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GIQ Flaschback: MLB Baseball All Star Game: Changes should Come after Epic Battle

MLB Baseball All Star Game: Changes should Come after Epic Battle July 17, 2008

By: Dirty -- GamblingIQ.com

The All Star Break in Major League Baseball was one to Remember this year all the way around. Who could ask for anything better? You had three things that should make this the last In-Season All Star Game in Major League Baseball History.

• You had the game being played at the most recognized and celebrated Stadium in the History of all sports, Yankee Stadium. It is the Shrine's last year of being an active ball park before the Yankees move across the street into the new $1.2 billion Yankee Stadium. The old one will be turned into a Monument park and Museum and still host some amateur games the last I heard. I am just grateful they are not putting the wrecking ball to it like happens to most old stadiums. This was a perfect game, in the perfect setting for the Last All Star game to be held in Yankee Stadium.

• Josh Hamilton hitting 28 homers in the first Round. Some of them made you think Zeus, the ancient Greek God, had been reincarnated and was bringing thunder and lighting with him. He hit one completely out of Yankee Stadium and ended with 35 total homeruns. Sure he didn't win the competition as he had worn himself out with his God like feats in round one. Anyone watching could tell this kid who has battled back from self inflicted drug problems, and being out of baseball 3 years, was having the time of his life. He was feeding off the atmosphere and truly relished every moment. He would go from signing autographs between pitches to hitting 500' blasts into the Gotham night. You got the feeling that this kid was Superman on this particular night. This young man should be a role model for any young player growing up today. He plays the game the right way, he appreciates what he has, and he is genuinely a great guy. Josh Hamilton battled back from the dredges of the drug culture and has proven that anyone can become a success with hard work and the right attitude.

• Before the game the Stage was set with the unveiling of the All Time All Star Game team. It was very emotional and electric to see the stars of yesteryear. "The Boss" George Steinbrenner even made an appearance. The All Star Game Itself was a Instant Classic. The American League won an epic battle that seemed like it was going to last forever. It was like a boxing Match in the Rocky movies, but the heavy hitting was done by the pitching and defense of each team. The American League extended its winning streak to 12 straight with a Sac fly in the bottom of the 15th. You could feel each teams intesity growing throughout the game and by the 4th inning you got the feeling that these guys were here to play baseball and not put on an exhibition that was no fun to watch. Sadly the past 15 or so All Star games were nothing more than Big league players in their Uniforms acting like they were playing whiffel ball in their back yard. Not in this game. You could feel the excitement every inning. You could see the excitement, and the agony, on the players faces on almost every play. You had guys sliding hard into bases, trying to take catchers out, and you had pitchers working on 2 days rest that had thrown 100 pitches the game before. This was a throwback to the All Star Games to yesteryear.

Now lets get to the Changes I think Should be Made. You could have not written a better script to end something than what took place on Monday and Tuesday in The Bronx. Let the in season All Star Game end on a high note like it deserves. Now lets do something drastic. Lets end it and make it a 7 game series after the World Series is over. There are many reason to do this and Here are my thoughts

