Only Major League Baseball can screw up something as glorious as the All-Star game. There's no competition during the summer, it's just the marathon that is the Major League Baseball season. The highs and lows that are the backbone of our sports' culture happen then.
And the summer high is the All-Star Game. From May to August, nothing comes close to the drama. Consider, in the last four years, each game has been decided by two runs or fewer. Since 1980, the games have been decided by three runs or fewer in 22 of 28 games.
Yet, it could be so much bigger.
Here are three ways baseball could make the All-Star game the second-most watched sporting event.
1. Play it on Sunday, with the game starting at 7 p.m. This way, fewer people have to go to bed and miss the final innings. This could help make it a cultural event, much like the Superbowl.
2. Announce the Hall of Fame inductees at the game. Sure, there's a shorter turnaround between the game and the induction, but this will get more people paying attention.
3. The Home Run Derby is fantastic. Who doesn't enjoy seeing the big mashers bash the ball into insane reaches. Now, add to it. Have the derby on Saturday, and an alumni derby on Sunday, before the game. It should include some of the biggest stars of yesterday. Think about it, we could watch Mike Schmidt and Mike Piazza go at it. It would be a great warmup.
The Superbowl of the summer
MLB screws up how the games end -- and what that end is worth -- but they do the buildup to the first pitch so much better than almost anything in sports.
I tend to be cynical when sports, big business or the entertainment industry claims its doing something positive -- and the everyday all-stars presentation was still awesome to watch. Now they're driving Musial in.
They had moments like this in Boston in '99 and last year at old Yankee Stadium. They've had them other times.
None of the other organizations do anything like this. They don't get close.
Nothing is worse than the NFL Pro Bowl.
The one gripe I have about the All-Star game is the merry-go-round they do with the line-ups and bullpens to get everyone in the game. I say let the starters go as long as they can!
Good points all around from Brian and Jeff. Couldn't agree more with so many points.