Fansided

MLB All-Star Game: Should home field advantage really be decided by the All-Star Game?

By CM Towle

Jun 24, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; An All Star Game banner hangs in the outfield prior to the game between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; An All Star Game banner hangs in the outfield prior to the game between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Unlike the other big sports, the MLB decides home field advantage in the World Series by the winner of the All-Star Game, but should that really be the case?

In the NFL, the site of the Super Bowl is chosen years in advance and so far no team has managed to make the Super Bowl when their stadium has been the hosting stadium. In the NBA, home court advantage is based on the teams’ records, which is simple and fair. But, in Major League Baseball, home field advantage is decided by which league’s team wins the All-Star Game in July.

Does this make sense?

First, consider that the All-Star Game is really just an exhibition of talent, and usually players don’t want to hurt themselves because there’s still a long season ahead. Last year’s All-Star Game was a great example of why the game should not determine home field advantage for the World Series. Two words: Derek Jeter. The fact that he was in the game at all was suspect, considering his stats that year, but then he was made lead-off hitter for the AL and he was very obviously grooved some pitches on a couple of occasions, which helped cancel out the AL’s decision for him to be there in the first place.

The thing is, that’s not the behavior of teams that want to win at all costs so that they might have home field advantage come October. The AL did win that game, but in the end it didn’t help the Royals defeat Madison Bumgarner’s superhuman effort.  So yes, home field advantage doesn’t necessarily guarantee a win, but the question is whether a largely powder-puff exhibition should be deciding it in the first place.

That’s the thing though, that is what the All-Star Game should be. A fun break from baseball wherein we get to see the best players on the field at the same time. Felix Hernandez vs Bryce Harper, that kind of thing. Not sitting there angrily railing at the manager for making dumb decisions that cost your favorite team’s league the game and thus, potential home field advantage for the World Series.

The MLB needs to take a cue from the other big sports and either choose a field in advance like the Super Bowl, maybe one from the AL one year and one from the NL the next, or have it decided by a regular season record like the NBA and NHL. The other way could be which league did better in interleague play during the season.

Anything but having the All-Star Game determine it.

More from Miscellaneous