Everyone has a complaint about the MLB All Star Game.  It's partly due to the fact that there is nothing else to talk about for the three days surrounding the event (NBA Summer League?  Puh-lease) so sports radio waves are clogged with All Star debate.  It's also partly due to the fact that the MLB game is the only All Star game in the major sports that might still be salvageable. 

Here's the thing.  I love the All Star Game.  I have since I was a kid and still do.  Some of the things people want to fix just ain't broken.  For instance, we hear about how so and so got shafted because of the rule that every team must be represented.  I like that Gil Meche is on the team.  It's cool to see one lone KC uniform in the lineup for pre-game introductions.  I'd rather see a Royal, a Blue Jay and a Devil Ray than three more Boston players.  Plus, I lived in Philadelphia back when the Phillies were dreadful (er...one of the times the Phillies were dreadful) and we watched the All Star game all the way to the end, just to see Ricky Bottalico get an inning.  The next year, we watched to see Mike Lieberthal pinch hit and work an inning behind the plate.  For fans in those cities, that's their guy.  The Pirates and Royals are going to have to sit out the postseason for God's sake.  Throw them a bone in the All Star Game!

There are some things that could be changed.  The World Series home field advantage thing has got to go.  The possibility of hosting another Series game is not going to make Manny Ramirez try any harder, or, four years out of five, even get him to show up.  Want players to show up instead of faking injuries?  Want to see them go full out for nine innings?  Here's my proposal:  Winning league gets home field advantage for all interleague games next season.  One home game in October isn't going to get Manny to skip his trip home.  A dozen home games in mid-June will.  If you're a Marlins season ticketholder (so YOU'RE the one) and you want to see an interleague game next year you'd better root like heck for the NL tonight.  The players are engaged.  The fans are engaged.  We've got ourselves a ballgame.

I've also heard the idea floated that the league vs. league concept is obsolete.  Of course, the most commonly suggested alternative--US vs. World--is quickly becoming just as stale.  How about this:  Right handers vs. Southpaws (switch hitters can be used to balance the rosters, but must bat from the side of the plate on the front of the jersey).  Or how about East Coast vs. West? Red State vs. Blue?  Turf vs. Grass?  Teams with new stadiums (in last 10 years) vs. teams that need a new stadium?  Second generation players vs. first?

And finally, how do we spice up the neverending All Star Workout Day?  Forget the Home Run Derby.  Two words:  Hot box. 

 

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