The All Star Game

MLB ran into some big PR issues a few years ago when an All Star Game ended in a tie, rather than going into extra innings to settle bragging rights. As an (over?) reaction to this problem, MLB decided to make the All Star Game mean something, and as a result has lessened the value of the All Star Game and being a player named to it.

Rather than the good-old-days where the best and most popular players are named to the team to honor their achievements, we have games like this years All Star Game where AL Manager Ozzie Guillen sent the rest of his team to the All Star Game, even though there were better players that didn’t get to go.

And how about getting enough votes from the fans to be sent to the All Star Game, but not getting to play? Since this game “counts”, the manager is forced to leave you on the bench “in case” you need to be brought in later.

I actually have a fix for this problem (unlike the rest of my complaints in this post). Forget the silly idea of making the All Star Game count. Nobody (fans, players, etc.) likes it. Play a regular 9 innings. If at the end of 9 the game is still tied, quick Home Run Derby to decide which team “wins”. The game won’t end in a tie, and you won’t tire our your players (who need the break) with extra innings.

Manager Dump and Run

It is hard to be a Major League Manager. You either perform, or you’re out (pun intended). There are no chances to “fix” the problems with the team. Rarely any consideration for past performance (how many world series have you won? Doesn’t matter, what have you done for me lately?). It is despicable. Has there ever been a team that has actually improved when a new manager was brought in mid-season? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

But I do have to applaud the Cubs for keeping their faith in current manager Dusty Baker, even as the Cubs go through a horrible season. Dusty will be around at least until the end of this season. I hope the Cubs consider Dusty’s past performance during the off-season and decide to bring him back next year. I don’t see how you can blame him for the problems the Cubs have been having this season, especially when you see what he has done with past teams.

Lack of “Franchise” Players

Think of your local MLB team. Name the player whose name is synonymous with the team. When you say this players name, the next immediate thought in your mind is the team he plays for. You just know that this guy will retire wearing the same uniform he has on now. I bet you can’t come up with your local teams franchise player because they don’t have one.

Gone are the days of Mike Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg, and Cal Ripken. We live in the days where a Sammy Sosa get traded before he retires so the team he played for can get that last little bit out of him.

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One of the reasons that Margaret and I were so happy for DC to get baseball is because the Nationals are a National League team. And with our Cubbies also being a National League team, that means we get to see the Cubbies play a few games pretty close to our home.

I say pretty close because travel time home from the games this weekend was about 90 minutes door to door. Another 45 minutes and I could have seen a game in Philadelphia. Another 90 minutes and I could see a game in Pittsburgh!

Fearing traffic, we took Metro both days. Getting there wasn’t a problem and it is only a 7 minute walk from the station to the stadium. Getting home seemed to take forever. Ignoring that fact that a majority of the 30,000 people at the game were taking Metro home, it still took a while. We had to change trains at Metro center on Friday and that took 10 minutes to wait for a Red line train. On Saturday we happened to be in Virginia and decided to take Metro from there (a straight shot on the Orange line). It still took 90 minutes to get home…

If you weren’t watching Saturday night’s game, there was a 2 hour rain delay that we sat through. While RFK may not be much of a stadium to look at, it is big and was plenty roomy enough to keep the entire crowd dry during the delay.

Not getting home until 2AM on Sunday morning, we decided to skip the Sunday game. It was just too much for us to try and do. So we watched them play on TV, which was good enough for the two of us.

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Why do people get so excited when The Wave starts at a ball game? If you are paying attention to The Wave it means you aren’t paying attention to the game.

Case in point. Margaret and I were in Pittsburgh this weekend to see the Cubs. It is Saturday night and they are playing to an almost sold out crowd. It is 2-2 in the top of the 6th, the Cubs have a runner on second and a chance to take the lead. And The Wave starts.

Now I know that baseball isn’t a very fast moving game. It has been compared to watching paint dry. But there are plenty of boring parts during the game in which you can do The Wave. But not during what may be the most exciting part of the game…. Sigh….

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Today is the first day of broadcasting for XM 175 - MLB Home Plate, the source for all things baseball. I was listening to the 60s this morning and the DJ was talking about the guys on XM 175 trying to figure out how the phones work at XM, so it looks like they are having some first day jitters.

XM is also going to cover all the MLB games this season. The games will appear between XM 175 and XM 190, so check the schedule hereto find when and where your favorite team will appear. But don’t check right away, as their spring training coverage doesn’t being until March 3rd!

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