All-Star Games: Midseason or After the Season?
Dec 18, 2007 Sports
With the NHL All-Star balloting in full swing (and the NFL winding down), I begin to think about All-Star games. Baseball fans always complain about the All-Star game being at the midway point, as it usually leaves out players who have a strong second half. The NBA and NHL work in a similar manner. The Pro Bowl, of course, is after the Super Bowl. I can’t remember the last time I watched it, I mean, meaningful football is over then, right? Which is preferable to you? Here’s how I break it down, let me know if there is anything I’ve missed:
Pros for the Midseason All-Star Games:
- Health - there’s a good chance players are still healthy enough to play
- I’m engaged - I’m more likely to watch the All-Star game if my team is still relevant
- I’m not burned out - I haven’t watched 100 games already
Pros for the End of Season All-Star Game:
-
It’s the stats, yo - you truly know who had the best statistical campaign
-
Whew, made it - even though most All-Star tilts are low impact affairs, you won’t have the risk of a serious injury affecting your team’s season (think Domink Hasek at the last Olympics)
All of them would be improved with some spirited competition, but it would take is more players caring about the job of entertaining their fans. At least most hockey players are likeable. Anyway, just thought I’d start a discussion about All-Star games.
Tags: all-star, allstar, baseball, basketball, football, Hockey, MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, Soccer
The Mitchell Report
Dec 13, 2007 MLB
Just thought I’d share this. We will need the levity before the bomb drops this afternoon.
Tags: baseball, fehr, george mitchell, hgh, mitchell, mitchell report, MLB, selig, steroids
Decide the Fate of 756
Sep 17, 2007 MLB
Vote for great justice. Mark Ecko is apparently the buyer of Barry Bonds 756th home run ball. He has given we, the people, three choices for the ball’s ultimate fate: give it to Cooperstown as-is, brand it with an asterisk and THEN give it to the Hall, or shoot it into space. I’m voting brand it.
Tags: 756, Barry Bonds, baseball, MLB
Never mind…Ankiel the Cheater
Sep 7, 2007 MLB
Ankiel got a full one year course of Human Growth Hormone, stopping it’s use just before it was banned by baseball. Way to take a ‘feel good’ story and turn it into yet another black eye for baseball. Ugh.
Rick Ankiel
Sep 1, 2007 MLB
With all the negative/controversial stories in pro sports, I’d like to highlight one of the coolest of the current baseball season, the triumphant return of Rick Ankiel. He originally broke into the majors in 1999 and pitched a full season for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000, going 11-7. He was a Rookie of the Year candidate heading into the postseason. Things came crashing down in the NLDS against the Braves, including a third inning in which he walked 4 and threw 5 wild pitches. The same thing happened in the first inning of an NLCS appearance, with 5 balls out of 20 getting past the catcher. As far as the coaches could tell, there was no issue with his mechanics so they decided it was all between his ears.
Ankiel bounced between the majors and minors for a few more years, never regaining the command he displayed in his rookie year. In 2005, after a practice session in which he was on target with only 3 of 20 pitches, Rick Ankiel announced he would switch to the outfield. He showed promise with his fielding and slugging, but a knee injury kept him on the shelf for 2006.
Rick again showed improvement as an outfielder in spring training this year, and was sent to AAA to ensure he got a lot of at-bats. Amazingly, he rolled up 30+ homers and went to the AAA All-Star game. Ankiel got his chance with the big show again on August 9th, hitting a homerun in the 7th inning of his first game back. On the 11th, he added two more and added a Grand Slam to win last night. His current statline reads: .328 BA, 5 HR, 17 RBI, .623 Slugging Percentage. It’s an incredible accomplishment, to make the majors TWICE at two different positions. Awesome.
Milestones Met
Aug 6, 2007 MLB
Bonds, Glavine and A-Rod all took care of business since last I blogged. Well, Bonds tied but has yet to exceed Hank Aaron’s home run total.
Milestone Night?
Jul 31, 2007 MLB
There are three milestones that could be bested in Major League Baseball tonight. Barry Bonds* goes for 755* and beyond*****, Tom Glavine is attempting to get his 300th win, and Alex Rodriguez is looking for his 500th home run. I’m probably most impressed by Glavine, unlike the incredibly inflating home run totals, 300 wins has gotten harder in his lifetime thanks to the five man rotation.
