MLB's 71st All-Star Game "is looking more and more like
the 'ER' game," according to FSN's Steve Lyons on the
"National Sports Report." Lyons: "Joe Torre's and Bobby
Cox's rosters are so scrambled they could have been served
up with a side of grits" ("NSR," FSN, 7/10). ESPN's Linda
Cohn referred to tonight's game as the "All-Scar Game"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/10). CNN/SI's Vince Cellini: "We
were expecting some big names for the All-Star Game. Not!
'Hello, my name is' tags for the game, but that's just the
way it shook out. It's a first-time fest in the All-Star
Game" ("Sports Tonight," CNN/SI, 7/10). At least seven of
the 16 players voted to start tonight's game, and nine All
Stars overall, are out with injuries. There are 25 first-
year All Stars on the two 30-man rosters (THE DAILY). USA
TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes, "The injury loss of many stars
could affect NBC's projected 12-13 rating and audience of 35
million viewers." Martzke notes that eight of the injured
stars are from TV's Top 25 markets. NBC's Bob Costas: "It's
not just the number of players missing, it's who they are."
The Philadelphia Daily News' Bill Conlin: "This game might
as well have been played in the Mayo Clinic. With the
number of guys who have pulled out, this is an epidemic"
(USA TODAY, 7/11). In Boston, Tony Massarotti writes the
game "looks more like the No-Star Game." While MLB's All-
Star Game "still blows away its fellow (non) spectacles in
hockey, basketball and football, ... the game nonetheless
seems to be losing some of its luster" (BOSTON HERALD,
7/11). In N.Y., George Willis: "With so many stars out,
the game can't help but lose some of its luster" (N.Y. POST,
7/11). AL manager Joe Torre: "You feel that something's
missing, no question" (ROCKY MTN NEWS, 7/11). In Denver,
Mike Littwin writes that MLB "is suddenly awash in stars.
The surprising thing, given baseball's recent history, is
that there are so many players that we would actually miss"
(ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/11).
ANY CHANGES? On the WinStar Radio Network this morning,
Keith Olbermann offered reasons for the dip in interest in
the All-Star Game: "Try interleague play, the proliferance
of live game broadcasts and highlight shows, and the general
de-flavorizing of the event. Most subtle of all: the crowds
are invariably dead. ... Seats are overpriced, no kids get
to attend. In short, the All-Star thrill is gone" (WinStar
Radio Network, 7/11). USA TODAY's Hal Bodley writes the
"Midsummer Classic is a yawn," as interleague play has
"sucked much of the mystique from the game." Bodley: "Maybe
it's time to scrap the NL-vs.-AL format." But MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig disagrees: "I don't think we should
even consider changing the format. It's wonderful and we're
not going to change it" (USA TODAY, 7/11).
CREDENTIALS: In Atlanta, Brenden Sager reports that MLB
has issued 1,078 All-Star Game media credentials for 422
news organizations, including reporters from Korea, Japan
and throughout Latin America (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/11).
ALL STAR'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE: In S.F., Tommy Cummings
noted All-Star Game coverage on Majorleaguebaseball.com, and
wrote that fans can access MLB's official site for
streaming, 360-degree video of the bullpen, batting and
infield practice and the "After-Dark party" at Turner Field.
Using an application developed by IL-based TrueLook, users
can "control images taken from in-stadium cameras in dugouts
and behind first and third base" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/11).
RATINGS TRENDS: The following lists Nielsen Sports
Marketing ratings trend for MLB's All-Star since '70:
YR NET RAT/SHR YR NET RAT/SHR
'70 NBC 28.5/54 '85 NBC 20.5/36
'71 NBC 27.0/50 '86 ABC 20.3/35
'72 NBC 22.9/43 '87 NBC 18.2/27
'73 NBC 23.8/45 '88 ABC 20.4/36
'74 NBC 23.4/44 '89 NBC 18.2/33
'75 NBC 21.5/41 '90 CBS 16.2/33
'76 ABC 27.1/53 '91 CBS 17.4/32
'77 NBC 24.5/45 '92 CBS 14.9/27
'78 ABC 26.1/47 '93 CBS 15.6/28
'79 NBC 24.4/45 '94 NBC 15.7/28
'80 ABC 26.8/46 '95 ABC 13.9/25
'81 NBC 20.1/36 '96 NBC 13.2/23
'82 ABC 25.0/44 '97 FOX 11.8/21
'83 NBC 21.5/39 '98 NBC 13.3/25
'84 ABC 20.1/35 '99 FOX 12.0/22
