2011 All Star Game

[MSG T]

While on the treadmill this morning I noticed that ESPN had a lead-in saying "Small-ball wins the ASG for the NL". Hmm, I thought a 3-run HR from Fielder won the ASG for the NL. How is a power hitter hitting a HR "small-ball"?

 

Because they won, silly.

 

Hadn't thought of anything that simple.

[abuck1220]

did best record determine HFA in the world series prior to selig changing it?

It just alternated, right?

 

It alternated prior to 2003.

 

that's what i thought. so how is that better than letting the ASG determine it? i don't really understand that gripe.

[jersey cubs fan]

did best record determine HFA in the world series prior to selig changing it?

It just alternated, right?

 

It alternated prior to 2003.

 

that's what i thought. so how is that better than letting the ASG determine it? i don't really understand that gripe.

 

It's a gripe because people really hate Selig. There really is no perfect way to do it. The all star game is a pretty dumb one though.

[abuck1220]

i don't think it's any less arbitrary than just taking turns every year. i've heard people say it would be some kind of injustice if an 83 game winner from the NL central or whatever had home field over a 108 win AL east champ. that could just as easily happen under the old system.

[jersey cubs fan]

i don't think it's any less arbitrary than just taking turns every year. i've heard people say it would be some kind of injustice if an 83 game winner from the NL central or whatever had home field over a 108 win AL east champ. that could just as easily happen under the old system.

 

You are probably right. It was a lateral move more or less, but because Selig made it people get up in arms. The idea of AL and NL taking turns in the draft was also very stupid.

[davearm2]

did best record determine HFA in the world series prior to selig changing it?

It just alternated, right?

 

It alternated prior to 2003.

 

that's what i thought. so how is that better than letting the ASG determine it? i don't really understand that gripe.

 

It's a gripe because people really hate Selig. There really is no perfect way to do it. The all star game is a pretty dumb one though.

It's dumb in its current formulation. It could be great if it was done right.

 

As is, the ASG is trying to be both an exhibition game and a serious game at the same time, and it ends up being neither.

 

If they were to drop the exhibition game elements by letting the most deserving players start (not just the most popular), playing the starters like a normal game, dropping the every-team-gets-a-representative rule, etc... then maybe they'd have something they can legitimately tie HFA to.

 

Of course in the end, you might not ever be able to get the players and coaches to buy into it being a serious game with something important at stake.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's dumb in its current formulation. It could be great if it was done right.

 

As is, the ASG is trying to be both an exhibition game and a serious game at the same time, and it ends up being neither.

 

If they were to drop the exhibition game elements by letting the most deserving players start (not just the most popular), playing the starters like a normal game, dropping the every-team-gets-a-representative rule, etc... then maybe they'd have something they can legitimately tie HFA to.

 

Of course in the end, you might not ever be able to get the players and coaches to buy into it being a serious game with something important at stake.

 

That would be much worse.

[Bote McBoteface]

I don't think it is unfair to criticize Selig for the ASG choosing home field advantage. There is no perfect way to do it, but best record is far and away the best way to do it. It should have been changed from alternating to best record. It wasn't. Selig's fault.

 

And when it was implemented it was supposed to be a four year test. I have heard nothing but negative feedback about the ASG selecting home field advantage and it is still around 8 years later.

[davearm2]

It's dumb in its current formulation. It could be great if it was done right.

 

As is, the ASG is trying to be both an exhibition game and a serious game at the same time, and it ends up being neither.

 

If they were to drop the exhibition game elements by letting the most deserving players start (not just the most popular), playing the starters like a normal game, dropping the every-team-gets-a-representative rule, etc... then maybe they'd have something they can legitimately tie HFA to.

 

Of course in the end, you might not ever be able to get the players and coaches to buy into it being a serious game with something important at stake.

 

That would be much worse.

What part would be much worse?

 

Starting players based on performance instead of popularity?

Playing it more like a "real" game rather than one where everyone plays an inning or two?

Or having to do without a Pirate, Royal, and Astro being there every year?

 

Not understanding what you'd miss if these changes were made.

[bcl412]

It's dumb in its current formulation. It could be great if it was done right.

 

As is, the ASG is trying to be both an exhibition game and a serious game at the same time, and it ends up being neither.

 

If they were to drop the exhibition game elements by letting the most deserving players start (not just the most popular), playing the starters like a normal game, dropping the every-team-gets-a-representative rule, etc... then maybe they'd have something they can legitimately tie HFA to.

 

Of course in the end, you might not ever be able to get the players and coaches to buy into it being a serious game with something important at stake.

 

That would be much worse.

 

When you make millions of dollars to win for a specific team I just don't see how there is much motivation to win for a team that doesn't pay you millions. Plus there are other reasons to not take it too seriously, like, it's a fun game that players shouldn't have to take seriously because it is an exhibition. They really should just take away the home field advantage thing and let it be a fun baseball game for God's sake.

[soapy]

So I didn't catch it during the game last night, but the Justin Timberlake mocking of Joe Buck during his interview was somewhat amusing.

 

http://deadspin.com/5820817/justin-timberlake-at-the-all+star-game-drunk-sarcastic-drunk+sarcastic-or-just-obnoxious

[TruffleShuffle]

it's actually pretty brilliant from a marketing standpoint. I remember the 2008 asg game thread on here being really long because the cubs were really good that year and lots of us thought they might make the world series (joke was on us!) I guarantee you that fans of good teams were into the 2011 asg too.

 

It's a dumb way to decide home field advantage but from a marketing standpoint, it's actually quite shrewd.