MLB All-Star Game: Five Reasons It’s Overrated
By Ron Juckett
As the hoopla for Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game begins, the game itself has lost its fastball.
The 87th MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday night at San Diego’s beautiful Petco Park.
For some of you, it is a chance to watch the best players in baseball take on each other with the winning league securing home field advantage for this year’s World Series. Remember, the game counts!
Sorry, as someone who watches baseball five or six days a week, color me unimpressed with today’s version of the Midsummer Classic. The fault has zero to do with the city of San Diego or the quality of play. Today’s players are among the best. You would think watching Mike Trout face Jake Arrieta would be thrilling. David Ortiz, the retiring Boston Red Sox legend, will surely add another priceless memory. Madison Bumgarner might pitch. A great time will be had by all, right?
Except for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, the quality of the game is better than the other all-star get-togethers. The last time they played defense in the NHL game, artificial ice had yet been invented. The NFL’s Pro Bowl is so exciting that most of the league goes out of its way to skip it. At least with baseball, we get a decent game. That has to count for something.
Or does it?
Before you leave my lawn, let me say this. Compared to what this game used to mean, today’s All-Star bashes are overrated affairs that hearken back to days gone by. The players like the bonuses, but this mish-mash of a meaningful exhibition game falls short.
Here are five reasons why.
Next: Let the Starters Pitch