Official MLB All-Star Game Thread

[Guest Staravenger]

Will the All-Star game be in Yankee Stadium anytime this century?

[Guest Choken One]

It's been quite a while hasn't it? Yankee Stadium hasn't hosted since 1977.

 

2007 is the next chance but im sure they already picked it...if they do the process like they do for the superbowl (planing the host sites years in advance)

[Guest Anglesault]

Will the All-Star game be in Yankee Stadium anytime this century?

It was held somewhat recently (late seventies) in baseball terms. The game usually hits the newer parks a couple years after they pop up.

[Guest Anglesault]

So my friend is a Mariner's fan and I'm a Red Sox fan. So we sit down prepared to root the power hitting of the AL on against the tough pitching of the NL. What we got instead was marveling as our boys broke Roger Clemen's neck making him watch the balls fly. Hehehe.......

It was nice to see Yankee and Red Sox (And Mariner...And Tiger...And Ranger) working together to launch the Rocket.

[Bored 0]

Since someone is bound to ask here's a run down of how long it's been for a team/stadium to host an All-Star game.

 

Detroit 2005 (last hosted in '71)

Houston 2004

Chicago (White Sox) 2003

Milwaukee 2002

Seattle 2001

Atlanta 2000

Boston 1999

Colorado 1998

Cleveland 1997

Philadelphia 1996

Texas 1995

Pittsburgh 1994

Baltimore 1993

San Diego 1992

Toronto 1991

Chicago (Cubs) 1990

Anaheim 1989

Cincinnati 1988

Oakland 1987

Minnesota 1985

San Francisco 1984

Montreal 1982

Los Angeles 1980

New York (Yankees) 1977

Kansas City 1973

St. Louis 1966

New York (Mets) 1964

 

Florida, Arizona, and Tampa Bay have yet to host. Pittsburgh and San Francisco are the finalists for the 2006 game. Surprised it's been so long since they've had it in St. Louis but they are getting a new stadium in a few years so they'll probably wait until it's built.

[Guest Staravenger]

No rush for an All-Star game in Tropicana Field. It looks so bush league compared to almost every other stadium.

 

Mets really got shafted though. 1964!? Jesus Christ...

[Guest FrigidSoul]

I'd go with San Fran in 06 and Pitts in 07 since alot of their younger players will probably be in it (Bay, Wilson, that left handed pitcher)

[Guest Anglesault]

I'd go with San Fran in 06 and Pitts in 07 since alot of their younger players will probably be in it (Bay, Wilson, that left handed pitcher)

07 has to be American League

[Bored 0]

Also since it's been 10 years longer since it was in San Francisco. Throw in that 2006 would be a good bet to be Bonds last year and when/if he'll break Aaron's record. Pittsburgh would probably wait until 2008 if they stick with the switching league rule. They could slide Yankee Stadium into 2007, 30 years since the last one they hosted.

[Guest Anglesault]

Also since it's been 10 years longer since it was in San Francisco. Throw in that 2006 would be a good bet to be Bonds last year and when/if he'll break Aaron's record. Pittsburgh would probably wait until 2008 if they stick with the switching league rule. They could slide Yankee Stadium into 2007, 30 years since the last one they hosted.

I'd like see Texas in 07. That new park wasn't around in 95, was it?

 

I like to see all star games in the newer stadiums.

Edited July 14, 2004 by Anglesault

[Bored 0]

'95 was in the new stadium. After Comerica Park hosts it next year only Tropicana Field will have never hosted an All-Star game in the A.L. and it probably never will.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

I believe the park is now a little over 10 years old.

 

Have it in Tampa in 07 then. They'll probably be sending a few between Baldelli, Crawford, Brazelton, Huff, Young, and Upton in that season. It will also be nice to see them get some revenue. I wonder what that stadium would look like full.

[Guest Anglesault]

'95 was in the new stadium. After Comerica Park hosts it next year only Tropicana Field will have never hosted an All-Star game in the A.L. and it probably never will.

Yeah, then send it to Yankee Stadium.

 

I wonder what that stadium would look like full.

 

Watch a yankee game down there. Nothing amazing.

[Guest Choken One]

2006 should be San Fran. Best BallPark in baseball hands down, Likely Bonds will be at 756 by then and they can honor him in his home stadium.

 

Tampa will never host a All Star game but it has hosted a Final Four. That likely brought in about the same revenue as a ASG would.

