Blog Hound: Should All-Star Game Decide World Series Home Field?
Bloggers discuss the length of Tuesday's 15-inning MLB All-Star Game and its implications as well as different ways to decide the outcome of the game should it go to extra innings.
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For Who, For What
Posted by: jferrone
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| "If I’m a fan of Scott Kazmir or Brandon Webb, my heart was in my throat at around 1AM on Wednesday morning. All I need is my favorite pitcher on short rest missing the rest of the season to prevent a tie in the All Star Game." |
Riding the Pine
Posted by: Baseballmuse |
| "I think the solution is simple, with some acquiescence by Fox: move the game to Wednesday. That way every pitcher will have had a minimum of two days’ rest, and would, in all but the rarest of circumstances, be available for at least two innings in the game.” |
Johnny Goodtimes
Posted by: jgoodtimes |
| "How can the MLB settle for failure when the alternative is a surefire, guaranteed thrilling winner? … If the two teams are tied after 10 innings, you go to a home run derby. You bring out the HR leader on each squad for a little mano a mano … Nobody leaves, nobody goes to bed, no pitchers take a chance hurting their arms." |
The Nationals Review
Posted by: Charlie |
| “Starting about 8:45 EST is completely unnecessary. It was a fast moving game until the late innings, and it still wasn’t going to end until close to midnight, even without the extra innings.” |
The Chris Moeller Archives
Posted by: CM |
| "What exactly is the big deal? Both managers took their respective team into extra innings with three or four pitchers still available in the bullpen. What more do you-- or did you-- need in a 15 inning game? I say to them-- well done. |
BUILDING THE BUZZ: Sports Media Challenge's Buzz Manager analyzed online discussion about the MLB All-Star Game (ASG), specifically the length, on whether the game needed changes, as well as the outcome determining World Series home-field advantage. Bloggers who like the ASG as is and believe having home-field advantage at stake makes the game more competitive were tallied as positive, while bloggers who dislike how long the ASG lasted, home-field advantage being at stake, or other things related to its structure, were counted as negative. Visit www.SportsBusinessDaily.com for more info. See more info on this topic.
- The Buzz ranked 4 out of 10, a topic of a medium level of interest among sports bloggers.
- Bloggers in the positive category felt that if home-field advantage were not at stake, the players would not put forth as much effort and the game would have fewer memorable moments. One blogger referred to this year's ASG as an "instant classic". These bloggers seemed indifferent to the length of the game.
- Some bloggers were neutral on the topic, remaining on the fence as to whether home-field advantage helps or hurts the game.
- Bloggers in the negative category were the most vocal with opinions. Many strongly dislike the ASG deciding home-field advantage, preferring a method where the team with the better record is rewarded home-field advantage. Some said that if the game is going to continue to count for so much, then it should not continue to be treated as an exhibition game and the format should change: fans should not have complete power over rosters; there should not be a requirement that every team be represented; and managers should not try to play everyone, but instead should play a roster that gives their league the best chance to win.
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