The All-Star Game is usually a snooze and shouldn't count for anything more than flashbulbs. The Home Run Derby is way too long and way too "produced." Major League Baseball shows the world how to choose entertainment that is incredibly out-of-date and out-of-touch with its audience. I still don't really understand the pink cadillac. I could go on for days pointing out the things that are all wrong with these festivities. Despite all that, there is still something amazing about seeing "the best" of the game standing on one diamond.

Now that the days of the home run phenoms and steroids are in the past (almost), the HR Derby has become a place for some lesser known ballplayer to have a coming out party. Last year it was our own David Wright, although many would have done without all that fuss in exchange for better power numbers in the second half. This year served the same type of party for Alex Rios and Matt Holliday. Although they may not have created as big a spectacle, they made their faces known to the casual fans coast-to-coast. Many of us get so engulfed by our own teams, we overlook the talent that is on other teams, especially if we are in the NY bubble.

The All-Star game itself has set the stage for celebrations honoring the game's greats. Last night was no different with the Willie Mays tribute. Those moments of him mingling with today's best are the things I will remember from the All-Star game, not that Pujols didn't bat in the 9th.

The first half of the 2007 season has already brought the baseball fanatic many things to celebrate: 600 HRs, 500 HRs, 500 saves, 3,000 hits, 200 wins, unassisted triple plays, 2 No-Hitters, the Yankees falling behind in double digits, a few good fights from the Cubs, the resurgence of Griffey Jr., the Phillies serving as a makeshift grounds crew in Denver, etc. The second half will not disappoint with many more milestones and unpredictable moments yet to be celebrated.

As a Mets fan, many of us are wondering what kind of team we have. They have been the model of inconsistency throughout the first half. But even despite a lackluster June, we've had our moments in the first half: 8th inning comeback in the home opener, GW drag bunts from Endy, 9th inning comeback against the Cubs, Joe Smith striking out Derek Jeter, John Maine's 10 wins, Beltran's uphill catch. Seeing Reyes, Beltran, and Wright flank Bonds and Griffey jr. last night and the bright spots of the first half should serve as reminders that Mets fans still have a lot to be excited about. We know the Mets can play ten times better than they have, but we are still in 1st place and should keep our whining to a minimum. As a true baseball fan, no one wants to see their team fall short, but a good division race makes for great baseball in the second half. So today serves as a break from everything baseball. But tomorrow, it's time to get this show on the road. Read More...

The 78th Major League Baseball All Star game begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) in San Francisco and on televisions nationwide on FOX. I’m sure over the next 12 hours most of you will hear more than you ever wanted to know about San Francisco, AT&T Park, the All Star Game’s history, Barry Bonds in his home town, the American League’s 9 game winning streak in the Midsummer classic, Barry Bonds and the home run record, the Home Run Derby last night, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, what AL manager Jim Leyland had for breakfast, Barry Bonds and steroids, the winning league taking home (somewhat literally) home field advantage in the World Series this October, Barry Bonds and the San Fran Fans, and every last random thought (whether baseball related or not) in the minds of the broadcasters, players, former players, fans, and coaches.

But the All Star Game is most of all about the players it showcases, their individual accomplishments this year, and to a lesser extent their team’s accomplishments. Let’s ignore the arguments over who does and doesn’t deserve most to be on this team and to start this game, and look briefly at each of the players on your 2007 MLB All Star Team, and what they have accomplished in the last three-plus months.

First, the “visiting” American League team:

STARTING LINEUP

CF Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners (7th All Star Game)

SS Derek Jeter, New York Yankees (8th)

1B David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox (4th)

3B Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (11th)

RF Vladimir Guerrero, LA Angels of Anaheim (8th)

LF Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers (6th)

C Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers (14th)

2B Placido Polanco, Detroit Tigers (1st)

P Dan Haren, Oakland Athletics (1st)

RESERVES

INFIELDERS

• Brian Roberts, BAL: 322 AVG, 27 SB, 111 H
• Mike Lowell, BOS: .300 AVG, 14 HR, 63 RBI
• Carlos Guillen, DET: .325 AVG, 92 H, 67 RBI
• Justin Morneau, MIN: .295 AVG, 24 HR, 74 RBI
• Michael Young, TEX: .288AVG, 22 2B, 50 RBI

• Manny Ramirez, BOS: .284 AVG, 11 HR, 45 RBI
• Grady Sizemore, CLE: .280 AVG, 73 R, 15 HR
• Torii Hunter, MIN: .301 AVG, 19 HR, 69 RBI
• Carl Crawford, TAB: .285 AVG, 23 SB, 51 RBI
• Alex Rios, TOR: .294 AVG, 17 HR, 53 RBI

• Victor Martinez, CLE: .324 AVG, 16 HR, 68 RBI
• Jorge Posada, NYY: .326 AVG, 25 2B, 48 RBI

