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All-Star game should not decide home-field advantage

I love baseball, and, in my humble opinion, it is the most exciting sports game ever devised. Since 1947, enjoyably, I have watched the game. I have been privileged to see, in person, 12 World Series games. Perhaps the most memorable was the 1977 World Series pitting the New York Yankees against my beloved Dodgers. The Series lasted six games with the Yankees coming out on top. The highlight of that series was the remarkable performance by Yanks outfield, Reggie Jackson, Mr. October, who hit five home runs. The last four of those came off the first pitch thrown by four different Dodger pitchers. The last of them came off knuckleballer, Charlie Hough, and the ball landed in the center field black seats in the old Yankee Stadium. Now, that was a drive. Even as a Dodger fan, watching that performance in person, I could not help but to enjoy, and appreciate this unbelievable achievement.

It is remarkable how few changes have been employed to the game since the days of Abner Doubleday. Having said that, I think Commissioner, Bud Selig, made a terrible error when, in 2003, he changed the rules of the All-Star Game. The 2002 A.S. game ended in a tie because both teams ran out of players. So, in his judgment, Bud decided to change the rules of the game so the the winner would have, World Series, home-field advantage. I guess he felt this would make the cheese a little more binding. Until then, it alternated each year between the leagues, which was fair and sensible.

This is an exhibition game and is staged to display the very best athletes in both the American and National leagues. I repeat, It is an exhibition game, Bud! In my humble opinion, Commissioner Selig made a terrible error in judgment on his decision. It is unfair to either league. The best thing Bud could do in his closing year as commissioner is to announce the rule will revert back to what it was in 2002.

Think it over, Bud

John Troisi

Loyalsock

Submitted by E-Mail

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