All-Star game could have World of impact

[Yankee 21]

All-Star game could
have World of impact




Last year, nobody won the All-Star game. This season, the Midsummer Classic could decide who has home-field advantage in the World Series.
Commissioner Bud Selig will probably brief owners next week on his plan to have the league that wins the All-Star game gain home-field advantage in the World Series.

Selig had said at the November owners' meeting that he intends to reinvigorate the All-Star game, which last summer ended in a much mocked, 7-7 tie after 11 innings in Milwaukee. Both the AL and NL ran out of pitchers, with managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly using players for short stretches to get everybody in.

Home-field advantage in the best-of-seven World Series has rotated each year. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said this week that Selig's plan to have the team from the All-Star-winning league be host for Games1, 2, 6 and 7 doesn't require a vote by owners.

Baseball and Fox also are considering whether to have the start of the WorldSeries pushed back from a Saturday to a Tuesday, perhaps as soon as this year. Games1 and 6, played on Saturdays, have been plagued by record-low ratings.

[rockin500]

i have no problem with this. it gives the all star game a little more meaning, which is a good thing. :)

whoo hoo! good move by bud. (for once)

and yeah saturday night games arent good. and earlier start times just may help....

[Frank2001]

Greetings --

MLB should NOT change the current practice of alternating AL and NL advantages in the World Series.

I also feel that the All-Star Game is not really worth the interest any more. MLB should scrap it.

[awefullspellare]

I like the Allstar game, its a nice place to watch lots of players play and see some fun. I'm not so sure about this though. won't this pressure the manager to take the best players and keep them in longer so they win and can get the homefield advantage???

[Trots]

Typical Bud move. He caves into negative media pressure the first chance he gets. Look, the All-Star Game finished in a tie. Big deal. It's happened before. Get over it.

You can correct some of the problem just by telling the managers to stop being PC and try to win the game. Then let the MLBPA know that some guys in uniform that night may not get to play.

For those who need the A-S Game to "mean" more, how about awarding a big chunk of cash to the winning team? That might motivate a player or two.

Determining the home field advantage in the WS by the result of the All-Star Game, obviously, seems like a rather big and pretty silly leap to me. How about letting the team with the best record have home field advantage in the post-season? I know, it's too radical a notion.

[GaryMrMets]

A message to Commissioner Bud Selig: If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Please, please, please leave the way the World Series is alternated each and every year as it is. If you end up implimenting this change of yours, it could mean that one league will host Games1, 2, 6 and 7 year after year. Also Mr Selig, something you might want to consider for the fans is an earlier start time for each and every game of the World Series and playoff games. When I was growing up back in the 1960's, there was something called World Series and playoff games played during the day. Please, please, please consider this. Thank you very much, yours truly, GaryMrMets

[farmer al]

I would really like to see the All-Star game left alone, but GaryMr.Mets is so unbelievably correct with the mention of starting times. I want my son to be able to watch the world series with me, at least some of it, but when they start at ridiculous times like 8 PM Central, (9 PM EST) there are a very large portion of potential viewers that don't watch it is scary. The future of the game is kids like my little boy, yet, he won't ge to watch an entire game unless on weekends for along time.

[SlushyBOB]

I totally agree with the start times, although I know why they start that late for you. I'm on the West Coast so even though a game starts at 8pm in the East. It's only 5pm here on the West Coast and most people aren't home from work yet. I'm guessing that's why it starts so late. I don't have a problem with it starting earlier, although I'm sure many West Coast people wouldn't like it since they would miss part of it.

I hate the idea of the All-Star game deciding home field advantage. The 2 teams in the World Series would have no control over that at all. I agree that home field advantage should go to the team with the better record. Reward them for having a better record through the course of a long season.

[awefullspellare]

Originally posted by farmer al
I would really like to see the All-Star game left alone, but GaryMr.Mets is so unbelievably correct with the mention of starting times. I want my son to be able to watch the world series with me, at least some of it, but when they start at ridiculous times like 8 PM Central, (9 PM EST) there are a very large portion of potential viewers that don't watch it is scary. The future of the game is kids like my little boy, yet, he won't ge to watch an entire game unless on weekends for along time.

usually its becuase the pregame shows are on, it should be on by 7 CST normaly. I don't like it at all, but they really dont have much choice starting an hour earlier would mean 4 PST!!!! thats barely after some kids get home from shcool!!!! :banghead

[Trots]

Two thoughts. First, I raced home from school for years to see afternoon playoff baseball games. It gave the afternoon some excitment. When the Tigers were in the post-season kids and teachers would bring in (or sneak in) radios and tv's. It created a little sense of togetherness. Three decades later, I'm still a baseball fan. How many kids today will say that in thirty years from now?

