With all of the “stars” bypassing this year’s All-star game, one must wonder if the “event” has any relevance. It used to be that players considered it an honor to be a part of the game. Now, more are finding reasons for not participating or even showing up.
I am a big Derek Jeter fan. I believe that he has demonstrated again and again that he was a class act and was a great ambassador for the game. The problem is, he is now a poster child for the problem with this game. Coming off the DL and reaching the 3000 hit club in storybook fashion, this was a great opportunity to celebrate this baseball great. Sure he didn’t have the greatest 1st half, worthy of All-star selection, but that’s not really what the game is about. It’s about the game of the players that the fans WANT to see, a popolarity contest. That being said, Derek and the other stars that live rather comfortably thanks to the fans OWE it to those fans to participate (or at least show up) if they are chosen by the voters. Derek, I am a big fan but you really struck out on this one.
By the way, MLB tied the World Series home field advantage to the All-star game outcome to try to add some spice to the game. How about just getting the superstars to participate? And I heard a great idea the other day. Why not decide whether the DH will be used in the World Series based on the outcome and give home field advantage to the team with the better record? Interesting idea. I , however, have a tough time accepting about the World Series being based on an exhibition game that the players don’t even seem to find important.
Did anyone find anything exciting about the new Homerun Derby format? I didn’t think so. It’s getting a little played out. Amazing the difference without the PEDs and top superstars.
One last, somewhat connected thought. Anyone who thinks that Christian Lopez’s act of giving Derek Jeter back the 3000 hit was a noble, selfless act are missing the boat. Whatever his motivation (no pressure from the Yankee staffers that whisked him away in a heartbeat), it was nothing short of an ignorant gesture. Let’s not be confused by the idealistic view that we had as children. Baseball is and has almost always been nothing but big business. A game run by billionaires, played by millionaires and supported by the rest of us. It is great entertainment, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE IT. But it is a business. Once you accept that, there is nothing wrong with capitalizing on catching that special piece of memorabilia. The owners and players aren’t leaving money on the table, why should the lucky ffan that caught a lottery ticket. The player, team, etc could well afford to purchase the memorabilia if they chose to. So, this good Samaritan gave the ball back and now faces a tax bill in the order of $15K. Oh benevolent Yankees, how about stepping up and doing the right thing like paying the kid rather than take advantage of him. You should be biggger than that. You and Derek are making enough money off this accomplishment already.
All that being said, I still live and breathe baseball which is why I find the current All-star environment and the players attitudes towards the fans disappointing. By the way, I’m still a Jeter fan.
