"This One Counts"
In 2003, after watching ratings for the All Star Game drop steadily, and after receiving criticism for allowing a tie in the 2002 All Star Game, Major League Baseball decided to spice the game up by awarding the winning league with home field advantage in the World Series. So, for six years now, we've been subjected to commercials that feature the tag line "This one counts," a now tired (and inaccurate - since it is the sixth to count, not the "one") phrase. After these six years, there have been no shortage of people who decry MLB's system of awarding home field advantage based on this game. It is, therefore, perhaps redundant for me to add mine, but I cannot help myself.
To me, this move by MLB is yet another example of baseball selling its soul (or at least its integrity) in order to win fair weather fans. The problems making the game count and forcing the leagues to play players from every team, and not just the best players of the league, have already been beat to death. Many writers like the idea of making the game count, but conclude that each league should be able to put the best team on the field, regardless of whether each team is represented. I, on the other hand, like the idea of each team being represented, since the teams are to represent each league as a whole. Each team should be able to send its best player as a reward to that player. That's the whole point.
The All Star Game is designed to be an honor to the best players in the game. It is extraneous to the season, and so it ought to be inconsequential to the season. The idea of the game is to bring together the game's elite and allow them to play with and against each other in front of fans who are getting to watch their dream team. It doesn't have to (and the beauty is that it shouldn't) "count." It's supposed to be a showcase - a laid-back, back yard style game (but with the best players on Earth) that takes place during the only break in the pressure cooked grind of the Major League season. And, to me, putting false importance in it ruins what makes the game great, and fun.
So let the ratings drop. If they're so bad, put the game on ESPN2 and let it become an event for the die-hard fan. After all, in the end, its crazy fans like me and my wife that are going to follow the game no matter how low the ratings get. And fans like us care about the tradition, the honor, and the integrity of the game.
posted by Jeff @ 7:17 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Trying to "make it count" just puts undue pressure on players that should be trying to relax in their one respite of the season. Pujols this year was exhausted during his three day "vacation" and still is suffering the effects of those three days.
Dead on, Ryan. Albert had the added pressure of being the unofficial "host" of the All Star game, he was interviewed constantly by media knuckleheads who placed pressure on him to win everything. This looked like it might be his most dominant season and cement his name as the best overall player in baseball. I hope he rebounds and avoids the inevitable second half slump that so many overworked all stars have.
Me too, from the first swing at the Home Run derby you could tell he was worn out, it just didn't pop off the bat like a Pujol's hit ball does. I cringe every time one of the Card's players get in the derby, there is always such pressure to perform and a real chance of an injury to a shoulder, or in Pujol's case partially torn elbow tendon. Edmonds injured his shoulder when he was in it and it was a month before he was close to normal again. In a game like this it should just be left up to the player how hard they think they should play. Of course some of them are competitors and are going to play hard, but that should be their choice, not because of pressure being put on them.
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