AMERICAN LEAGUE WINS . . . AGAIN
2006 All-Star game a taste of new, but same old result
STEVE BOHRN VOLUNTEER
On Tuesday, July 11, 2006, the best players in the major league of baseball took to PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA to take part in one of American baseball’s most storied traditions.
In total, 34 players were chosen from each of the American and National Leagues (AL and NL), to play in what is referred to in baseball circles as the Midsummer Classic. However, controversy reared its ugly head early on regarding the process by which all-stars are selected.
The festivities really started on Monday night with the Century 21 Home Run Derby. Eight players stood in the batter’s box and bashed as many balls as far as they possibly could. David Wright of the NY Mets hit 16 balls out of the yard to take an early lead. But he would eventually lose to Philadelphia Phillies youngster Ryan Howard, who hit an amazing 23 homers in total.
The derby set the stage for the rest of the weekend, as it wasn’t veterans like David Ortiz of the Red Sox that would step up, it was young guns like Howard, Wright, and Michael Young that were out to make a name for themselves.
Enter the controversy: league rules state that each team must have a representative at the Midsummer Classic. Players who may have deserved to play get shafted because there has to be a player from the “cellar dwellers.” This was exemplified by the inclusion of Kansas City Royals pitcher Mark Redman, whose very modest 5-4 record and 5.59 ERA at the time of selection pales in comparison to the players who got snubbed, like Red Sox ace Kurt Schilling.
It is this format then that keeps the Midsummer Classic from being a true “all” star game though it keeps the game from being a boring affair between the best players from the richest three or four teams, year after year.
The game itself proved to be a pitcher’s duel. It was a low-scoring affair, with NL starting pitcher Brad Penny setting the tone of the game early on by becoming only the second pitcher in All-Star game history to strike out all three batters he faced in the first inning.
The AL would go on to win 3-2 with a ninth inning homer by MVP Michael Young.
To many, the game seems to be a completely useless exhibition. However, it does in fact serve a purpose: the league that wins the all-star game gets home field advantage in the World Series.
This honour has fallen to the American League (AL) a great deal in the past 20 years. Including this year’s results, the AL has won a staggering 10 straight all-star games, while thoroughly dominating the NL along the way.
Indeed, since the league began having interleague play in the middle of the season, the AL has once again played a number on the NL.
It is quite odd that this disparity exists, because while it seems that both leagues may play the same sport, they do not seem to be playing in the same ball park. The richest teams in baseball are in the AL. The Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and the (love ’em or hate ’em) New York Yankees all call the AL home.
And because money is what drives the game, all the best players are attracted to the AL. And of course, people will pay more money to watch the good players, and so the vicious cycle begins. It is doubtful the NL will ever catch up to their AL counterparts.
Whether you look at the MLB allstar weekend as a pointless exhibition match or the best game of the year, it is exciting and it gives the players a much-needed break. And it makes for great TV too.
