The Football Fan Spot

As coach Herm Edwards once said, “you play to win the game.” That being said, I don’t like the idea that the All-Star Game should decide home field advantage in baseball. Charlie Manuel picked guys like Arthur Rhodes, Hong Chih Kuo, Evan Meek, Michael Bourn, and Omar Infante for the All-Star team, three middle relievers, a pinch runner, and a utility man. And you know what, those moves were pretty smart. Manuel knows his Phillies could get back to the World Series this year and wanted home field advantage when they got there so he did what it took to win, even if it was unorthodox, taking guys who specialize in the 7th or 8th inning, rather than taking closers and forcing them into different roles. He took a guy like Bourn to pinch run and possibly steal a base he took Infante because of his versatility.

The issue with this, it makes for a pretty boring game. In my opinion, players should be picked for the All-Star game off of three criteria, in order, the quality of their first half production, their popularity with the fans, and three and finally, to help you win the game. While it could be argued that those three middle relievers had a solid first half, it’s tough to argue that Omar Infante, who isn’t even a starter on his own team, and Michael Bourn who is batting .255 with 1 homerun and 22 RBIs this season, statistically were worthy of being there. Plus, none of those five generate much buzz with the fans at all.

Another issue with the game counting, we don’t see everyone play. Some guys are kept on the bench because the manager feels his team has a better shot of winning with someone else in the lineup. Where’s the fun in that? What’s the point of them even being there?

Another issue, it just gives too much power to one game. If Brian McCann strikes out last night instead of hitting a 3 run double, the AL likely wins. One swing of the bat deciding homefield in the World Series, when the man swinging the bat could very well not even be a part of the World Series in a few months, that doesn’t make any sense. Home field in the World Series should be decided in one of four ways. Whoever has the best record of the two teams playing, whichever league had the better record in interleague, whichever teams has the best record in interleague, or simply whichever team wins their CS first, with any ties being broken by regular season record, individual team interleague record, or league interleague record. If the All-Star game continues to decide homefield advantage, winning will continue to be more important than the fans and having fun during the All-Star game.

A few more issues with the All-Star game, the rosters are way too big. 34 players?! What’s wrong with 25 players, with the option to put players that you’ve taken out before back into the game if the game goes into extras and you need more players. 34 really cheapens being named an All-Star.

Speaking of cheapening being named an All-Star, I think the whole thing were every team needs to be represented needs to be done away with. You shouldn’t get an All-Star pick simply because you’re the best player on your team, but rather because your one of the top 25 players in your league. A few more things I would like to see all involve increasing fan involvement. What’s wrong with letting the fans pick the starting pitcher too, or even some of the backups.