I love the MLB All-Star Game.
Following the All-Star tie game debacle in Milwaukee where Bud Selig couldn't have looked worse*, MLB made a knee jerk decision to try to save face and awarded World Series home field advantage to the All-Star game winner. While almost all writers, talk show hosts, etc. have voiced vehement objections to giving any value to an exhibition game, I love the rule. Here's why: Before the rule change home field advantage went to the team with the better record. While that might seem fair enough, it was very much an arbitrary measuring stick due to the fact that the 2 teams' schedules were completely different. I have always rooted for the NL in the All-Star Game since I am a Dodgers fan, but now it matters - and I love it. This postseason could bring out 2 almost prophetic results from this year's NL victory in the mid-summer classic.
#1 - The Ironic - You would have to look real hard to find someone who would say that anyone not named Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball. Last year's Cy Young and MVP award winner, and likely this year's AL Cy Young winner, was named the starter for the All-Star game due to his stellar performance in the first half of the season. His second half performance was also stellar. His worst start of the season was in the All-Star Game - 1 IP, 4H, 2BB, 5R all earned, and the AL lost 8-0. The Tigers will almost certainly represent the AL in the World Series (leading the Yankees 3-0), and unless the Yankees can push the Tigers to a game 7 Justin Verlander will be starting game 1 of the 2012 World Series on the road...and he has no one to blame but himself.
#2 - The Tragic - The MVP of the aforementioned All-Star game was Melky Cabrera. Melky was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI that evening. Shortly thereafter he was suspended 50 games for a violation of the league's drug policy.** If the Giants beat the Cardinals in the NLCS they will enjoy home field advantage for this year's World Series thanks to the efforts of the All-Star game MVP, and convicted cheater - Melky Cabrera.
* Who would have thought then with steroids and All-Star game ties that in 2012 Bud Selig would look like the model commissioner with dictator Roger Goodell's authority being overturned by judges, David Stern vetoing trades, and Gary Betman (scratching my head and not being able to generate enough hyperbole to describe his tenure).
**(Full Disclosure - I HATE the Giants) To the Giants' credit, they played much better this season after Melky's suspension, thanks mostly to Buster Posey's monster 2nd half. Also to the Giants' credit, Cabrera's 50 game suspension is up and they have told him to take a hike. They have not reinstated him for the playoffs and it appears they have cut all ties with him. Surely someone will pick him up next year but it will not be the Giants.
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