Second, I think the kids would still see more of the game starting at 3:00 or 4:00 p.m, then the 8:00 p.m EST starts. What difference does it make if a kid in NY misses the last four innings or a kid in CA misses the first four? I'd opt for the latter as being less offensive.

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by Trots

Second, I think the kids would still see more of the game starting at 3:00 or 4:00 p.m, then the 8:00 p.m EST starts. What difference does it make if a kid in NY misses the last four innings or a kid in CA misses the first four? I'd opt for the latter as being less offensive.


THANK YOU!!!

I've been saying this forever....

As a fan and I would hope that MLB would think this also, I would rather see the end of a game and I would think baseball would be more sensitve to the East Coast fans....

2 Options- Continue to start the game late on the East Coast to appease the West coast fans so the WC fans can see the whole game and the EC fans will miss the end of it or start the game around 7 so the WC fans may miss the beginning but EVERYONE sees the end which if I am into marketing would be the part of the game I would want everyone to see......

I think starting a game at 7 is pretty fair.....

[awefullspellare]

Originally posted by Trots
Two thoughts. First, I raced home from school for years to see afternoon playoff baseball games. It gave the afternoon some excitment. When the Tigers were in the post-season kids and teachers would bring in (or sneak in) radios and tv's. It created a little sense of togetherness. Three decades later, I'm still a baseball fan. How many kids today will say that in thirty years from now?

Second, I think the kids would still see more of the game starting at 3:00 or 4:00 p.m, then the 8:00 p.m EST starts. What difference does it make if a kid in NY misses the last four innings or a kid in CA misses the first four? I'd opt for the latter as being less offensive.

problem is, u cant sneak in the radios and stuff as easy now a days ;). PLUS I dont think kids are as eager to go watch baseball. Its a problem I agree, I know most of my friends dont give a hoot bout no World Series. Its too slow for them, thats why hockey doesnt get the atention. BAsketball and Football are the most popular becuase of constant action and more scores than HOckey, although I think Hockey may be the most exciting.

Starting in the afternoon would work I think, the WS cant compete with the other shows on nights. Its gonna be hard but we need to breed a new generation of baseball fans. I think my generation may be lost :hmm: .

[awefullspellare]

And I REALLY WANNA KNOW Milky's opinon on this because its gotta be hard living in Hawaii :banghead . 4 hours difference from here i think that means the games would start at 2. some WS games would be almost over by the time the kids get home, although they may tape delay them or somethin :umm

[Trots]

awefull, let me be clear. I am not encouraging anyone to sneak anything into anywhere. I was using that only as an example of how popular daytime playoff baseball was. (Besides, I would think the internet would provide ample in school coverage.)

As for your assertion that baseball has lost this generation, I am more than willing to assume you are correct. That makes me wonder two more things. First, why are we broadcasting WS games so late when only us older people are watching? We've got to go to work in the morning, too. Midnight or later conclusions only eliminate working adults from the East Coast to the Midwest, their children and the elderly from watching. How big a group can that be?

Second, what this generation may (or may not) find out as they reach maturity is that an enormous part of baseball is tradition. You embrace it more when you get older, as it's something that ties generations together and keeps alive a sense of your own childhood.

Baseball was born in the sunshine and reached it's pinnacle of popularity in midday. It might not hurt to bring back some of that tradition and let the next couple of generations get a sense of what baseball used to be when us old timers watched. It might even let a few more youngsters see a complete post-season game or two.

Who knows? Maybe in 2023 some of their kids will race home from school to watch the World Series just like their great-great grandfathers did in 1963?

[rockin500]

world series needs to be started sooner. plain n simple. :)

[awefullspellare]

Originally posted by Trots
awefull, let me be clear. I am not encouraging anyone to sneak anything into anywhere. I was using that only as an example of how popular daytime playoff baseball was. (Besides, I would think the internet would provide ample in school coverage.)

As for your assertion that baseball has lost this generation, I am more than willing to assume you are correct. That makes me wonder two more things. First, why are we broadcasting WS games so late when only us older people are watching? We've got to go to work in the morning, too. Midnight or later conclusions only eliminate working adults from the East Coast to the Midwest, their children and the elderly from watching. How big a group can that be?

Second, what this generation may (or may not) find out as they reach maturity is that an enormous part of baseball is tradition. You embrace it more when you get older, as it's something that ties generations together and keeps alive a sense of your own childhood.

Baseball was born in the sunshine and reached it's pinnacle of popularity in midday. It might not hurt to bring back some of that tradition and let the next couple of generations get a sense of what baseball used to be when us old timers watched. It might even let a few more youngsters see a complete post-season game or two.