1. You get rid of the silliest thing in sports -- Letting the Home team in the World Series be determined in a what is usuall nothing more than a scrimmage.
2. You will get home field Advantage going back to how it should be. Either rotate it every year, or let the team with the best record have it..
3. You still have an All Star break to honor the guys in the Mid Summer Classic. You have a first half All Star Team and a Full Season All Star Team. The one in July can still be had like always. Only difference is you will Honor the guys who had a great first half of the season. You have the Homerun Derb, the Celebrity Softball game, etc on Monday. Then on Tuesday you have a Old Timers game like they used to have all the time and then you have a Rookies Vs. Sophmores in a "Future Stars" game that lasts 7 innings. You can also throw in a skills challenge, a Father and Son/Daughter Softball game, or anything the players want to have. It is their 3 day break. To increase fan interaction let so many lucky fans come down to the field and try to hit or strike out their favorite Super Star. Have a make a wish foundation bring in some kids with severe illnesses come in and spend some time with their Favorite player. Just make it where it is fun and relaxing and the guys get a 3 day break from the daily grind of a 162 game schedule. You would get all the players and their families there even if they were injured for a fun and relaxing time.
4. 4. Full Season All Star Series would be held after the World Series. Voting would be done like it is now but wouldn't start until August 1 and would end the last day of the regular season. Our Stars are already going to Japan and other countries to play in Exhibition games, why not let them do it here in America for the fans that pay their salaires and support their teams. The games would be played in warm weather cities or in domes. The Fans would turn out and you would get a sweet TV deal to air the games during the week to fill the void on no Midweek football at that point. The stars would be more apt to play as they would not be as worried about getting injured and ruining their 2nd half of the season. Teams would let their stars play for the same reason. Pitchers could make more than a token appearance. You could add spots to the roster so more players from the lesser teams could make it. If you are a Royals fan you could see your guy play a good bit instead of pinch hit.

I could keep on and will maybe if I get some good feedback on this idea. I believe it would go along way in bridging the gap between baseball and the fans that have been alienated by the Strike, Steroids, and that idiot Bud Selig ruining the game we love as an owner acting like a Commisioner.

Lets get America's Pastime back to where it belongs...... A Fan Favorite and something we enjoy watching and talking about and as far away from all the black eyes the sport has suffered the past 15 years.

Any Comments can be made on our Forums at the Link Below:

MLB Baseball All Star Game: Changes should Come after Epic Battle

GIQ Flashback: Major League Baseball -- How To Bring it Into the 21st Century and Shorten the Post Season

In MLB the teams play 162 games over the course of a season... these guys are used to playing 28 out of 30/31 days a month and are conditioned This way...... Then when they hit the playoffs they may play 3 times a week... If a team goes to the limit in all 3 series (5,7,7) That means they will play 19 games in 35 days....This does not sit well with Fans and Players..... players don't want to play and have 4 days off.... Yankees and Angels won on Sunday and don't play until Friday....Give me a break... Start the fucker on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.... Phillies Clinched Monday... Start Wednesday....

No excuse in this and it does not let the best team always win in the post season... It took a 4-5 man rotation to get you into the playoffs and it should take one to win the World Series... The way the games are spread out a team with two very good pitchers and mediocre pitcher who gets hot has a great shot at winning a series and rarely pitch on short rest....

Here are my Solutions

• Start the playoffs Two days after the Regular Season Ends...
• Extend the Division Series to 7 games so a good two man rotation can't win it
• Play the Games 2-3-2 Just like they used to with one travel day between .. the 2nd and 3rd dames and the 5th and 6th games ...That means if you go 7 games it takes 9 days to play the series....so if you start the Division series near October 1st you can start the 2nd round usually by the 12th....
• Then have 2-3-2 in the ALCS and NLCS and do the same thing... That means you can start by October 23rd or so ...
• Then have the World Series on an alternating basis between the NL and the AL or at worst case the team with the Best record gets home field.. not this asinine way of doing with the AS Winners....
• Start the WS two days after the ALCS and NLCS... that way we are done by the end of October usually.....
• The Reason this will happen is the chances of All Series in Both leagues going to the limit are slim....the next series would start two days after the end of the series just finished.. so if Both Division series ends in 5 games then you don't wait until the 12th... you start 2 days after the DS is finished...

Also Another Thing I would do is Have the All Star Game in July as Normal, but give the players some rest instead of being so rushed ... let them lounge around the day before and after the AS Game... It is a needed break and I think you will see more participation in the game and Extra activities if you do what I am suggesting in the Next Paragraph.

Push the HR Derby, Celebrity Softball Game with HOF'ers, The Future Stars Games and even Add a Old Timers Game and have it the Day before the World Series Starts in the Host City.... Start at 9 AM in the Morning with some Interactive activities for the Fans outside the park and make it Kid Friendly . Start the Festivities at 12 noon with the Futures game and then cap it off at 8 at night with the HR Derby. Have a great day of laid back baseball fun and get the whole sport behind the World Series instead of just the two Cities Involved and Die hard Baseball Fans.

