All-Star Game -- USA vs. the World?

[EvanAparra]

YahooSports' Jeff Passan poses this question...

"There is one solution to imbue the game with intrigue, and that is to put players from the U.S. on one side of the ballot and players from every other country on the other side and let the fans choose the best starting lineups for each. Already they seem to do a good job: In both leagues, five starters are from the U.S. and five outside of it."

Here's the rest of the story:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-allstar071006&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Then, here he printed some of the letters he got back from readers.
(including mine, i just saw it today, so thats why im posing the question now)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-letters072106&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

So, what do you all think? If you don't like his idea, what do you think would improve the game? Or are you like me and think the game is fine the way it is?

[Astro]

Sounds like the NHL... and I hate the NHL

Keep it like it is

[brewcrew82]

If they change the All Star game, how else will we decide who has home field advantage in the Wold Series? ;)

[s.f.]

A-Rod and Pujols. Which team would they be on?

[Astro]

A-Rod on the US, Pujols on the World

The World would consist of any Japenese player, then the best players after that

The US would consist of any almost all Yankee and Red Sox players, then the best after 12 or 13 of those

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Sounds like the NHL... and I hate the NHL

Keep it like it is
Yeah well, some of us like the NHL here, you know what, I hate the NFL! :grouchy

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Oh sorry, gosh, in the NHL, it's NORTH AMERICA vs. WORLD.

[maximum jack]

What Passan doesn't get is that the All-Star game is a break from serious competition. I think it's silly that home field advantage for the WS rests on its outcome, but that doesn't mean I'm for a U.S. against the world game. Don't we have enough of these match-ups in other sports that everyone else in the world takes more seriously then we do?

Doesn't the Japanese season coincide with our's? Why not pit our WS champion against their champion? Now that could be exciting! Closer to a real world series, although it might take away from the aura of our WS-- I could just see the empty seats at Turner Field during the World Series with the lethargic Braves fans waiting for their team to get to the real championship before heading out to support them.

[W_Marone]

If it were the USA vs the World we would get smoked, just like in the WBC.

[SamtheBravesFan]

If it were the USA vs the World we would get smoked, just like in the WBC.

Well, that is if the top players eligible for the USA don't take it seriously.

And USA vs. World? That's fine for the Futures game, but for the real ASG? That'd get boring real fast.

[The Tim Shaw]

Seriously, we all enjoy the "USA rules" mind-set, but come one now people...the USA would get owned. the World team would put us in a headlock and tickle torcher us...actually I would enjoy watching this!

[SamtheBravesFan]

Seriously, we all enjoy the "USA rules" mind-set, but come one now people...the USA would get owned. the World team would put us in a headlock and tickle torcher us...actually I would enjoy watching this!

I never said the USA would win gauranteed. But my God, why give the world something else to brag about? They already beat us in everything else right now.

EDIT: Wait a second! No one has said the USA WOULD win a matchup like that!

[Astro]

Yeah well, some of us like the NHL here, you know what, I hate the NFL! :grouchy
A very very small few like the NHL

[Captain Cold Nose]

A very very small few like the NHL
Not the time nor the place to discuss this.

[Astro]

Not the time nor the place to discuss this.
Oh but it is, this is the same format the NHL uses, and as a comparison tool I have used it

[Dravecky43]

They already beat us in everything else right now.
Hey! What are you talking about! Our amateur and lower-professional teams have dominated this year! The US won the Women's World Cup (baseball version), the World University Championship, the Americas Olympic Qualifier, and Team USA Youth won the COPABE Pan Am Championships. The only national team not to take gold was the Junior National team, which barely lost to Korea in the championsip of the IBAF Junior Championship tournament.

And three of our teams beat Cuba!

[W_Marone]

Seriously, we all enjoy the "USA rules" mind-set, but come one now people...the USA would get owned. the World team would put us in a headlock and tickle torcher us...actually I would enjoy watching this!

Hahahaha, well...USA does rule...haha well...except for in basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, most olympic stuff next to snowboarding, marathons, but hey, there is one thing we do rule in, bullying people. Yes. O and cockynyess....which I love. Have fun boys.

