MetsGal is off on vacation today, so you will all have to put up with an extra blog from me this week.
Voting for the All Star Game never really bothered me as much as it does these days. To be honest, I never really cared about the selection problem so much, because the game didn’t really matter. It was just an exhibition game that showcased the games most popular stars.
Today, however I do care about the voting because it’s no longer just an exhibition. It is a game that determines home field advantage for the World Series. Before baseball decided to do this, they should have first examined the way in which players are selected.
Why should fans vote like it’s a popularity contest, instead of choosing players that would give each side the best chance to win? Wouldn’t that make more sense with home field advantage on this line?
In the past I always rooted for the NL because I am a Mets fan, but if they lost, it didn’t really bother me all that much because it was just for fun. Now I have to take the loss to heart because it means my team loses home field advantage. This is not the best way to go about choosing something so important.
Just because the AL has more star power, why should we suffer the indignation of not having a chance to host a game 7 of the World Series at Shea?
The idea was first adopted in 2003 to try and increase declining TV ratings for the All Star Game and to make the game more meaningful for the players. It was supposed to be a 2 year experiment, but it has been extended every year since 2005.
Teams with home field advantage have won 58% of the World Series.
Teams beginning the World Series at home have won game one 62% of the time.
Check out what was written by Stats Inc. in 2003.
"Eighteen of the 22 teams with home-field advantage since 1980 won the World Series (82%), and all eight teams with home-field advantage in a series that went the full seven games since 1980 have been winners."
Anyhow I just thought I’d throw my opinion on the matter out there and see what you guys thought.
One more thing, does anybody really watch the Home Run Derby unless there is a Mets player competing?