Baseball is still a great sport and has a lot to offer, but they need to come out of the stone ages. I am a baseball purist and hate the Wild Card, Interleague play and the DH, but baseball has already crossed those bridges and will not look back. It is Time to bring it into the Here and Now and quit being wishy washy on whether you want to hold onto tradition or truly become a 21st Century sport and gain New fans for a sport that is being left behind by the NFL Promotion Machine.

Good Luck in the Playoffs!!!!!

Dirty
GamblingIQ

Major League Baseball -- How To Bring it Into the 21st Century and Shorten the Post Season

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Home Run Derby Props Player to hit the most HR's in Round one
08:15 PM	5201	Adrian Gonzalez		+460
	5202	David Ortiz		+340
	5203	Jose Bautista		+280
	5204	Matt Holliday		+500
	5205	Matt Kemp		+560
	5206	Prince Fielder		+300
	5207	Rickie Weeks		+1000
	5208	Robinson Cano		+680
Home Run Derby Props Player to record least numbers of HR's in round 1
08:15 PM	5301	Adrian Gonzalez		+400
	5302	David Ortiz		+530
	5303	Jose Bautista		+800
	5304	Matt Holliday		+500
	5305	Matt Kemp		+350
	5306	Prince Fielder		+780
	5307	Rickie Weeks		+265
	5308	Robinson Cano		+330
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5335	Jose Bautista		-180
	5336	Robinson Cano		+150
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5401	Adrian Gonzalez		+115
	5402	David Ortiz		-145
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5403	Adrian Gonzalez		+130
	5404	Jose Bautista		-160
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5405	Adrian Gonzalez		-105
	5406	Matt Holliday		-125
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5407	Adrian Gonzalez		-125
	5408	Matt Kemp		-105
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5409	Adrian Gonzalez		+125
	5410	Prince Fielder		-155
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5411	Adrian Gonzalez		-140
	5412	Rickie Weeks		+110
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5413	Adrian Gonzalez		-135
	5414	Robinson Cano		+105
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5415	David Ortiz		+105
	5416	Jose Bautista		-135
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5417	David Ortiz		-120
	5418	Matt Holliday		-110
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5419	David Ortiz		-150
	5420	Matt Kemp		+120
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5421	David Ortiz		+100
	5422	Prince Fielder		-130
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5423	David Ortiz		-170
	5424	Rickie Weeks		+140
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5425	David Ortiz		-150
	5426	Robinson Cano		+120
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5427	Jose Bautista		-140
	5428	Matt Holliday		+110
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5429	Jose Bautista		-170
	5430	Matt Kemp		+140
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5431	Jose Bautista		-125
	5432	Prince Fielder		-105
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5433	Jose Bautista		-200
	5434	Rickie Weeks		+160
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5437	Matt Holliday		-140
	5438	Matt Kemp		+110
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5439	Matt Holliday		+110
	5440	Prince Fielder		-140
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5441	Matt Holliday		-170
	5442	Rickie Weeks		+140
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5442	Rickie Weeks		+150
	5451	Prince Fielder		-180
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5443	Matt Holliday		-150
	5444	Robinson Cano		+120
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5445	Matt Kemp		+130
	5446	Prince Fielder		-160
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5447	Matt Kemp		-130
	5448	Rickie Weeks		+100
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5449	Matt Kemp		-130
	5450	Robinson Cano		+100
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5453	Prince Fielder		-170
	5454	Robinson Cano		+140
Home Run Derby Props Round One Matchups
08:15 PM	5455	Rickie Weeks		-105
	5456	Robinson Cano		-125
Home Run Derby Props Who will lead after round one?
08:15 PM	5101	American League Player		-125
	5102	National League Player		-105

