The MLB All-Star Game is no longer connected to World Series home-field advantage as a result of the new CBA between MLB and the MLBPA, and players will now compete for a pool of bonus money. The winning players will receive $20,000 each. With the event returning to a full exhibition status, participating managers and players said they are enthused by the more relaxed, celebratory feel. Indians bench coach Brad Mills, serving as the AL manager tonight in place of Terry Francona, said, "We're here to see these guys and celebrate these players." Mills: The biggest thing for me is to get everyone in the ballgame and let everyone see them." Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who will be leading the NL team, said, "I kind of like the format right now." He added, "Under these circumstances, I'm attempting to choreograph it in advance who is going to play when, position players as well as pitchers" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). In N.Y., Ken Davidoff writes he is "sad" that the "This Time It Counts" slogan "no longer exists." Attaching the result of the All-Star Game to home-field advantage "worked," as it gave the game "a certain heft." Davidoff: "The game carried stakes. And now that’s gone" (N.Y. POST, 7/11).
ROOM TO PLAY? ESPN.com wrote Nationals RF Bryce Harper "wouldn't mind seeing the top two vote-getters" for the All-Star Game pick the two teams' rosters "regardless of league affiliations." Harper: "It'd be great if let's say the two leading vote-getters by the fans did a draft system and could pick from both sides. ... It would be a lot of fun to do something like that to make it a little more competition to face somebody on your team, like if (Clayton) Kershaw was facing Justin Turner, or Chris Sale facing Mookie Betts. That'd be a lot of fun" (ESPN.com, 7/10).
THE FUTURE OF THE GAME: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday praised Miami for this year’s All-Star Game events and did not reference the relatively weak ticket sales this week. “Miami was a great choice as an All-Star venue,” he said. “I think Marlins Park is a great ballpark, modern, really suited to host an event like this.” No All-Star Game decisions beyond ’19 have been made yet, but the Cubs and Dodgers are likely on a short list for upcoming games. Manfred said, “There will be an All-Star Game in Wrigley Field in the relatively near future. Having said that, the caveat on that is we have a lot of cities really interested in having the game. We’re going to make a sound decision on how to allocate those games in the fairly near future, and I think Chicago will be in that mix.” He added, "L.A. is another place I would like to see us go” (Fisher).
