Maybe I am a day behind on this, but I just saw that the ratings for Tuesday's MLB All-Star-Game were the lowest ever for the event.
The game drew a 7.5 national overnight rating, worse than 2009s previous low of 8.1. Seems the harder Commissioner Bud Selig tries to change the event -- meaning the more he mucks it up -- the more people get turned off and don't pay attention.
C'mon, Bud. Even you have to be able to figure out that people aren't buying what you're selling -- jamming down the throats of both leagues that this single game determines the home-field advantage in the World Series. Pretty obvious from the way the game was played that the managers weren't really trying to win -- they were just trying to get guys in the game. Oh, and in the case of AL Manager Joe Girardi, protect one of his own superstars for what REALLY MATTERS. The second half of the regular season.
To me, that has always been a ridiculous notion. The fact that the play of the teams who actually get into the event does nothing to determine who get the home field is silly. If you aren't going to do that, at least just alternate it between the leagues.
Hey, Bud. Here's a novel idea. Let the game go b,ack to being an exhibition. Sell it that way, as a chance to see the best and most popular players in the game just showcasing their talents for a night. Maybe that way we don't get utility infielders like Omar Infante and ridiculous middle relievers like Matt Thornton on the team.
Just let the night be fun. And let the teams who get into the World Series determine who get the home field.
It's pretty obvious that the harder you have tried to make the All-Star Game better, the more you have just plain screwed it up.