 

2007 should be Yankee Stadium simply for it being 30 years since the last one unless an newer and better stadium opens up. If they ever close down Fenway...It should host the ASG in it's last year.

 

St. Louis deserves a ASG however, give them it in 2008.

[geniusMoment 0]

Its funny how all of these teams with new stadiums must fight it out for the all star game, many times still waiting years. Yet, the very second the brewers finish their stadium the game comes. Oh wait, that is not surprising, that is Mr. Baseball Bud Selig.

[Guest Anglesault]

Oh wait, that is not surprising, that is Mr. Baseball Bud Selig.

Perhaps we should let up on Bud.

 

No one can be good at their job all the time.

 

Of course, asking him to be good at his job EVER is like asking him to chew tin foil, but maybe we're too hard on him.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Yeah. Selig's so horrible. More teams are not only competive, but in playoff races. Attendance around the league continues to improve. Than there's interleague play and the wildcard which have been huge successes for the game.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'm half convinced the NL isn't trying.

McKeon wasn't trying. He treated the game like an old All-Star game. It's not an old All-Star game.

 

The game does matter. Sheets should of started for the NL, and Soriano should of been intentionally walked, with Mulder on deck in the 1st inning.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Yeah. Selig's so horrible. More teams are not only competive, but in playoff races. Attendance around the league continues to improve. Than there's interleague play and the wildcard which have been huge successes for the game.

 

Well, competitive balance only became a problem when Selig took the job in the first place. Attendance wasn't a problem until Selig took the job. All the problems that Bud Selig "fixed," were created by Bud. Teams like Minnesota and Montreal can't compete? It was the economic incentives of the '95 Labor agreement that encouraged them to stop spending money on their teams so they could get a big, fat check from MLB.

 

The Wild Card has done nothing more than create five new playoff games. It does not make the regular season more exciting, and it make the LCS and World Series worse, by giving inferior teams a chance to make it.

 

What keeps teams competitive despite inbalances in payroll isn't revenue sharing, its the amateur draft. Any team, no matter how financially desolate, controls their players for the first six years of their careers. For the vast majority of players, this is where they have their best seasons. That's what keeps baseball competitive.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As for the All-Star game. First off, picking a location based on future stars is a sure formula for failure.

 

Second, anyone who's ever been to St. Louis in July knows why they haven't had an All-Star game recently. That said, they'll almost certainly get the game in 2006 or '08, with the new park.

[sfaJack 0]

Any idea on what the cost of tickets to the AS game is? I'm only two hours outside of Detroit, so if it's feasible, I'm definitely going to make an effort to get there for it.

They were running from $50-200 face value this year.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

My thoughts:

 

- I knew Clemens was going to do lousy because they were putting so much emphasis on him right away. I hate when MLB tries to build this fake drama during a game by focusing on one player or match-up. It usually backfires anyway.

 

- Both Brewers in the game performed great, and that's all I ultimately care about. Kolb and Sheets both did awesome last night.

 

- Was it just me or was the defense on both sides a little weak? It seemed like a lot of balls made it through the gap between 2nd and 3rd that maybe shouldn't have.

 

- Scooter sucks...I've seen that stupid animated baseball before and it adds nothing. I guess FOX is trying to attract more kids to the game or something, but this isn't how to do it.

[Guest Anglesault]

I'm half convinced the NL isn't trying.

McKeon wasn't trying. He treated the game like an old All-Star game. It's not an old All-Star game.

 

The game does matter. Sheets should of started for the NL, and Soriano should of been intentionally walked,

Soriano-and Clemens knows this- should have never gotten a pitch to hit. Soriano would have swung at a ball that was in Dallas.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Random thoughts from someone that doesn't have a computer at home, and so can't throw this shit against the wall while it's actually happening ...

 

- Ali, who has nothing to do with baseball, shouldn't have 'thrown out' the first pitch. Regardless of his stature as a boxer, he has nothing to do with MLB and thus shouldn't have been out there in the first place. I'd have rather have seen a local baseball legend get the honors (Ryan, Cedeno, Cruz). It'd be like having Ditka throw a ball out in Chicago instead of one of the local baseball greats.

