Should the All-Star game weekend be extended to 4 days?

[caulfield12]

Was listening to one of the games tonight and they brought up the fact that there was a big movement (among the players' union) to make the All-Star Break 4 games for all teams (about half the teams are playing tonight, 14 to be exact).

 

1) Some argue this gives a big advantage to the teams that get the longer break.

 

2) The Sunday starters would no longer be penalized by missing the game. With so many players absent this time, it didn't really feel like the best possible teams or match-ups were out there, leading to a very "flat" game even though it is for the home field advantage in the World Series.

 

3) Lots of players would like to have more time to travel home...and that giving four days versus three days makes a huge difference when you're spending two of those days/nights flying.

 

4) The Futures Game can get more individual recognition that it deserves.

 

5) Starting rotation gets an extra day of rest. Banged up players get extra time to heal or return from DL.

 

 

Arguments against...

 

1) Makes the season even longer...season really should be shortened back to 154 games with extra teams/added round of playoffs.

2) Fans go crazy waiting four full days for the season to resume....teams lose their momentum.

3) "Tradition" of the 3 day break

4) SoxTalk gets very frustrating without new Guillen, Dunn and Rios miscues to complain about

5) With Jeter skipping the game, elongating the ASB provides additional incentive for players to take the time off to be with their families or heal from "mystery" injuries

Edited July 15, 2011 by caulfield12

[Rowand44]

That is one long game

[caulfield12]

I knew that one was coming, lol.

 

Would have been a good joke after the Milly-wah-kay fiasco.

 

Can't edit the thread titles after they've been been submitted.

[knightni]

Start it on Friday, have the weekend events on Friday & Saturday, the game on Sunday. Monday off.

[caulfield12]

That's a good idea, except most franchises don't want to give up an extra weekend of home games during the heart of the summer.

 

It would definitely be better for the game (overall)...although some would argue that the traditional Tuesday night placement would be lost if it got jammed in with all the other traditional weekend events (NASCAR, tennis, golf, etc.)

 

The NBA, NFL and NHL All-Star games are all usually on a Sunday, right?

Edited July 15, 2011 by caulfield12

[Balta1701]

No 3 days is plenty.

[southsider2k5]

I'd rather kill the ASG entirely.

[Balta1701]

I'd rather kill the ASG entirely.

Not only is it an enjoyable event and the best of the all-star games, but the ASG funds the MLB Pension fund.

 

I'd just rather not have ESPN do the Monday night events.

[southsider2k5]

Not only is it an enjoyable event and the best of the all-star games, but the ASG funds the MLB Pension fund.

 

I'd just rather not have ESPN do the Monday night events.

 

At the end of the day the players hardly care about it anymore. That is all of the convincing I need.

[caulfield12]

But what about the players in the other 3 main sports?

 

It's about building your brand. Forget about the US. If you MLB wants to make inroads in places like China or India or Brazil, it needs to showcase its stars and build up their global appeal.

 

The world responds best to "superstars" in soccer and American basketball, so taking away one more avenue to familiarize the rest of the world with your best players is kind of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

Nobody would argue that the ASG for MLB isn't the best of the 4 major sports. Think of the last time you watched the entire game....all the way through, from beginning to end, for NBA/NHL/NFL.

 

 

[southsider2k5]

But what about the players in the other 3 main sports?

 

It's about building your brand. Forget about the US. If you MLB wants to make inroads in places like China or India or Brazil, it needs to showcase its stars and build up their global appeal.

 

The world responds best to "superstars" in soccer and American basketball, so taking away one more avenue to familiarize the rest of the world with your best players is kind of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

Nobody would argue that the ASG for MLB isn't the best of the 4 major sports. Think of the last time you watched the entire game....all the way through, from beginning to end, for NBA/NHL/NFL.

 

I couldn't tell you the last time I watched any of the actual games. In all three of them I am much more interested in the specialty competitions than the games themselves. In that respect the NHL is by far the best. Plus the NHL is the one sport where it seems you don't get a ton of guys not going for reasons other than legitimate injury.

[LittleHurt05]

Nobody would argue that the ASG for MLB isn't the best of the 4 major sports. Think of the last time you watched the entire game....all the way through, from beginning to end, for NBA/NHL/NFL.

 

Tallest midget?

[caulfield12]

That and the tradition going all the way back to Babe Ruth, 1933 and our own Comiskey Park.

 

No other game comes close in terms of longevity. Heck, they used to play 2 All-Star games each year for a long time.

[southsider2k5]

That and the tradition going all the way back to Babe Ruth, 1933 and our own Comiskey Park.

 

No other game comes close in terms of longevity. Heck, they used to play 2 All-Star games each year for a long time.

 

Who cares? 16 players dropped out this year. 40 years ago people cared about the game, because the players cared about the game. Now it is a sideshow.

[Balta1701]

Who cares? 16 players dropped out this year. 40 years ago people cared about the game, because the players cared about the game. Now it is a sideshow.

Only what, the 3 Yankees dropped out and didn't show up though.

[caulfield12]

A-Rod has the meniscus tear and surgery.

 

Besides Jeter, who else didn't show? Rivera?

 

Sorry, haven't been following it closely.

[Balta1701]

A-Rod has the meniscus tear and surgery.

 

Besides Jeter, who else didn't show? Rivera?

 

Sorry, haven't been following it closely.

Jeter and Rivera were on the team and simply decided not to show up, even with no injury excuse. ARod and Chipper were actually sitting in the hospital and couldn't show up. Guys like Verlander who made the team but couldn't go because their teams maneuvered them to throwing on Sunday still made the trip and appeared in the dugout.

[southsider2k5]

Jeter and Rivera were on the team and simply decided not to show up, even with no injury excuse. ARod and Chipper were actually sitting in the hospital and couldn't show up. Guys like Verlander who made the team but couldn't go because their teams maneuvered them to throwing on Sunday still made the trip and appeared in the dugout.

 

And then there were people like Aramis Ramirez who just didn't want to go.