTS nonsense is such utter crap.