 

- Tim McCarver is potentially the most grating announcer on the face of the earth. He makes Madden look sensible. So many of his 'points' were just barely-related trivia bits strung together ("the Astrodome was built in XXXX for XX million dollars, this field cost XXX million dollars, and now Clemens is on the mound" and "Ramirez was almost traded from the Red Sox to the Rangers in the ARod trade, and now, ironically, he's playing LF for the AL" ... WTF?!?)

 

- If they were smart, they'd have the DH rule in effect in the NL parks, and have the pitchers bat in the AL parks. Let the fans see a style of game that's different from the ones that they see all the time.

 

- Never again should they have this game effect the World Series home-field advantage. They might as well say whatever league has more cumulative homers gets the home-field. Or have a spelling bee with reps from every team. Having what's nothing more than an exhibition potentially decide the World Series is a farce.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

- Ali, who has nothing to do with baseball, shouldn't have 'thrown out' the first pitch. Regardless of his stature as a boxer, he has nothing to do with MLB and thus shouldn't have been out there in the first place. I'd have rather have seen a local baseball legend get the honors (Ryan, Cedeno, Cruz). It'd be like having Ditka throw a ball out in Chicago instead of one of the local baseball greats.

 

Bob Feller was also unhappy with the selection of Ali, for different reasons....

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/otherMLB/vi...articleid=35569

 

- If they were smart, they'd have the DH rule in effect in the NL parks, and have the pitchers bat in the AL parks. Let the fans see a style of game that's different from the ones that they see all the time.

 

MLB should really just use the DH all the time in the All-Star game. No one wants to see a pitcher hit in the game, and we're just kidding ourselves by having one.

 

- Never again should they have this game effect the World Series home-field advantage. They might as well say whatever league has more cumulative homers gets the home-field. Or have a spelling bee with reps from every team. Having what's nothing more than an exhibition potentially decide the World Series is a farce.

 

Home field should simply alternate each year like it used to. Proponents like to trumpet that the home team hasn't lost Game Seven in a Series since 1979, but overall, the home team wins 52% of the time in the playoffs. That's not so significant that it creates a real problem.

[The Czech Republic 0]

2006 should be San Fran. Best BallPark in baseball hands down, Likely Bonds will be at 756 by then and they can honor him in his home stadium.

 

Tampa will never host a All Star game but it has hosted a Final Four. That likely brought in about the same revenue as a ASG would.

 

2007 should be Yankee Stadium simply for it being 30 years since the last one unless an newer and better stadium opens up. If they ever close down Fenway...It should host the ASG in it's last year.

 

St. Louis deserves a ASG however, give them it in 2008.

Okay here we go...

 

Meh. The water is cool but the Coke bottle and stuff is really sorta gaudy.

 

Tropicana Field is a lousy park. It just looks like a giant empty room with a baseball diamond in it.

 

Why do they need the All-Star Game when they get every World Series?

 

Fenway isn't going anywhere.

 

Have you BEEN to St. Louis in July???

 

All that being said, I think the Great American Ballpark and PNC Park should be next for the NL and Angel Stadium and Jacobs for AL. Wrigley Field should get it in the year of the park's centennial.

 

----

Oh and by the way, I went to a friend's house to hang out before he left town for the week, so I didn't have a chance to go on the Internet and register my disgust for all to read. So yeah. Congratulations to Roger Clemens: as if lying to the Yankees and bitching about your Cooperstown hat wasn't enough, you've now found a new way to prove that you're a flaming sack of crap by blowing the All-Star Game. Put any other pitcher in there and the NL wins it. Unreal.

[Guest Choken One]

GAB isn't that great of a ball park, PNC is slightly better though but Pac Bell (or whatever they renamed it) is considered by many people the best ballpark outside of Camden. Can you imagine the Derby though...i could see millions in the bay...although only like 6 people have had a splash landing since it opened.

 

What about Petco Park? Nice new stadium.

 

Of course Tropicana field is concrete ballroom... did they build it for baseball or was it a arena converted into a baseball field?

 

Jacobs had it in 1995(7?)...too recent.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Wrigley Field is the best ballpark in the majors. Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, and Dodger Stadium...those are the best parks.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'd buy a Wrigley Field 100th Anniversery All-Star game.

[Guest Staravenger]

I'd buy a Wrigley Field 100th Anniversery All-Star game.

I'd rather see 2008 be held at Wrigley...the anniversary of the last time the Cubs won before choking for 100 years and winning jackshit.