End of MLB All Star Game

ForeverRoyalKC · 07-16-2025, 12:13 AM

So.....how we feeling? Social media seems to be split down the middle from what I'm seeing. Some think the "swing off" was bad a*s, some thought MLB went full gimmick.
I'm honestly not sure myself. But how DO you end an all star game in a tie?!

One other thing...the early players get dressed and leave. I don't think that's right. I know it's an exhibition, but it seems kinda cold somehow. "Well, I did my part. I'm out." I think all players should stay until it's over.

kq76 · 07-16-2025, 12:34 AM

For the ASG, it's fine, whatever. But hell no for any game that matters.

I very much dislike the automatic runner and to think they were considering something like this for the regular season. Yikes!

Déjà Bru · 07-16-2025, 01:56 AM

I'm in favor of this, but I agree with kq76 in that it's not for regular games. As it is, though, for the All-Star Game, the idea apparently hit a home run in itself:

MLB hits home run with All-Star Game swing-off in exhilarating Midsummer Classic

The 2025 All-Star Game was one of the most exciting exhibitions ever

Maybe that's been the answer all these years: Don't take the A-S game so seriously as a manifestation of the regular game. There is not enough at stake for that and it's only one game.

Instead, come up with ways like this to entertain the crowd. I don't mean a clown show (see my final comment in the Savannah Bananas thread), but something outside the box that perks up the excitement. This was a great example.

Cobra Mgr · 07-16-2025, 06:22 AM

I have no idea what ya'll are talking about. Because I was so annoyed @ all the "ball is in play" interviews I turned away from the game after the 2nd inning.

CONN CHRIS · 07-16-2025, 08:40 AM

That was a fun game.

- I loved seeing the team uniforms rather than merch store-induced nonsense
- I was skeptical about the 'swing off' but it was fun too. It's an exhibition after all.
- I enjoyed the on-field conversations with some players. It's an exhibition after all!

Bagpipes5 · 07-16-2025, 09:11 AM

All of these rule changes are making me fall out of love with a game that's been at my side for almost 50 years. They are things we used to do in gym class being carried out at the highest level. Maybe next year we can have parachute day instead of the home run derby. All kidding aside, the universal DH, minimum batters faced rule, and gym class extra innings can all go sit and spin.

Déjà Bru · 07-16-2025, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagpipes5

All of these rule changes are making me fall out of love with a game that's been at my side for almost 50 years. They are things we used to do in gym class being carried out at the highest level. Maybe next year we can have parachute day instead of the home run derby. All kidding aside, the universal DH, minimum batters faced rule, and gym class extra innings can all go sit and spin.

Well, as I said above and as CONN CHRIS mentioned, the All-Star game is an exhibition. I agree with you, mostly, about the rule changes for the regular game but something had to be done about the All-Star game to make it enjoyable, if not relevant.

It can be based loosely on the regular game of baseball but with a few tweaks and wrinkles to make it something that people actually want to watch. And if there is ever a time when mic-ed up players on the field is appropriate, it is this venue.

Hrycaj · 07-16-2025, 10:22 AM

I wasn't a fan of the swing-off but I'm not up in arms about it. I thought the AL grinded to score that 6th run and would have preferred to see it decided in extra innings. I think you could have a set of players specifically selected to the all-star game as "just in case players" for extra innings only. That allows managers to empty the bench and bullpen so everyone elected gets to play.

As for the people that enjoyed the swing off they kinda shot themselves in the foot. Schwarbs was probably a guy that the NL picks anyway but Boone had no opportunity to use Judge because he was a starter and not available anymore to my understanding. I mean if we are going FULL gimick here I want to at least see the BEST options for each side up there. I read in a post somewhere that this adds a level of strategy in that its important to have a solid feeder like the NL had. Okay, maybe, I'm just not that interested in that sort of strategy. I would just rather them play the game which is still the best of all the all-star games in my opinion.

All in all, not up in arms. The game has meant far less after the introduction of interleague play anyway. Overall the game was still enjoyable and as I like seeing the stars go up against each other.

letsgobuccos · 07-16-2025, 01:13 PM

Yeah it's fine. Can't be done in a competitive way at all.

And yeah I'm wondering how people in it don't find those interviews degrading

Bagpipes5 · 07-16-2025, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Well, as I said above and as CONN CHRIS mentioned, the All-Star game is an exhibition. I agree with you, mostly, about the rule changes for the regular game but something had to be done about the All-Star game to make it enjoyable, if not relevant.

It can be based loosely on the regular game of baseball but with a few tweaks and wrinkles to make it something that people actually want to watch. And if there is ever a time when mic-ed up players on the field is appropriate, it is this venue.

I think the Polar Bear might be on to something. We could have settled the ASG with a triple-threat match.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mets-...ed-rule-change

Westheim · 07-16-2025, 03:52 PM

If you tolerate this, then your children will be next.

Amazin69 · 07-17-2025, 06:15 PM

I haven't watched an ASG in years…but I salute Manly Rob Manfred for, somehow, finding a way to make it worse.

Manfred must really hate baseball as much as I hate him. I'll avoid the political/religious analogies, but this is like hiring Banksy to be the curator at the National Gallery.

(Perhaps hiring Scorsese to run the MCU, given his comments? You get the idea.)

Déjà Bru · 07-17-2025, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

For the ASG, it's fine, whatever. But hell no for any game that matters.

Unfortunately, there's talk. Three opinions:

Should MLB adopt a regular-season swing-off tiebreaker after All-Star Game fireworks?

Amazin69 · 07-18-2025, 03:00 PM

When I said that Manfred was going to replace extra innings with Home Run Derby, I was kidding. FFS, guys!

