MLB All-Star Game

For all the meaninglessness of a sports exhibition, the MLB All-Star Game continues to be the one event of it's kind I still find even marginally compelling. And not because of the rule in which the winning league gains home field advantage in the World Series. (I find such rule idiotic, and would prefer aggregate inter-leauge play record with runs scored as tie-breaker.)

Compelling in that most stars show up, and play the the game mostly straight up, unlike the defense free NBA and NHL games. And with the occasional bouts of levity, such as Randy Johnson sailing pitches comically high over John Kruk and Larry Walkers heads.

There are the usual highlights - Aaron Cook pitching out of jams, the NL infield defense (but not you Dan Uggla), Ichiro's cannon arm... and the bang-bang plays at second base and home plate, where runners were called out because the throws beat them to the bag - though runners slid under the tag in both cases. I'm actually kind of surprised Bud Selig didn't have a direct line to the umpire to give the run and end the night.

Because, that is the one drawback. The game that goes on forever. In a situation with limited substitution rules, the pressure to play everyone, and the unique strains of pitching, bad things could happen in a rare case of extra-inning games.

But, me being me, I cannot point out a problem without offering a solution.

One rule change. Due to the pressure to use the bench, altering substitution rules. Normally, a player cannot re-enter a game upon leaving it. In the All-Star Game, a catcher is allowed to re-enter in case of emergency.

My recommendation: Should the game go beyond nine innings, a substituted player may re-enter the game after having sat for more than five innings of play. Once removed, that player must sit another five innings before being re-entered a second time. (Though a 16 innning game is unlikely)

MLB All-Star Game

For all the meaninglessness of a sports exhibition, the MLB All-Star Game continues to be the one event of it's kind I still find even marginally compelling. And not because of the rule in which the winning league gains home field advantage in the World Series. (I find such rule idiotic, and would prefer aggregate inter-leauge play record with runs scored as tie-breaker.)

Compelling in that most stars show up, and play the the game mostly straight up, unlike the defense free NBA and NHL games. And with the occasional bouts of levity, such as Randy Johnson sailing pitches comically high over John Kruk and Larry Walkers heads.

There are the usual highlights - Aaron Cook pitching out of jams, the NL infield defense (but not you Dan Uggla), Ichiro's cannon arm... and the bang-bang plays at second base and home plate, where runners were called out because the throws beat them to the bag - though runners slid under the tag in both cases. I'm actually kind of surprised Bud Selig didn't have a direct line to the umpire to give the run and end the night.

Because, that is the one drawback. The game that goes on forever. In a situation with limited substitution rules, the pressure to play everyone, and the unique strains of pitching, bad things could happen in a rare case of extra-inning games.

But, me being me, I cannot point out a problem without offering a solution.

One rule change. Due to the pressure to use the bench, altering substitution rules. Normally, a player cannot re-enter a game upon leaving it. In the All-Star Game, a catcher is allowed to re-enter in case of emergency.

My recommendation: Should the game go beyond nine innings, a substituted player may re-enter the game after having sat for more than five innings of play. Once removed, that player must sit another five innings before being re-entered a second time. (Though a 16 innning game is unlikely)