tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3087498300135660680..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The worst All-Star game everBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7954922730428248342022-08-19T09:54:01.697-07:002022-08-19T09:54:01.697-07:00Indeed. The All-Star game is joyless and uninspir...<b>Indeed</b>. The All-Star game is joyless and uninspiring any longer. My experience places the blame on Joe Torre treating it like a little league game where the only goal is to let everyone play. It always struck me as bizarre that Selig was blamed for the calamity of the AL running out of players (the classic shrug photo didn't help). Torre ruined the game more than anyone. All those Yankee WS appearances led to him getting the keys to the Mid-Summer Once-Classic and driving that beauty into every tree in the forest. Torre made the game a joke. What's happening now is just the continuing transgression of the game.roundeye11noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3445874902454405212022-07-23T14:46:03.957-07:002022-07-23T14:46:03.957-07:00I don't have cable and don't live close en...I don't have cable and don't live close enough to our Fox affiliate to get it over the air. After reading your review, I'm counting my blessings.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12080056959359759006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48382647241755968912022-07-22T12:14:25.898-07:002022-07-22T12:14:25.898-07:00“[Baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to b...“[Baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall all alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”<br /> - A. Bartlett Giamatti<br /> President of Yale, Professor of English Renaissance Literature<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74079390644194751572022-07-22T10:15:03.315-07:002022-07-22T10:15:03.315-07:00@Mike Barer
The last time the ASG was scheduled f...@Mike Barer<br /><br />The last time the ASG was scheduled for this late in the season was 1977 at Yankee Stadium, when the game was also July 19. Since then it has generally been scheduled for the second Tuesday in July. I don't know why they went with the third Tuesday this year. In 1969 and 72-74 they went really late on the fourth Tuesday in July.ScarletNumbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46266037507863778422022-07-22T09:54:19.622-07:002022-07-22T09:54:19.622-07:00"Anonymous said...
@D McEwan
Nice view of lif...<i>"Anonymous said...<br />@D McEwan<br />Nice view of life you have.<br />What matters to you is important.<br />what matters to others isn't.<br />And Trump manages to creep into something that doesn't have anything to do with it."</i><br /><br />Trump has befouled everything in America. And Trump's horrific effect on America, his ongoing attempts to overthrow Democracy, <i>does</i> matter. Who wins a baseball game does not. It is a trivial amusement at best, and "matters" not one whit more than the Oscars "matter." I do enjoy watching the Oscars, but I'm not idiot enough to think they "matter," except to the millionaires to whom an Oscar may mean they can buy a third house, just as baseball only "matters" to millionaire players and team owners, where a championship may mean they can buy a third house.<br /><br />If the outcome of every baseball game ever played had been the reverse of what they were, all the winners lost, all the losers won, it would have exactly zero effect on anything that matters.<br /><br />At least I have the guts to sign my comments with my own name, Mr. "Anonymous" Coward.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50034701285788929992022-07-21T18:30:36.469-07:002022-07-21T18:30:36.469-07:00This comment us why Fox did what they did. Young v...This comment us why Fox did what they did. Young viewer, here. Old man yelling at clouds doesn't sound good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17875701787161973472022-07-21T16:55:15.315-07:002022-07-21T16:55:15.315-07:00I haven't watched much baseball in years, but ...I haven't watched much baseball in years, but I always wonder why they make changes like this that aren't going to rope in people who aren't fans and often irritate the hardcore and even casual fan. <br /><br />I will say that as an Oriole fan living in Kentucky, it was nearly impossible as a kid to see the Orioles play on TV in a region where most teams were National League. Now, if I want to see them play, at least I'll get an opportunity near my home when they play the Reds. So I kind of like interleague games for that reason. <br /><br />I really don't understand the uniform thing. You can create an all star uniform that is both a special edition AND represents the team fully. Put a damned star somewhere on it and some special borders on the logo or something. <br />Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923161793979910495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46292793135350084702022-07-21T15:05:18.231-07:002022-07-21T15:05:18.231-07:00Can't disagree with a single point you made. I...Can't disagree with a single point you made. I still remember Pete Rose bowling over C Ray Fosse at the plate on a bang-bang play. That they had dinner the night before didn't matter to Charlie Hustle. MikeKPa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69366296777361107072022-07-21T14:10:03.970-07:002022-07-21T14:10:03.970-07:00Couldn't disagree more about the players being...Couldn't disagree more about the players being mic'd up. That was fantastic. Some absolutely great "inside" stuff. And it gave me exactly what I want from an all-star game: something I'll NEVER get from a regular game.