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MLB All-Star Game: Should the format change to a fantasy draft?

By Jason Evans

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 15: Cleveland Indians All-Stars left fielder Michael Brantley (23), starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28), shortstop Francisco Lindor (12), Yan Gomes (7) and Jose Ramirez (11) are presented their All-Star Game jerseys prior to the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on July 15, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 15: Cleveland Indians All-Stars left fielder Michael Brantley (23), starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28), shortstop Francisco Lindor (12), Yan Gomes (7) and Jose Ramirez (11) are presented their All-Star Game jerseys prior to the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on July 15, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Should the MLB All-Star Game change format and become a fantasy draft?

Of the four major sports in the USA, the MLB All-Star Game is probably the closest to an actual game you would watch during the regular season. Yes there are more pitching changes and more substitutions, but there’s actual defense being played.

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The MLB All-Star Game is back to just being an exhibition and no longer means homefield for the World Series as the powers that be smartened up and decided an exhibition game should be treated as such after the tie in the 2001 game (Heaven forbid an exhibition game ends in a tie!)

So what could change in the MLB All-Star Game to spice it up a little and make it a little more fun and entertaining? How about a fantasy draft like in the NBA?

Here’s how it could work.

Put everybody together on the ballot. Have the fans select two of every infield position (including pitcher) and six outfielders. The top vote getter will be paired with the manager from the World Series winning team. The second leading vote getter will have the manager from the team that lost the World Series.

Have the commissioner’s office and the players pick the remaining amount of players needed and get rid of the one player per team rule. You really think a Detroit Tigers fan is more likely to tune into the All-Star Game because Joe Jimenez is in it? Give me a break.

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Conduct the draft and have the results televised like they already do and go from there. The home team will be the leading vote getter and the road team will be led by the second leading vote getter. So yes, you could see Luis Severino pitch to Aaron Judge for example.

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At the end of the day the MLB All-Star Game is about entertainment and maybe generating interest in the game from people who won’t necessarily watch a regular season game in May. Shake things up and make things interesting. Especially when this time it doesn’t count.

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