How to Fix the MLB All Star Game By Hank Indictor
One of my favorite traditions in Major League Baseball is the All-Star Game. There's nothing like seeing some of the greatest players together in the same stadium playing with or against each other in the annual Midsummer Classic. It was considered one of the best All-Star Games in all 4 Major Sports. However, baseball has been steadily declining in popularity, and the All-Star Game has suffered. And I'm not going to lie; having live-streamed the game, it wasn't all that great. That's not to say it wasn't a good game; Elias Diaz's pinch-hit home run was thrilling, as was the bottom of the ninth inning, but other than that, the game was as entertaining as watching paint dry and having said that, it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some of my ways in which the All-Star Game can be fixed!
Get rid of the AL and NL jerseys and have each team's representative rock their respective jersey!: Okay, now I may be no fashion policeman per se, but I'm sorry, every single jersey worn for the All-Star Games since 2021 has been MID! But not only that, it ruins tradition. How is the casual fan supposed to know that the unlikely hero in Elias Diaz, played for the Rockies? Oh, wait, we can only if we googled it or paid attention. One of the best parts of the players wearing their own team's jerseys is that it creates promotion for both the team and the player itself. But not only that, look at the iconic picture of the 1998 National League Starting Lineup! Tony Gwynn, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Chipper Jones, Mike Piazza, and Larry Walker. If those names don't hit you with an Avenger-like feel, then I don't know what will! And this game only amplified how much I missed that!
Implement the pitch clock: One of the big reasons I had such a hard time watching this year's game was that it dragged. And now we see why the pitch clock has been working this year, as the games are faster. It begs the question, why aren't we seeing this in the midsummer classic?
Bring back the World Series Home Field Advantage Incentive: "This time it Counts." That was how the game was marketed when it counted for Home Field Advantage in the World Series. Some may argue that the game is supposed to be a reward and recognition for great players and that this kind of thinking is wrong. Especially if we factor in that most players won't even see any World Series action. However, removing that rule turned the game into a glorified red-carpet Spring Training Game. I miss it when it counts for something.
Get rid of the Extra Inning Home Run Derby: Fortunately, we have yet to see this play out, but let's put it this way. Why do we need another Home Run Derby when we already have one that's just as good? This reeks of a gimmick, and I never want this to see the light of day! Speaking of this year's Home Run Derby, let me go on a side tangent and say I enjoyed this one. Julio Rodriguez put on a show with that 42 home run round in front of his fans, Adley Ruschman put on a show even tho he got edged out by Luis Robert, and Randy Arozarena also had an impressive round with 35 home runs. Still, ultimately, he was edged out by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who became half of the first-ever father-son duo to both win the Derby! Also, hot take, I don't mind the timed format. Sure, it may tire out the hitters, but that creates a decent form of suspense, too, so I can live with this. See what I mean? The Derby itself is an event in and of its own, don't create artificial suspense by implementing it into the All-Star Game!
And there you have it. With these changes, the All-Star Game can be as fun of an event as it once was, and with all those changes plus some better marketing (Thanks, GOOD OLD ROB MANFRED!!!!) It can all go a long way in helping to grow the game.