Who knows? Maybe in 2023 some of their kids will race home from school to watch the World Series just like their great-great grandfathers did in 1963?

internet is nice, but when you have one class a day AT MOST that you can acess the web in my only source of updates would be to call someone, but i could live with that. I agree that we need to do something to get this generation hooked. Back in the day you hear about kids just walkin down to the diamond and playin some ball, now most kids dont have a glove. If they do, there are not enough kids to just wander down and play. I rarely am able to play with friends, because most dont have a glovve, and if they do then they dont like baseball. There just arent enough kids in the nieghborhoods.

[milky_way]

Originally posted by awefullspellare
And I REALLY WANNA KNOW Milky's opinon on this because its gotta be hard living in Hawaii :banghead . 4 hours difference from here i think that means the games would start at 2. some WS games would be almost over by the time the kids get home, although they may tape delay them or somethin :umm
yup, there's a delay :hmm:. it SUCKS, since the game is over by the time they play it here at around 6:00 PM Hawaii time :ugh:. For me, a day game in the East or even the West would be almost impossible to catch, unless i snuck a radio into school ;) :devillook.

not that that matters, since i doubt the MLB cares very much about the fans out here. It's not like Hawaii is overpopulated with avid baseball fans :hmm: :cry:

[awefullspellare]

yeah i figured they did that!!!

[amy5180]

I quite agree. I'm on the east coast and I hate having the games start at 8pm that means they don't get over till 11 or 12 which is too late for most people especially on a work night.

I also don't think the All-Star game should decide home field advantage. It's fine the way it is now. Hopefully this year's game there will a winner. :banghead :banghead

[SlushyBOB]

My concern with starting a game a 7pm eastern is that many west coast people might not even be home by the time the game is over or close to being over. Maybe they could do some sort of rotating schedule so that some games would start earlier and some later. Every other game could start at the earlier/later time and they could rotate yearly which time zone got the extra game. Just a thought..

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by SlushyBOB
My concern with starting a game a 7pm eastern is that many west coast people might not even be home by the time the game is over or close to being over.


I would think if a game 4pm West coast time most people would be home to see at least the last hour of the game....
Or maybe to at least arrange leaving work early a day here and there to catch more...
At least most kids would be able to see most of the games....

[rockin500]

your right James. Most kids are done with school by 3. so they would be able to see the game. and also adults would be able to catch most of the latter half of the game since they take forever anyways!!!

[SlushyBOB]

If the game started at 4 then most West Coast people would probably be home in time to watch the last hour of the game. How fair is that though? That's why I was saying it might be more fair to rotate when the games start so that people on the West Coast and the East Coast could at least enjoy the 1/2 of the games in their entirety (sp?).

[PopTop]

Not sure what happened to the original subject of this thread, but I agree with MrMets on leaving the All-Star Game as it is, a mideason exhibition that really doesn't mean squat anymore with the interleague play.

As for start times for All-Star Games and/or playoffs, I've got a novel idea: Leave it up to the home team and their fans :idea:

This last season's WS action was nothin' short of a slap in the face to Left Coasters ... Here we had two Californy teams in The Series, yet first pitches were in the 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. range for the locals just so TV could appease their advertisers and have a bulk of the commercials on during East Coast and Central prime time ... If/when the Cubs get into postseason, their fans are used to a lot of afternoon games, so let them play at Wrigley during the day ... First pitch for Angels fans shoulda' been at 7 or so (assuming this was a normal start time for their fans).

The fan who purchased the ducat has been forgotten for too long ... Prices for the AS and WS games have gone through the roof and forced a lot of the real fans out of the park in the first place, why jack with them even more with odd start times (in California's example) or late-late first pitches for East Coasters?

Eh, just my $0.02, so I probably have change coming to me.

[rockin500]

i wouldnt mind day games for the cubs if they got in. :D

pretty interesting ideas PT!

[SlushyBOB]

POPTOP IS MY HERO! great idea:angel:

[awefullspellare]

MAYBE letting the team whos in it start at the time they like is right, they earned it, thye shouldnt have to play early or late if thats not what they dont normally do :hmm:

[amy5180]

Well definitely the timing of the games is a hard issue. Whatever time you start the games there will be people who are upset with it. Especailly when you have a country that has a 3 hour time difference from one coast to the next. But I don't think a 4 or a 5pm game is that bad for West Coasters. I mean most "Live" award shows start around 5pm in LA. I'm on the east coast and I would love to have the games starting at 5pm here I wouldn't have to worry about being up till 1 am. But I guess it isn't my decision anyways. We all have to live with the times they decide.:hmm: :eviltongu

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by PopTop
First pitch for Angels fans shoulda' been at 7 or so (assuming this was a normal start time for their fans).



WHAT!!:eek:

That means the games would not have started until 10pm here on the East Coast.....

I do believe this man~>>http://www.addictsports.com/moderators/images/poptop.jpg has gone CRAZY!!!




Me thinks that thing around his head is wrapped too tight..... :lmao: