Another mini HR Derby as tie breaker for All Star Game?

First, why is a tie-breaker needed in an exhibition game?

Second, if you desperately want to put more action into the game, why the continued and increased emphasis on swinging for the fence, which gives you the least action, and the effort to eliminate defensive shifts when defensive plays are where the most action is?

Third, when they go to the new schedule next year where every team plays all 29 other teams, the distinction between American and National Leagues is going to go the way of the NFL and NBA anyway, so who cares who wins?

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ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

Tried watching the HR Derby yesterday, was bored to tears.

Wasn't aware they were doing a schedule like that next year; if anything i thought they were cutting back on inter-league play. :( I say bring back the balanced schedule WITHIN the leagues and get rid of this playing the same teams 18 times a year.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@ChipmunkErnie Yep. You can't really see anything with the camera angles they use, and the counters don't keep up. It will be a more balanced schedule in order to fit in all 29 opponents. I believe it is only 12 games within your division, 6 against the rest of your league and your "natural rival" in the other league, and 3 against the rest of the other league. A 3 game series, alternating home and away each year for the latter.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@dancingtongue I agree with some comments I've heard that the current Commissioner actually hates baseball. We gone from Ernie Banks walking out on the field, looking around, and saying "Beautiful day, let's play two!" to a Commissioner who suggest cutting games to 7 innings.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@ChipmunkErnie And whose "vision of baseball in the future" consists of Milling Millennials wandering around a stadium looking for the foosball, pool tables, and DJ while playing video games on his cellphone, oblivious that there is a game going on or a shrinking number of actual baseball fans trying to see the games through them.