Selig proposes changes for All-Star Game By Hal Bodley, USA TODAY Major league owners, meeting next week in Scottsdale, Ariz., are expected to consider giving the league which wins the All-Star Game home-field advantage for the World Series, beginning this year. Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday several "proposed changes will be discussed," but refused to say which one might be voted on. After last July's game ended in an 11-inning, 7-7 tie, Selig vowed to make changes to keep such a debacle from happening again. Selig is intent on restoring competitiveness to the exhibition between All-Stars from the American and National Leagues. Raising the stakes for the winning team would accomplish that. "What we need to do is bring that game back to what Arch Ward meant it to be — the mid-summer classic," said Selig. The first All-Star Game in 1933 was the brainchild of Ward, late sports editor of the Chicago Tribune. It was played in Chicago's Comiskey Park, site of the 2003 game on July 15. Consider: Teams with home-field advantage have won 22 of the last 34 World Series since divisional play was introduced in 1969. Currently, leagues alternate home-field advantage for the World Series. The 2003 best-of-seven Series is scheduled to open in the NL champion's park, but that could change. Last July's All-Star Game, in Selig's hometown of Milwaukee, ended in a tie after both teams ran out of pitchers. Expanding rosters and holding at least two pitchers in reserve have also been proposed.
Selig should be working on making MLB more competitive overall. What chance do the Royals, Twins, Tigers, Expos, Padres have of even making it to the World Series?
I made this suggestion after the game ended in a tie and got flamed for it...wheres the search feature when you need it!!!!!
Considering that the Twins and A's both made the playoffs as low payroll teams, and that both wild card teams were in the world series, I would say they have a plenty good chance. Heck the Florida Marlins managed. Weren't the Padres in a world series recently also?
The Marlins aren't a good example, because they were definitely not a team with a low payroll when they won the Series.
I think major league baseball would be more competitive if they'd stop televising the games and disband all of the teams. That way fans could watch the grass grow at the stadiums, which would be more entertaining than baseball.
amen. baseball has turned into something that is more boring then grass growing, yet less boring than cricket. it's pathetic.
If you don't like baseball, do us all a favor and don't act like an ass and post on a baseball thread.
I know, but they showed what a small market team can do. No one is stopping any of the owners from spending money, they just choose not to do it.