• Josh Beckett, BOS: 12-2, 3.44 ERA, 92 SO
• Hideki Okajima, BOS: 2-0, 0.83 ERA, 4 S
• Jonathan Papelbon, BOS: 1.93 ERA, 20 S, 46 SO
• C.C. Sabathia, CLE: 12-3, 3.58 ERA, 119 SO
• Bobby Jenks, CWS: 3.28 ERA, 23 S
• Justin Verlander, DET: 10-3, 3.14 ERA, 97 SO
• Gil Meche, KC: 5-6, 3.44 ERA, 88 SO
• John Lackey, LAA: 11-5, 2.91 ERA, 98 SO
• Francisco Rodriguez, LAA: 2.33 ERA, 24 S, 53 SO
• Johan Santana, MIN: 10-6, 2.75 ERA, 125 SO
• J.J. Putz, SEA: 0.90 ERA, 24 S, 43 SO

And now, the “home” National League team:

STARTING LINEUP

SS Jose Reyes, New York Mets (2nd All Star Game)

LF Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants (14th)

CF Carlos Beltran, New York Mets (4th)

RF Ken Griffey Jr, Cincinnati Reds (13th)

3B David Wright, New York Mets (2nd)

1B Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers (1st)

C Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers (1st)

2B Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies (2nd)

P Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres (2nd)

RESERVES

INFIELDERS

• Orlando Hudson, ARI: .296 AVG, 20 2B, 47 RBI
• Derrek Lee, CHC: .330 AVG, 102 H, 26 2B
• Miguel Cabrera, FLA: .324 AVG, 18 HR, 61 RBI
• J.J. Hardy, MIL: .280 AVG, 18 HR, 54 RBI
• Freddy Sanchez, PIT: .296 AVG, 96 H, 20 2B
• Albert Pujols, STL: .310 AVG, 16 HR, 52 RBI
• Dmitri Young, WAS: .339 AVG, 23 2B, 43 RBI

• Alfonso Soriano, CHC: .309 AVG, 60 R, 107 H
• Matt Holliday, COL: .341 AVG, 122 H, 69 RBI
• Carlos Lee, HOU: .297 AVG, 16 HR, 73 RBI
• Aaron Rowand, PHI: .310 AVG, 20 2B, 43 RBI

• Brian McCann, ATL: .262 AVG, 19 2B, 49 RBI

• Brandon Webb, ARI: 8-6, 3.37 ERA, 112 SO
• Jose Valverde, ARI: 2.83 ERA, 26 S, 38 SO
• Roy Oswalt, HOU: 8-5, 3.53 ERA, 94 SO
• Brad Penny, LAD: 10-1, 2.39 ERA, 82 SO
• Takashi Saito, LAD: 1.47 ERA, 23 S, 4 BB
• Francisco Cordero, MIL: 2.86 ERA, 27 S, 48 SO
• Ben Sheets, MIL: 10-4, 3.41 ERA, 87 SO
• Billy Wagner, NYM: 1.64 ERA, 17 S, 10 BB
• Cole Hamels, PHI: 10-4, 3.72 ERA, 124 SO
• Trevor Hoffman, SD: 1.91 ERA, 25 S, 6 BB
• Chris Young, SD: 8-3, 2.00 ERA, 99 SO

Is it just me or does it seem like the MLB All Star game gets considerably less and less attention every year?

I did some research recently which confirms this. The Nielsen ratings, which are used to determine what percentage of US households tune into a specific television program, show that baseball fans are generally less interested in the all star game than ever before.



Since 1967, the All Star Game has been broadcast on television; it received a rating of 25.6, which means approximately 1 out of every 4 households in America watched the All Star Game. A decade later, in 1977, the All Star Game continued to have decent ratings, when it received a 24.5. However, around the early 1980s, the All Star Game started drawing smaller television audiences. By 1981, the ratings fell to 20.1, and by 1987, they fell to 18.2, and would never top 20 again. In 1995, the ratings again fell to 13.9, and would never top 14 ever again. In 2002, the ratings fell once more to 9.5, and the all star game hasn’t topped 10 since, meaning that today, less than 1 in 10 households watch the MLB All Star Game.

My explanation for this lack of interest is simple. The All Star Game appealed to the fans in the 60s and 70s, because it was the only chance most Americans got to see the game’s best players play.

However due to the inventions; of cable television, ESPN, nationally televised games, and the internet, a baseball fan can see any team or player play anytime they want. Therefore, the excitement of being able to see all of the game’s best players in an All Star Game is taken away.

Where’s the excitement? What can a baseball fan get from watching the All Star Game that they couldn’t otherwise get on any other day of the baseball season?

This could explain why the Home Run Derby continues to be successful. The Home Run Derby not only has higher ratings than the All Star Game, but most playoff games as well. Why is this?

The Home Run Derby gives the fans a chance to see players hit 40 home runs in one night, or hit 500 foot home runs. Something they otherwise couldn’t see.

So while Major League Baseball will continue to try gimmicks to stir up interest; like giving the winning league home field advantage, or giving the fans the chance to vote for the final player, the simple fact of the matter is, the All Star Game will never stir up the interest of the old days, because the basis for that interest no longer exists.
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