Does the allstar game really matter now?

Making the game "count" is a joke. Just make it an exhibition like it always was supposed to be. If I'm the manager I load up the bullpen and Trout/McCutchen play 9 innings. I'm trying to win for my league , right?

but NOOOOO, we still have to get everyone in the game and "sort-of-try-to win". It is contradictive.

As for voting, let fans vote of course, but why not limit it to one vote per email. or at the very most 1 vote per week per email. This would prevent people who don't have jobs from sitting there all day (when they're not banging their cousins) and voting all KC players in for example

Well put Steve

JT

How hard would the NFL players play to get the home field advantage for their side? As much as the MLB players would. No way would they crash into a wall or dive for a catch. They make way too much money. Most don't even play anymore. I got a hammy and need to be home with my family during that time.

It has all changed and I would also pack it in and go home for 3 or 4 days. Dump the World Series home team and just let them go out and have fun. I don't even watch it and haven't for years. It is like the Oscars and the red carpet only they don't get to pick what they wear.

I suppose my real problem with the game now is that it does determine home field advantage but I do not see any real evidence there is any more true effort to win by either team than when I was a kid.

I suppose my real problem with the game now is that it does determine home field advantage but I do not see any real evidence there is any more true effort to win by either team than when I was a kid.

Most of the players have no incentive since their teams won't be in the Series.

Most of the players have no incentives since their teams won't be in the Series.

Actually, they do have incentive. They have the incentive of personal pride, competitiveness, and desire to show they belong with, and can thrive against, the best of the best. If you don't think MLB players have those, I don't know why you even watch them play. If you think any of the players in the All-Star game were dialing it in, then you should complain to MLB. All I saw was a bunch of excellent young players playing hard to give their fans--particularly the kids--a good show. They weren't bashing catchers at home plate, but they certainly weren't slacking.

I am not at all saying any player did not give full effort. In fact I have always said baseball more than any other sport has all the players giving full effort. When I say there was not full effort to win I am referring to selection of starting lineup and substitution patterns. It is clear that those aspects the game is still treated as just an exhibition.

Examples of what I found disappoinging...

Perhaps the best starter in the NL this year was not elibible because he pitched on Sunday (Max)
Manager of one team pinch runs for one of the fastest players in the game.
Manager of the other team puts a rookie third baseman out in LF, the 4th time in his professional career he has played LF at any level.

They got lucky. These actions did not impact the outcome. But can you imagine your team is about to start their first world series in years and you do not have home field advantage because that guy pinch running for Trout got thrown out at home on a bang bang play or Bryant had misplayed a ball in LF, possibly being the play that determined the game outcome and thus WS home field advantage? This current setup is a disgrace waiting to happen.

A "disgrace waiting to happen"? That's just a bit hyperbolic. Pete Rose betting on games as a manager--and perhaps as a player--was a disgrace. Home field advantage for the World Series being determined by a game of MLB's best hardly qualifies.

A "disgrace waiting to happen"? That's just a bit hyperbolic. Pete Rose betting on games as a manager--and perhaps as a player--was a disgrace. Home field advantage for the World Series being determined by a game of MLB's best hardly qualifies.

Fully agree, very hyperbolic.

That said I do wish the game did not determine home field but I can live with it.