Cod · Yesterday, 03:11 PM

Love it for the ASG (and any other exhibition), but would not like it in the regular season or playoffs. I also extremely dislike the Manfred Man in extra innings.

What is MLB's aversion to letting games end in ties after 12-innings, like the league that shall not be named? Then the playoffs are played out old school style?

07-16-2025, 12:13 AM	#1
ForeverRoyalKC All Star Starter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hop, skip and a jump from Pomme De Terre Lake, MO. Posts: 1,194	End of MLB All Star Game So.....how we feeling? Social media seems to be split down the middle from what I'm seeing. Some think the "swing off" was bad as, some thought MLB went full gimmick. I'm honestly not sure myself. But how DO you end an all star game in a tie?! One other thing...the early players get dressed and leave. I don't think that's right. I know it's an exhibition, but it seems kinda cold somehow. "Well, I did my part. I'm out." I think all players should stay until it's over. Last edited by ForeverRoyalKC; 07-16-2025 at 12:17 AM.*

07-16-2025, 12:34 AM	#2
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11,695	For the ASG, it's fine, whatever. But hell no for any game that matters. I very much dislike the automatic runner and to think they were considering something like this for the regular season. Yikes! __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project)

07-16-2025, 01:56 AM	#3
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,278	I'm in favor of this, but I agree with kq76 in that it's not for regular games. As it is, though, for the All-Star Game, the idea apparently hit a home run in itself: MLB hits home run with All-Star Game swing-off in exhilarating Midsummer Classic The 2025 All-Star Game was one of the most exciting exhibitions ever Maybe that's been the answer all these years: Don't take the A-S game so seriously as a manifestation of the regular game. There is not enough at stake for that and it's only one game. Instead, come up with ways like this to entertain the crowd. I don't mean a clown show (see my final comment in the Savannah Bananas thread), but something outside the box that perks up the excitement. This was a great example. __________________ - Bru

07-16-2025, 06:22 AM	#4
Cobra Mgr Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Parts unknown Posts: 8,024	I have no idea what ya'll are talking about. Because I was so annoyed @ all the "ball is in play" interviews I turned away from the game after the 2nd inning. __________________ If a man is guilty 4 what goes on inside of his mind, then let me get the electric chair 4 all my future crimes. - Prince Batdance June 7, 1958 - Apr 21, 2016

07-16-2025, 08:40 AM	#5
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 28,836	That was a fun game. - I loved seeing the team uniforms rather than merch store-induced nonsense - I was skeptical about the 'swing off' but it was fun too. It's an exhibition after all. - I enjoyed the on-field conversations with some players. It's an exhibition after all! __________________ Check Out My Cards!

07-16-2025, 09:11 AM	#6
Bagpipes5 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: TX Posts: 437 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	All of these rule changes are making me fall out of love with a game that's been at my side for almost 50 years. They are things we used to do in gym class being carried out at the highest level. Maybe next year we can have parachute day instead of the home run derby. All kidding aside, the universal DH, minimum batters faced rule, and gym class extra innings can all go sit and spin.

07-16-2025, 10:22 AM	#8
Hrycaj All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,534	I wasn't a fan of the swing-off but I'm not up in arms about it. I thought the AL grinded to score that 6th run and would have preferred to see it decided in extra innings. I think you could have a set of players specifically selected to the all-star game as "just in case players" for extra innings only. That allows managers to empty the bench and bullpen so everyone elected gets to play. As for the people that enjoyed the swing off they kinda shot themselves in the foot. Schwarbs was probably a guy that the NL picks anyway but Boone had no opportunity to use Judge because he was a starter and not available anymore to my understanding. I mean if we are going FULL gimick here I want to at least see the BEST options for each side up there. I read in a post somewhere that this adds a level of strategy in that its important to have a solid feeder like the NL had. Okay, maybe, I'm just not that interested in that sort of strategy. I would just rather them play the game which is still the best of all the all-star games in my opinion. All in all, not up in arms. The game has meant far less after the introduction of interleague play anyway. Overall the game was still enjoyable and as I like seeing the stars go up against each other. __________________ Click on my signature to read about the great game of baseball in Normington.

07-16-2025, 01:13 PM	#9
letsgobuccos Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2024 Posts: 34	Yeah it's fine. Can't be done in a competitive way at all. And yeah I'm wondering how people in it don't find those interviews degrading

07-16-2025, 03:52 PM	#11
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 13,240	If you tolerate this, then your children will be next. __________________ Portland Raccoons, 90 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 * 2061 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.

07-17-2025, 06:15 PM	#12
Amazin69 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Palmetto Pride! Posts: 3,705 Infractions: 0/2 (2)	I haven't watched an ASG in years…but I salute Manly Rob Manfred for, somehow, finding a way to make it worse. Manfred must really hate baseball as much as I hate him. I'll avoid the political/religious analogies, but this is like hiring Banksy to be the curator at the National Gallery. (Perhaps hiring Scorsese to run the MCU, given his comments? You get the idea.)

07-18-2025, 03:00 PM	#14
Amazin69 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Palmetto Pride! Posts: 3,705 Infractions: 0/2 (2)	When I said that Manfred was going to replace extra innings with Home Run Derby, I was kidding. FFS, guys!

Yesterday, 03:11 PM	#15
Cod All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,088	Love it for the ASG (and any other exhibition), but would not like it in the regular season or playoffs. I also extremely dislike the Manfred Man in extra innings. What is MLB's aversion to letting games end in ties after 12-innings, like the league that shall not be named? Then the playoffs are played out old school style?