Mariano Rivera

[Edwards Kings]

Is the DH in the National League far behind? With so many inter-league games, it now makes sense to have one set of rules, whether it's all with the DH or all without the DH. It's time to end the farce that is DH only in the AL and no DH in the NL. We're playing too many interleague games for that to continue much longer.

I'd much rather see the end to the DH in the AL instead of it's introduction in the NL.

Supposedly one of the issues raised by the players in the past is the loss of a high paying position (DH). When you look around at the DH landscape as it's made up now, I'm not sure that it would be that big of a problem. However, one obvious fix would be to expand all MLB rosters from 25 to 26. That's 30 new jobs for players, and I doubt that you would find many, if any, managers that wouldn't want one more bench guy or extra pitcher.

If you buy into runs scored/homeruns making the game more exciting and putting fans butts in the seats (and I kind of do), the universal DH (rather than lowering the mound) may be a relatively easy way to try to increase scoring (DH versus Pitchers hitting though like you I personally prefer the NL today over the AL as expected growing up a Braves fan).

And how about going the other way on rosters? Rather than up to 26, how about down to 24, which would probably mean one less arm in the bullpen (say the situational lefty or one less set-up guy), which could mean managers feel compelled to stick with the starters just a bit more who would have to pitch a bit more to contact to manage pitch counts or pitch a little gassed, etc., etc., etc. Neither (expanding or contracting rosters) will happen, but it is fun to think about.

[MadCow Sez]

Wasn't the big issue that the expansion bringing the Diamondbacks and the Rays into the league was supposed to water pitching down so much that every game was going to be a slug-fest?

[Greg Ambrosius]

With all of the great new players in baseball, you'd think that our favorite sport would be more appealing than ever before. My concern with the lack of scoring and a 3-0 All-Star Game is that the sport isn't growing, the younger sports fans aren't following the game like we all do and it won't be as appealing to folks as other sports like football, baseball and the X Games. And this Tweet from Darren Rovell last night is concerning: "Men 50 and older made up 34% of the All-Star television audience, the highest percentage ever."

I'm not worried about us adjusting and still appreciating a good pitching matchup. We'll always follow baseball. I'm concerned for the long-term popularity of the sport, which is why it would have been good for Yasiel Puig (who unfortunately didn't make the All-Star team) or Bryce Harper to have been named MVP rather than Mariano Rivera. Just sayin'.

[Navel Lint]

With all of the great new players in baseball, you'd think that our favorite sport would be more appealing than ever before. My concern with the lack of scoring and a 3-0 All-Star Game is that the sport isn't growing, the younger sports fans aren't following the game like we all do and it won't be as appealing to folks as other sports like football, baseball and the X Games.

----Said Bud Selig 1993

[Outlaw]

With all of the great new players in baseball, you'd think that our favorite sport would be more appealing than ever before. My concern with the lack of scoring and a 3-0 All-Star Game is that the sport isn't growing, the younger sports fans aren't following the game like we all do and it won't be as appealing to folks as other sports like football, baseball and the X Games. And this Tweet from Darren Rovell last night is concerning: "Men 50 and older made up 34% of the All-Star television audience, the highest percentage ever."

I'm not worried about us adjusting and still appreciating a good pitching matchup. We'll always follow baseball. I'm concerned for the long-term popularity of the sport, which is why it would have been good for Yasiel Puig (who unfortunately didn't make the All-Star team) or Bryce Harper to have been named MVP rather than Mariano Rivera. Just sayin'.

For Just Sayin, Well said. All star TV audience has been falling for 10 years. MLB Attendance has shown signs of cracks for a couple of years now and is really down this year. Selig is blaming the weather for this years problems. The bigger problem MLB has are the no shows for whatever reason. That pct has been going up also for a few years. No Shows correlate to canceled season ticket plans the following year. I saw the data somewhere last month, but did not keep it. With so many American struggling these days with all the problems the economy has had the past 5 years, they look at any athelete in any sport and the obscene salaries that just keep going going up and up. Throw in the a lot of people who actually do beleive they cheat by using PEDS and the disgust and disinterest factors keep going up. Fans have been infected with PEDS and cheating for 20 years now. It has been non stop in the fans faces and no matter what some say here or elsewhere, it does matter and MLB knows it and so do the fans.

No easy answers, but everything I see from kids particaption and interest to families viweing a day at the ballpark as fun has changed... There is no joy in spending 50.00 for decent seat, 7.00 for hot dog, 5.00 for bottle of water, 6.00 for an ice cream, 9.00 for a beer, 35.00 for hat at the ballpark. Throw in the addictions kids have to their Electronic gadgets, games, iphones and it does not bode well for future fans caring about pro sports ans teams. Once all of us over 40 yr olds are gone, sports will have some big problems. As it is, even us over 40's dont see it the same anymore.

[DOUGHBOYS]

My friends are shocked that I don't watch the All Star game. The game itself has lost all meaning. Leagues intermingle now. There is no 'My league is better than your league' mantra.
Besides maybe the Managers, nobody cares about the home field advantage. That was just an embarrassment reaction from Selig after taking heat for the tie game. They even used it as an advertising ploy in saying that the All Star game 'COUNTS'.
Home field advantage for an undetermined team means little at this point.

It has turned, over the years, from an All Star game to an exhibition game. I heard 55 players were used in the game.
That 55 players were used, signifies an exhibition game, not a showcase.
Back in the day, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron and Stan Musial got to play full games.
Two reasons-
One) They gave their team the best chance to win
Two) These were the players that fans really wanted to see.

Now, the game is similar to Grand Central Station. Players boarding the field, players departing.
No batter in this years All Star game had four at bats.
Only David Wright had as many as three at bats for the National League.
No game tests the 'You can't tell a player without your scorecard' more than the All Star game.
The Manager is left with a Little League mentality, trying to make sure that everybody gets a chance to play.
This was an exclamation point for Mariano Rivera in Leyland bringing him in the eighth, fearful that four runs may be scored by the National League.
That, my friends, THAT is current All Star thinking.


There is not 55 'Stars' in baseball. Only 55 All Stars that got into a game. Most fans can not name 55 players. Period.
We can, because that is who we are. Most folks can't.
They don't know much of Manny Machado. They do know Miguel Cabrera. And when Miguel Cabrera leaves the game, unless a Baltimore fan, interest wanes.
Play to win the darned game. And play your best, longer.
Play your 'real' stars like Cabrera and Trout and CarGo the whole game.
Pitch Matt Harvey and Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer their full three innings.
The mindset has to be changed or less and less fans will care about the game.