BetOnline Odds to Win State Farm Home Run Derby

2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN
2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN - Jul 11
ALL PLAYERS MUST TAKE 1 SWING FOR ACTION
HR DERBY MUST HAVE A ULTIMATE WINNER FOR ACTION
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19001	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		ADRIAN GONZALEZ		+450
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19002	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		DAVID ORTIZ		+400
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19003	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		JOSE BAUTISTA		+230
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19004	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		MATT HOLLIDAY		+400
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19005	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		MATT KEMP		+525
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19006	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		PRINCE FIELDER		+275
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19007	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		RICKIE WEEKS		+1100
	Jul 11 - 5:00 PM	19008	2011 ALL STAR HOME RUN DERBY - ODDS TO WIN		ROBINSON CANO		+650

 

MLB - HOME RUN DERBY - ROUND ONE MATCHUPS - Jul 11
PLAYER WITH MOST HOME RUNS IN ROUND 1, WINS
ALL PLAYERS MUST TAKE 1 SWING FOR ACTION
IF BOTH PLAYERS TIE FOR ROUND 1 - IS NO ACTION
	Jul 11	9001	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		+110
	5:00 PM	9002	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		-140
	Jul 11	9003	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		+130
	5:00 PM	9004	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-160
	Jul 11	9005	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		-105
	5:00 PM	9006	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		-125
	Jul 11	9007	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		-125
	5:00 PM	9008	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		-105
	Jul 11	9009	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		+120
	5:00 PM	9010	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-150
	Jul 11	9011	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		-155
	5:00 PM	9012	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		+125
	Jul 11	9013	ADRIAN GONZALEZ MOST HRS RD1		-135
	5:00 PM	9014	ROBINSON CANO MOST HRS RD1		+105
	Jul 11	9015	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		EV
	5:00 PM	9016	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-130
	Jul 11	9017	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		-120
	5:00 PM	9018	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		-110
	Jul 11	9019	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		-140
	5:00 PM	9020	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		+110
	Jul 11	9021	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		-105
	5:00 PM	9022	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-125
	Jul 11	9023	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		-185
	5:00 PM	9024	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		+155
	Jul 11	9025	DAVID ORTIZ MOST HRS RD1		-160
	5:00 PM	9026	ROBINSON CANO MOST HRS RD1		+130
	Jul 11	9027	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-145
	5:00 PM	9028	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		+115
	Jul 11	9029	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-160
	5:00 PM	9030	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		+130
	Jul 11	9031	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-120
	5:00 PM	9032	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-110
	Jul 11	9033	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-200
	5:00 PM	9034	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		+170
	Jul 11	9035	JOSE BAUTISTA MOST HRS RD1		-190
	5:00 PM	9036	ROBINSON CANO MOST HRS RD1		+160
	Jul 11	9037	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		-130
	5:00 PM	9038	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		EV
	Jul 11	9039	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		+105
	5:00 PM	9040	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-135
	Jul 11	9041	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		-145
	5:00 PM	9042	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		+115
	Jul 11	9043	MATT HOLLIDAY MOST HRS RD1		-135
	5:00 PM	9044	ROBINSON CANO MOST HRS RD1		+105
	Jul 11	9045	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		+110
	5:00 PM	9046	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-140
	Jul 11	9047	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		-130
	5:00 PM	9048	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		EV
	Jul 11	9049	MATT KEMP MOST HRS RD1		-125
	5:00 PM	9050	ROBINSON CANO MOST HRS RD1		-105
	Jul 11	9051	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-190
	5:00 PM	9052	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		+160
	Jul 11	9053	PRINCE FIELDER MOST HRS RD1		-160
	5:00 PM	9054	ROBINSON CANO MOST HRS RD1		+130
	Jul 11	9055	RICKIE WEEKS MOST HRS RD1		EV
	5:00 PM	9056	ROBINSON MOST HRS RD1		-130

EasyStreetSports Odds to Win State Farm Home Run Derby