"This time it means something." WTF is baseball thinking. Its ridiculous to let the winning league of the All-Star game have home-field advantage in the World Series. There is nothing wrong with the All-Star game status quo. In fact, its the only WATCHABLE All-Star game in pro sports. Why the hell do you change it? Hey Bud - I didnt think it could get any worse then you shrugging your shoulders and calling the game a tie last year, but this easily tops that. The individual team should EARN their right for home field advantage in the World Series...... not have it be decided by a freaking EXHIBITION game.
Agreed. Bud must have been hitting the Pabst when he came up with this bright idea. I hope this will be the first and last year we see this disgrace.
And have you seen the plugs on TV???? puhhhlease.... They're making it seem all dramatic and stuff. I dont need a reason to watch the game. I just want to see my favorite players do well.... Bud gets an F- once again.....
That man can do no right. The only saving grace (if there is one) is that home field in baseball probably means the least of all the major sports. That being said, it's a horrible idea and I hope it doesn't last. It's is fundementally unfair.
Eh, I like it. I'll be much more likely to watch it. However, I think a USA v. The World all-star game is a much better idea. I still hate Bud Selig for one little fact. Had he not decided to become the full-time commissioner, we'd have a different President right now.
If they are gonna change a rule, then do away with the one that makes sure that every team is represented by a player. If all of the Astros are playing terrible, then i don't want to see an Astro in the game. I am sure that no player wants to go just because "somebody on the team has to". It's embarassing for the team and the player who has to go. i can see the other side of it, but the game will be better if ALL of the best players in the league are at the game, and not just the best from each team.
You know what would be a great idea? I know this seems like a radical thing to do, and lord knows that it would be a hassle to do - but what if they did something where they gave the home field advantage to the team that had won the most games in the regular season, or something revolutionary like that? I know, I know, it doesn't make as much sense as basing it on the result of an exhibition game that feature half of each roster from teams that probably don't have a snowballs chance in hell of ever reaching the world series. I mean, I'd hate to think that a team would get something on its merits - and I'm sure the Braves or Mariners are glad that their impressive win totals won't have an impact on whether or not they get homefield advantage - but instead will be decided by Melvin Mora, Rocco Baldell, and some nameless Tiger throwing down against Richie Sexson, Rondell White and Mike Lowell.
I'm with you RM, this will make me pay attention to the game because there is actually something important on the line. Although the best idea IMO is to have the team with the best record out of both leagues have home-field advantage in the World Series. Just like it currently is in the NBA.
Does it matter if one league is much tougher than another? What if one of the teams in the WS came out of the AL West, and the other came out of the NL East. The team from the NL East (the Braves) would probably have more wins from playing in a weak division, even if they are not as good a team. The same problem could occur with the AL Central (Weak) and NL Central (Strong). I think with the limited Interleague play and the unbalanced schedules, your system is really no more fair than Bud's. I say this as a fan of the Yankees, who have as good a chance as anyone of having the best record in the league year-in and year-out. The fact is that Bud needed something to make the AS game competitive and compelling.
All I know is this is better than having it home field advantage ROTATE each year like it has in the past. That is lame that a team with 90 wins can get home field over a team with 105 wins just because it's the AL's turn to have home field. I agree that it should go to the team with the best record. Until then, this beats the rotation method.
Why, who gives a flip??? Its an once a year exhibition. It was typical MLB over reaction. I would think a conservative such as yourself would support rewarding for performance, no excuses.
I think it was more damage control on Bud's part. What the hell happens when the game goes 16 innings. Call it a tie again with home field advantage on the line?!?!?
RM95 brings up the whole real point. It's all about the ratings game for Bud, and making sure his sponsors get the most bang for their buck. And after last year's debacle, they need more people feeling that they'll be "more likely to watch."
The people paying millions of dollars for advertising and the fans that tune in or pay for tickets give a flip. I am all for rewarding for performance, but performance in the AS game seems just as relevent to me as performance against a completely different schedule using different rules. I wouldn't compare a NL team to an AL team, anymore than I would compare a basketball team to a hockey team.
So then you would agree that all your Steve Francis bashing is probably moot because the Eastern Conference is much weaker than the Western Conference so it isn't fair to compare him to players in that Conference. BTW, Francis performed well in his all-star game also.
i like the change...it's less arbitrary to me then just switching it back and forth between leagues each year, independent of anything on the field at all.
