The MLB All-Star Game and Homefield Advantage

[Little Jerry Lawler]

As we know, Bud Selig made a new rule around six or seven years ago that the winner of the All-Star Game would receive homefield advantage for the World Series. Many have criticized the rule citing that it would render the 162 game regular season worthless. Selig has stated he did this because it would give him time to book hotels, less time if the homefield went to the team with the best record.

I somewhat like the new rule but I would propose that the league with the best record at the end of interleague play should get the homefield advantage. Criticisms have already arose from this stating that most teams getting more games easier opponents than others. It's hard to please everybody and I believe Bud is doing the best he can.

So how do you think homefield advantage should be determined? By the All-Star Game, best regular season record or best interleague record(league or team)?

 

[klunderbunker]

This shouldn't be it. Why should the fate of who has home field advantage depend on what a Royals player does, when they're not going to get near the series? The home field advantage World Series should be decided by one thing and one thing only: who has the best record. If that's a tie, come up with something else but make it something they're on equal footing in. You're taking it away from the teams playing by putting it on the All Star game. That makes less than no sense as most of the players in the game won't be in the Series, so why should they have power over who has home field in it?

 

[X]

Well, I'm not going to lie, I happen to love the All Star Game rule. Why? Because I'm a Boston fan, and the AL wins the game every year. So obviously that helps us out if we make it to the World Series.

But, I do agree that the rule should be changed to the best regular season record. Anything that adds meaning to those last few weeks in September is okay in my book, because at that point many fans and players themselves just tune out and get ready for the playoffs if they're going to make it. Going for the best regular season record would give everyone some motivation to really give their all in those last few weeks of the season.

Plus, it's unfair to the losing side of the All Star Game. Wouldn't be very fair if a team with 80 wins received home field advantage over a team with a 100 wins.

 

[gd]

I understnd where Selig was coming from when he made this rule, he wanted to make the all star game meaningful. However, people still don't care about the all star game any more now that they did 10 years ago. Players will still skip it with minor injuries or for family reasons. They players don't care about it that much so why should we?

It's still a glorified exhibition game and is always will be. There is no reason that the all star game should have an affect on who has home field in the World Series, which is actually pretty important considering a win for the AL could be the difference for the Red Sox being able to start David Ortiz at DH for 4 games instead of 3.

Best record should determine who gets home field advantage in the World Series no doubt. I don't buy the hotel argument, if the NBA and NHL can do it why can't MLB? This rule should be changed ASAP.

 

[Cowboyfromhell]

I'm not a big fan of this rule, just because the managers can't manage the game like they would if they were trying to win. They try to get everybody in, pitchers are on a pitch count, etc...
I understand why this is done, it's an exhibition and every fan wants to see their player in the game, but if you're going to make it count for something you have to manage it differently. Starters need to play more than a couple innings. For example, Pujols should play the whole game at first. I'm a Phillies fan and I love Ryan Howard, but if you're trying to win a game for home field advantage in the all star game, Albert's the best first baseman in baseball and he should play as much as possible.
I also have a big problem with the game have any meaning if the starting line ups have been voted on by the fans. Some people vote honestly but there is a lot of ballot stuffing going on as well.
That all being said, it's still the best all star game in the 4 major sports.

 

[Thriller Ant]

It is a terrible idea. Like KB said, there are at least 6 guys on last place teams potentially effecting the outcome of the World Series, and that is beyond wrong. The better interleague record is a better idea, but still bad. Not all teams have the same quality interleague opponents, rendering those records basically useless. The team with the better overall record should have home field advantage in the series, no ands, ifs, or buts. They work the whole regular season to have the best record, why not reward them for it?