Sports

BASEBALL’S GREAT DEBATE

Should the All-Star Game count for home-field advantage in the World Series?

On July 10, the best of the best from the National and American leagues will compete in San Francisco’s AT&T Park at the 78th annual Major League All-Star Game, and the teams might be playing for more than bragging rights. In 2003, the format of the game was changed to award World Series home-field advantage to the winning league, a decision still argued by the MLB Player’s Association. Today, home-field advantage and controversy go together like baseball and hot dogs.

After inter-league play was introduced in 1997, the All-Star Game began to lose its appeal since fans had many chances to see AL/NL matchups. To generate additional interest, baseball commissioner Bud Selig instituted the home-field incentive, saying, “I think it’s really good for the game… It just adds a lot of meaning.”

Larry Moffi, author of The Conscience of the Game, points out that “great for the game” usually translates to “making money.” But, he adds, “It doesn’t exactly hurt the players since a portion of the ticket sales goes toward their retirement fund.” Plus, fans can’t deny that adding an incentive to the game increases the quality of baseball.

The issue boils down to one of fairness: Is it just to put a decision this critical in the hands of players whose teams may not even make the playoffs? And since fans primarily decide the All-Star teams, are we really seeing the best possible lineups, or just the most marketable? The Players Association has battled Selig in the courtroom, while sportswriters have had a field day. But, Moffireminds us, “It’s easy to hate the commissioners without understanding the true extent of their positions.” In Selig’s defense, other home-field advantage scenarios garner equivalent debate

Home-field advantage and controversy go together like baseball and hot dogs.

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox suggests alternating home-field advantage each year as it did pre-2003, while David Pinto of the Baseball Prospectus thinks teams’ winning percentages should be the determining factor. But is it fair to punish the team with the worse record if they have a harder schedule? Conversely, is it better to blindly alternate without accounting for the harder-working team? Perhaps the best option would be to reward the team with the better record in inter-league play, thereby increasing interest in all inter-league matchups (including the All-Star Game), while still rewarding the advantage based on merit.

Whether or not the All-Star Game maintains its truly “exhibition” status, if the teams continue to exhibit incredible sporting feats, the seats will certainly fill.
—Alexandra Calamari

SPORTING EVENT CALENDER

JUNE 11-17
US OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Oakmont, PA
Can Phil Mickleson recover from last year’s final hole collapse to claim his first US Open title ever, or will fanfavorite Tiger Woods reclaim his 2002 honor? Either way, there certainly will be nothing sub-par about the competition, except—we hope—the scores

JUNE 22-24
CUBS/WHITE SOX
Chicago
The rivalry is kept alive in this second regular season meeting. After the White Sox’s 2005 World Series win, the Cubs have cornered the market on the biggest underdog in baseball, thanks to the “curse of the Billy Goat.” But curses can be broken… just ask the Red Sox

JUNE 23
HATTON VS. CASTILLO
THOMAS AND MACK CENTER
Las Vegas
For undefeated boxer Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, dropping seven pounds means taking on Jose Luis Castillo in an HBO-aired match for command of the 140-pound boxing division and the IBO light welterweight belt.

JUNE 28
NBA DRAFT
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
New York
Bingo meets basketball at the muchawaited NBA draft, where ailing teams (ahem, Memphis) have a chance to beef up their rosters with prospects like Ohio State’s seven-foot center Greg Duncan and Texas’ small forward Kevan Durant.