According to Jayson Stark over on ESPN Bud Selig and Major League Baseball didn't take too kindly to the Kansas City Royals fans boo-ing Robinson Cano in Monday Night's Home Run Derby.
The fans let Cano hear it when he was announced and subsequently on every out he made in the Home Run Derby. Much to the delight of the fans Cano finished with a grand total of 0 Home Runs.
Cano sparked the ire of the fans after he did not select hometown favorite, and the only Royal in the All-Star Game, DH Billy Butler for the Derby.
The reaction from fans on Twitter was divided as well with some fans felling it was disgraceful while others thoroughly enjoyed the reaction.
According to Commissioner Selig MLB could discuss changing the Home Run Derby in the off-season to reserve a spot for a hometown player (next year would mean a N.Y. Met).
Truthfully it is an overreaction by Selig and would be a silly rule to put in place. What would happen if the Miami Marlins were hosting the All-Star Game this season? Technically they did not have an All-Star after Giancarlo Stanton was replaced because of injury. Would you have forced the NL to take another Marlin? Or image the Padres were hosting. Their home run leader is Chase Headley. He has 8, count'em 8, dingers this season. How much fun would that be for fans watching on television? It also doesn't stop the fans from booing any of the other contestants.
The Home Run Derby is already becoming a stale event. The fans booing Cano at Kauffman Stadium on Monday Night was a breath of fresh air. Baseball would be silly to try to take that away, after all I'm sure they got a ratings boost once Twitter exploded.
Showing posts with label All-Star Game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All-Star Game. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
MLB All-Star Game: Do You Care?
I certainly don't.
It seems as though more and more Americans are agreeing with me as well.
In 2011 the Major League Baseball All-Star Game had an average of 11 million viewers. That was down from 12.1 million in 2010. In 2009 and 2008 the average viewership was 14.6 and 14.5 million viewers respectively.
The highest viewership for the All-Star Game was back in 1976 when the game got 36.3 million viewers. Ever since that time the average viewership has steadily declined.
It's not just MLB either. I am not a fan of any of the "all-star" games (in the NFL it would be the Pro Bowl). I think they're all a waste of time.
Adding the gimmick of the winning league getting home field advantage in the World Series is the most ridiculous thing any sport has ever come up with. Why on Earth would a meaningless exhibition game played in July hold a greater weight that a 162 game schedule that covers (sometimes) March to (sometimes) October? I have no idea and I am amazed that the rule still lives today. Obviously the thinking was, after the tie in 2002, players and managers would try harder to win the game. I don't think that has been the case and the numbers certainly show that fans have lost interest in the gimmick.
Please, Bud Selig be a pioneer and cancel the Midsummer Classic.
It seems as though more and more Americans are agreeing with me as well.
In 2011 the Major League Baseball All-Star Game had an average of 11 million viewers. That was down from 12.1 million in 2010. In 2009 and 2008 the average viewership was 14.6 and 14.5 million viewers respectively.
The highest viewership for the All-Star Game was back in 1976 when the game got 36.3 million viewers. Ever since that time the average viewership has steadily declined.
It's not just MLB either. I am not a fan of any of the "all-star" games (in the NFL it would be the Pro Bowl). I think they're all a waste of time.
Adding the gimmick of the winning league getting home field advantage in the World Series is the most ridiculous thing any sport has ever come up with. Why on Earth would a meaningless exhibition game played in July hold a greater weight that a 162 game schedule that covers (sometimes) March to (sometimes) October? I have no idea and I am amazed that the rule still lives today. Obviously the thinking was, after the tie in 2002, players and managers would try harder to win the game. I don't think that has been the case and the numbers certainly show that fans have lost interest in the gimmick.
Please, Bud Selig be a pioneer and cancel the Midsummer Classic.
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