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Others ideas included a nominal financial reward for the winning league and players; Hall of Famers from each league acting as honorary coaches; and a private dinner gala exclusively for players and coaches, where today's players would get an opportunity to visit the history of the game.
As for tying the All-Star game and World Series home-field advantage, you have no idea how important that is until you are in the Series and don't have it. Allowing anyone other than the manager and his coaches to influence the nonstarting rosters is a travesty.
Enter the selection of Bryce Harper as a replacement in this year's game. First, understand I have a great respect for Harper's game and his presence as a first-year player, and believe in time he has what it takes to become a perennial All-Star. The greatest compliment I could give him is to say he plays the game the way Pete did. I also understand that he has nothing to do with the selection process, that he is just going along with the program and will have to absorb the accompanying negative reaction.
Baseball just doesn't get it. Jason Kubel has 15 home runs and 60 RBIs, Aaron Hill has 11 and 40, Hunter Pence has 16 and 50, Aramis Ramirez has 10 and 52 and Jason Heyward has 14 and 41, just to name five players who deserve it. These guys, based on their first-half performance, must give way to a player the fans want to see in a game. It's not consistent with such a heavy reward for winning the game. Each manager really wants to pick a team he can win with, balanced and able to create the right matchups in late innings.
Harper has All-Star talent and might even display it in the game. I wouldn't put it past him to rope a double and end up on third and score the winning run by stealing home. The first one to shake his hand, of course, will be Cole Hamels.
It's all so confusing to us old folks. Back in May, Hamels drills Harper in the ribs for being a brash rookie who is famous for being famous. Harper was the kid who blew a kiss at a pitcher while rounding the bases on a home run. He was the most decorated rookie ever to enter the majors. So, Hamels drills him for being famous, Harper then steals home on Hamels, maybe the best payback ever. But he is not cocky or brash, but classy. I thought that was an "in your face" moment if ever there was one.
Now Harper is Hamels' teammate, on the National League All-Star team, an eight-home run and 25-RBI All-Star, while at least five others with deserving stats won't be. Fan voting at its finest. The perfect summation for all this confusion is to say, "It is what it is." I love that line -- it allows us to accept something without good reason.
Let's face it, marketing dollars and television have become more important than competition and credibility at this game and every game, except golf. The All-Star game, in whatever form presented, will get major media attention, a significant national TV audience and have a profound effect on the Kansas City economy.
No matter who does the voting, who makes the roster or how memorable the competition, the game will be an event and it will satisfy sponsors. Maybe that's all we should ask of it? Me, I'm just an old, confused guy who remembers when it did both.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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