According to mlb.com, Major League Baseball will be expanding the rosters for this year’s All-Star Game from 32 to 33 players. The extra player added will be a pitcher, allowing for each league to have 13 pitchers at its disposal. This move was deemed necessary because last year’s Midsummer Classic lasted 15 innings, prompting both managers to use all of their available pitchers. The last time rosters were expanded was in 2003. That move was made for similar reasons, as the previous year’s All-Star Game ended in a 7-7 tie because the National League had used up all of their pitchers.
If you recall, during last year’s All-Star Game, Mets third baseman David Wright had been asked by National League manager Clint Hurdle to pitch if the game were to continue past the 15th inning. Brad Lidge had entered the game for the senior circuit as the last pitcher available. Commissioner Bud Selig had already said that the game would be played until its completion no matter what. Wright appeared to be all for the idea.
“I told him I was ready. I was just hoping to get one out, so I’d have an ERA in the All-Star Game.”
Unfortunately for the National League, Wright never got to show off his pitching skills that night, as Brad Lidge loaded up the bases before yielding a game-winning sacrifice fly to Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, barely scoring Rangers shortstop Michael Young. Had Lidge gotten out of the jam, Wright might not have fared much better. After the game, Wright was asked about the last time he had pitched in a game, to which he responded that it was probably during his Little League days. When asked if he was any good on the mound, Wright provided the quote of the day:
“I’m not a pitcher now, am I?”
Kudos go out to Bud Selig for adding an extra pitcher to the All-Star roster. Considering the game counts for home field advantage in the World Series (don’t even get me started on that), the game should be played to its conclusion without having to stretch relief pitchers past their usual one or two innings of work. Teams should not be penalized by having one of their best pitchers throw too many pitches in an exhibition game. The game should also not have to resort to gimmicks like bringing in a position player to pitch in a game that would determine which league gets the coveted potential Game 7 of the World Series. Not every All-Star game is going to last 15 innings, but at least Selig is thinking ahead so that when it eventually happens again, the managers will be prepared to handle the pitching situation properly.
Now if they could only get rid of that rule where every team has to be represented by at least one player…
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Could they also get rid of that rule that says basically says the team with the best record doesn’t get homefield advantage because of some stupid exhibition game?
I really don’t agree with this decision. The situation from last year’s game could have been avoided if it were managed better. If the managers were able to play the game without worrying about babying the overpaid players and use a pitcher for more than an inning, this wouldn’t be an issue. Maybe if they took the approach of “win the game” as opposed to “I need to get everyone in the game and avoid anyone’s fanny getting sore,” then maybe they wouldn’t need this extra pitcher.
They should change the name from the All Star Game to the Mostly Star Game.
I’m not a big fan of the All Star game anymore.
It has become more about the players and less about the fans. The players all want to make the team because then their all star bonus provisions kick in on their contracts. We keep expanding the rosters, but for what reason?
If they really cared about winning the game, than the best players would play all nine innings not just 3 or 5 so everyone gets a turn to play. I remember one time Joe Torre ran out of players and they ended the game in a tie.
A tie in baseball???? Ridiculous!!!
Then you have all the team with their requests asking the all star managers not to let their pitchers toss more than 20 pitches because he pitched the day before, and other nonsense like that.
If you’re going to decide the fate of home field advantage for the World Series on an exhibition game, than play the game right. None of this BS where everyone gets to play an inning so they can get some prime time coverage in the spotlight.
Why would you ever remove Albert Pujols if you really want to win the game?
Why would you ever remove Josh Beckett in the midst of a one hit shutout if you really want to win the game?
Run hard, play hard, play to win!
Excellent points! As a Mets fan, I would hate it if the game was on the line in the bottom of the ninth inning and a Pittsburgh Pirate was facing a Kansas City Royal to determine if my team would have home field advantage in the World Series.
Willie Mays had 75 career at-bats in 24 All-Star games. Stan Musial had 63 at-bats. Players from other eras stayed in the game because fans wanted to see them. Can you imagine paying top dollar for an All-Star game ticket just to see Dan Uggla make three errors because the manager had to get him into the game? Say Jose Reyes started the All-Star game. If you’re hoping to see a speedster come up in the late innings of a tight game, don’t look at the lineup card to see when Reyes is due up. He’d already be out of the game.
If managers are so concerned with their pitchers not making too many pitches in the All-Star game, then why don’t the owners petition for an All-Star Week? Then, teams would have a full week off instead of three days and they could set their rotations accordingly without having to worry about their pitchers not having enough rest before their next start.
Too bad MLB doesn’t take their fans’ questions and concerns seriously. I think they’ll continue to add players to the rosters before they tell the managers to leave the players in as long as possible.
I hate the ASG too, but the decision to add an extra pitcher is a good one. Granted I thought it would be hilarious if Wright pitched against Longoria. Remember, Terry Francona waas on a strict 35 pitch count for Kazmir, so if the game had gone 1 more inning, Longoria would have pitched.
Joe Maddon should add Wakefield, since the knuckleballer can go a while.