<br /><br />Those uniforms, though, were pretty bad. As was that Big Papi segment.David Arnottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65725864890337616822022-07-21T13:33:50.299-07:002022-07-21T13:33:50.299-07:00I have to agree on all points Ken. I was talking t...I have to agree on all points Ken. I was talking to a friend about inter-league play just a few days ago. I don't like for the same reasons you don't. I used to love the All-Star game, loved it. But yes, that's in the past. The home uni's weren't ugly, but just looked generic, and the away uni's were pretty awful, but Nike loves selling jerseys. I however wouldn't buy one. As for the announcing, it sounds like every other team's play by play, they all sound alike. Could we clone Vin Scully please, I miss him...Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816461829621572787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87383997299218721792022-07-21T12:40:39.553-07:002022-07-21T12:40:39.553-07:00All great points and still the All-Star game was a...All great points and still the All-Star game was a goofy party. People walked around Dodger Stadium in their team colors from all over the league and aside from Houston which still gets hate for the cheating scandal all teams seemed welcome by the home crowd. It was certainly a meaningless game but it's been that way for a few years. It was more of a sweet pageant. There was a baseball convention, home run derby, and a game. Giant flags for no reason. Jets flying overhead for no reason. None of it meant anything but it was all a celebration of the game. And for me, that's always what the All Star game has always been, a big but pleasant nothing. Now that all teams have designated hitters, teams that used to be in the NL are now in the AL. And they play each other during the year anyway so... none of it matters. But again, it was a nice afternoon. My first and probably last All-Star game. JayKogenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13290283090591043127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59465578696957644932022-07-21T11:00:35.705-07:002022-07-21T11:00:35.705-07:00Boy, did this comment hit home. In 1979, the year ...Boy, did this comment hit home. In 1979, the year I turned 10, my family moved from the country - where we received two TV channels - to the big city - where we now had access to this wonder called cable. One afternoon I turned on the TV and came across major league baseball for the first time. I went nuts when Pirates catcher Ed Ott hit a grand slam against the Phillies to win the game. I instantly fell in love with baseball and decided the Pirates were my team. Of course, they won the Series in that greatest of years.Bob Zirunkelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14144257973698823582022-07-21T10:40:18.146-07:002022-07-21T10:40:18.146-07:00Fellow Mike and company, you need to check the twi...Fellow Mike and company, you need to check the twitter feed "oldhossradbourn," where he claims to be the 19th century pitcher and does great stuff, including on how Smoltz complains about everything.<br /><br />Actually, I don't think Smoltz really hates baseball, but I think of something that both Lindsey Nelson and Jack Buck (all rise for two of the greats) said in almost the same words: We played the game as amateurs who weren't very good, as opposed to MLBers who dealt with the ups and downs, so we still view the game romantically, while ex-players can't convey the romance. To make a comparison with someone on football, love him or hate him, Tony Romo is having fun analyzing the game. I don't get that sense from Smoltz. Frankly, I haven't gotten that sense from anyone since the crew of Scully and Garagiola--and Joe had done enough play-by-play to know that that is who has to run the show, not the analyst.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05266475919252239220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17671142157986482472022-07-21T10:25:35.980-07:002022-07-21T10:25:35.980-07:00@D McEwan
Nice view of life you have.
What matters...@D McEwan<br />Nice view of life you have.<br />What matters to you is important.<br />what matters to others isn't.<br />And Trump manages to creep into something that doesn't have anything to do with it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46818192611542749742022-07-21T09:01:23.588-07:002022-07-21T09:01:23.588-07:00Ken, ever since I read this article I've wonde...Ken, ever since I read this article I've wondered what your response would be. Have you heard about the Savannah Bananas? <br /><br />https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/arts/dance/savannah-bananas-tik-tok-baseball.html?searchResultPosition=1<br /><br />Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272016833588872866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39035734118901543952022-07-21T08:42:49.903-07:002022-07-21T08:42:49.903-07:00"Anonymous said...
