Does the all star game really need a gimmick like the home run derby to draw?

Michigan

I guess the game can't stand on its own anymore so they invented this lame gimmick to draw attention.

They give them easy pitches to hit, so why is that so exciting?

yankeeno7

The Home Run Derby has been around for a very long time, though not as part of AS weekend. I think its great. Since there are no games on the day before the AS game, it's a fan friendly addition. People love watching it...they say it is harder to get tickets for that event than the actual AS game. Fans are anamoured by the HR and love watching how far those balls are hit. I see nothing wrong with it, in fact, I am a huge fan of it. I dont see it has ANYTHING to do with the game not being able to stand on its own. Not a gimmick, just something fun and fan friendly.

stitzen

I don't think the home run derby is a 'gimmick', but tying home field advantage to the all star game outcome definitely is.

Give the better team of the AL/NL representative home field advantage, make the regular season count for something.

BobaFett72

Its a fan friendly event, its popular, its good for the game.

Kid4hof03

I personally hate the home run derby but it's not a gimmick for the all star game itself, it's a way to sell tickets for a second event. Having gone to the 1996 events in Philly I can tell you that the fans at the home run derby are not the same ones at the all star game. While I think it's very boring, especially on TV, it's good marketing.

Abe

Skinpinch

Have the players wear their team uniforms again!


If Pud Selig wants to make it more meaningful, then get rid of the guaranteed one representative per team. This makes it a true accomplishment to make the All Star team....like it used to be! Now guys make it who shoulnd't, and to me that loses meaning right there, and has led to the diminished interest in a watered down product!

interchanges

give'em aluminum bats! and please Berman.....please stop with the back- back- back....we understand catch phrases

jdip9

I love how Bud Selig claims they need to be able to determine far enough in advance who the home team is going to be, so that hotel rooms can be blocked off and accommodations made. So are you trying to tell me that every city with teams in a reasonable position to make the playoffs have all their hotels set aside rooms for an event that probably won't happen? And why can basketball and hockey do just fine without any notice to the home cities?

I don't know what was wrong with the alternating year format. It wasn't perfect, but at least it wasn't an artificial solution. My hope is that the ASG's ratings tommorow night are so god-awful that Bud has no choice but to scrap the "it means something" insanity. Especially with the atrocity of players blatantly skipping the game this year. Why are the 40th best players (the guys usually in the game in the late innings) in each league determining home field?

fiveniner

I like the late 50s version of Home Run Derby.No hoopla involved just brute power.You got a chance to watch Mays,Aaron,Mathews,Kaline,The Mick,Colavito,Jensen,Snider,Killebrew,Hodges etc.In them days there wasnt much Baseball on TV and it was a thrill when you had a chance to see these guys.

Estil

Indeed I think the rules made for the 1959 version for much more interesting. Is there any baseball video game that lets you do Home Run Derby using the 1959 rules?