An interesting idea for the 2020 MLB All-Star game? Play It Twice.
Another tweak that could be fun, and quite possibly necessary given travel restrictions, would be to play two MLB All-Star Games. Splitting into the best of the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues perhaps, or just the best of the Eastern and Western United States.
Double the action, and more recognition for more players. Not to mention, double the broadcasting revenue- so consider this extremely likely to come up in those MLB-MLBPA negotiations.
Give Recently Retired All-Stars Chance To Play
You know who’s probably in better shape than 80% of active MLB players right now?
Why not take the opportunity of an unconventional MLB season to make some unconventional selections for the MLB All-Star Game? Honoring Ichiro feels like something the game should have done in 2016 or 2017 anyway. He can easily rep the Mariners, who lack any semblance of a true star.
David Ortiz, C.C. Sabathia, and others fall into this category as well, though admittedly only Ortiz carries that Ichiro cache. In any case, make this All-Star Game like the Masters- you can keep coming back if you’ve got that green jacket in your closet. I’m not saying they can fill two lineup cards this way, but I am saying that I would watch every second of it if just Ichiro or Ortiz suited up one more time.
Tweak Selection Process
Lastly, who would even play in such an All-Star Game?
Obvious answers include compressing the usual three months of fan voting to just three weeks or just giving 2019 MLB ASG players a second shot. Why not borrow selection strategies from other leagues though instead?
Let’s make Mike Trout and Christian Yelich captains, and let them pick their team like in the NBA. Or let the votes of peers and coaches matter to a much greater extent, like in the NFL. Maybe they play on the ice, like in the NHL. That last one was a joke, but it would be one of the most-watched sporting events ever.
More importantly, though, this would seem like a great one year trial of junking the rule that every team needs a representative. While I actually like the rule, it would be interesting to see how potent a lineup a manager could make without mandatory Orioles and Tigers.
Those are just a few ways to produce the most memorable 2020 MLB All-Star Game since that infamous tie in 2002. Now, all we need is a season.