Used to matter to a lot of...<i>"Anonymous said...<br />Used to matter to a lot of people, Mr. McEwan"</i><br /><br />It's a children's game. Who wins or loses one truly doesn't ever matter. The "Lots of people" argument is irrelevant. Lots of people voted for Trump. A lot of people can be very, very wrong.<br /><br />A larger group of people absolutely don't care.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38171333228453033722022-07-21T05:57:37.637-07:002022-07-21T05:57:37.637-07:00I agree with most of what you say, but I did enjoy...I agree with most of what you say, but I did enjoy the back and forth with the pitchers on the mound (who did seem genuinely happy to strike people out), even to the point that Smoltz was calling for pitches and giving scouting reports on batters. I wouldn't want to see that during a regular season or playoff game, but the ASG seems like a good place to have some fun with that. Otherwise, yes, the booth, the uniforms, that dumb Big Papi stunt all were crappy.Charles H Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30327283832791941322022-07-20T22:42:30.254-07:002022-07-20T22:42:30.254-07:00I think we're being way too harsh with @whynot...I think we're being way too harsh with @whynot. I have no idea who he/she is or how old he/she might be but if the person is under 55 I can see their point. <br /><br />Most everyone is pointing to the '70 All Star Game with Pete Rose as their proof that players really want to be there. However in the decades that followed there have been countless players who either have refused to go to the game or have feigned an injury so that they can have the four or five days off. These players are conditioned for the full season and probably prize a four or five day "vacation" so that they can tackle the second half with renewed vigor and help their team get into the playoffs. <br /><br />And if they get injured like Ray Fosse did in '70 they may have to miss either the season or possibly the remainder of their career. That would cost them millions and could cost their team a shot at the World Series.Bruce Petersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84124701086168371482022-07-20T22:23:13.133-07:002022-07-20T22:23:13.133-07:00Ken you are right on the money. Long time readers...Ken you are right on the money. Long time readers of the blog know that you have a lifetime of interest and even participation in the baseball industry, so you are speaking from a position of respect and passion for the game. As I was reading all your examples it sort of hit me that the networks seem to be making changes that they think will appeal primarily to people who don't like baseball. As in, some genius in marketing said: "Baseball is boring and losing popularity. Instead of focusing on entertaining the die hard baseball fans, how can we appeal to people who don't really like baseball but may channel surf and stick around to see what David Ortiz has to say in the dugout... during the game..."Bronsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01237142904748932852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82074958692769975282022-07-20T21:23:13.252-07:002022-07-20T21:23:13.252-07:00Oh for Pete's sake--the "Pee Wee Herman&q...Oh for Pete's sake--the "Pee Wee Herman" referred to is sportscaster and sideline haunter Ken Rosenthal. <br /><br />I watch the game to see MY heroes play, and don't really care about the rest. Julio Rodriguez is the real deal, folks--and you can't have him! The utter joy he brings to the game (and even the Derby, which he demolished) is one of the few things MLB should trumpet as loudly as possible as often as possible.<br /><br />I feel like I'm in a room with a bunch of senior citizens. Ignore the gimmicks and listen to the fun the players were having. I LOVED the pitcher and catcher being mic'd up so we could be privy to what they were going to throw, and judge how successful they were in implementing each pitch. That alone made the game special to me.<br /><br />For Pete's Sake (again)--it's just an exhibition!austinspacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16442891248185123443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3891078502141762012022-07-20T21:21:47.771-07:002022-07-20T21:21:47.771-07:00Also, because being in LA, it was still daytime fo...Also, because being in LA, it was still daytime for most of the game. With the shadows, it was hard to see anything, especially the AL players since they were wearing black uniforms.Eli Ganiasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46716020831982275542022-07-20T21:07:00.142-07:002022-07-20T21:07:00.142-07:00I'm surprised you were awake to watch it. Hav...I'm surprised you were awake to watch it. Having the games so late means the next generation doesn't care about major league baseball.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80052769679210310312022-07-20T19:34:59.779-07:002022-07-20T19:34:59.779-07:00It sucked I watched. 5 min and threw up. Quit tryi...It sucked I watched. 5 min and threw up. Quit trying to do too much. Corporate America does that. Toooooo much crapAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63489615419446637532022-07-20T19:03:30.869-07:002022-07-20T19:03:30.869-07:00Used to matter to a lot of people, Mr. McEwanUsed to matter to a lot of people, Mr. McEwanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37053087009619808592022-07-20T18:46:18.864-07:002022-07-20T18:46:18.864-07:00Graham, how right you are—That’s exactly what I wa...Graham, how right you are—That’s exactly what I was thinking of when an All-Star Game meant something-Pete Rose bowling over Ray Fosse at home plate.……I’ll never forget how a good friend of mine , a National League guy ,came over to my house hoping the Dodgers, Clem Labine , would strike out Mickey Mantle. Undoubtedly, free agency, where players go from one team to another led to where we’ve come today with the game meaning absolutely nothing, and what those in charge deem “entertainment” (what they had “Big Poppy” do was the pinnacle of stupidity and juvenile)….Sometimes so-called progress Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com