[EvanAparra]

Hahahaha, well...USA does rule...haha well...except for in basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, most olympic stuff next to snowboarding, marathons, but hey, there is one thing we do rule in, bullying people. Yes. O and cockynyess....which I love. Have fun boys.

I mean really...what does the U.S. win in anymore... oo basketball...nooo....baseball...no.....GOLF! no..... Tennis! no... I wonder if the US would even win a football game??

How about a Japan vs. the World baseball game... much more fair.

[W_Marone]

Yeah, or MLB vs Japan, that wouldnt be bad either, although that is pretty much World VS Japan.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

If it were the USA vs the World we would get smoked, just like in the WBC.
you got smoked against Canada too!

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

A very very small few like the NHL
What the heck are you talking about? Maybe in certain parts of the USA but you are totally wrong there, a LOT of people love hockey, including our dear Captain Cold Nose here, it is the MOST popular sport in Canada and in certains places in the USA, hmmm, mind you, the Colorado Avalanche have sold out 4,504 consecutive games and Detroit is nicknamed "Hockeyville", and last time I checked, a lot of Yankee fans are New York Rangers fans as well.

[TheKingofKings]

What the heck are you talking about? Maybe in certain parts of the USA but you are totally wrong there, a LOT of people love hockey, including our dear Captain Cold Nose here, it is the MOST popular sport in Canada and in certains places in the USA, hmmm, mind you, the Colorado Avalanche have sold out 4,504 consecutive games and Detroit is nicknamed "Hockeyville", and last time I checked, a lot of Yankee fans are New York Rangers fans as well.

Go Hockey Go

[SamtheBravesFan]

Hey! What are you talking about! Our amateur and lower-professional teams have dominated this year! The US won the Women's World Cup (baseball version), the World University Championship, the Americas Olympic Qualifier, and Team USA Youth won the COPABE Pan Am Championships. The only national team not to take gold was the Junior National team, which barely lost to Korea in the championsip of the IBAF Junior Championship tournament.

And three of our teams beat Cuba!

I'm talking about other sports, and the top-most level. Soccer, hockey, golf, and yes, even basketball. So therefore, why should MLB use what has failed in the NHL, especially when it gives the international venue another reason to rag on the United States?

EDIT: And by the way, I've been a fan of the Montreal Canadiens for 11 years. ;)

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

EDIT: And by the way, I've been a fan of the Montreal Canadiens for 11 years. ;)
Go Habs go!! You too eh? :waving

[SamtheBravesFan]

Go Habs go!! You too eh? :waving

Yep. :) I read up on hockey when I was 12 and got drawn in by the mystique of the Habs. I'm still a fan of them, I won't stop. :D

[Captain Cold Nose]

Hey, I like the Canadiens and the Red Wings (that's Hockeytown), having grown up with both of them. But this is not a place to discuss how popular hockey is or isn't or who likes what teams.

For the ASG to go to an us vs. them format would not only be foolhardy, but it would be even more of a humbling experience than the WBC. Enough tinkering has been done as it is.

[SamtheBravesFan]

For the ASG to go to an us vs. them format would not only be foolhardy, but it would be even more of a humbling experience than the WBC. Enough tinkering has been done as it is.

You know, I don't like the format, but I think it's foolish to assume the United States is going to lose in that format. Doesn't everyone realize that the USA literally had their B/C team at catcher, the outfield and relievers in the WBC? For God's sake, Al Leiter, Mike Timlin and Gary Majewski were on the pitching staff! And Jeff Francoeur was in the outfield!! Does anyone remember that Mark Teixeria didn't get a single hit in the tournament? And that Dontrelle Willis and Jake Peavy pitched like crap? You all actually think that's going to happen again?

[Captain Cold Nose]

You know, I don't like the format, but I think it's foolish to assume the United States is going to lose in that format. Doesn't everyone realize that the USA literally had their B/C team at catcher, the outfield and relievers in the WBC? For God's sake, Al Leiter, Mike Timlin and Gary Majewski were on the pitching staff! And Jeff Francoeur was in the outfield!! Does anyone remember that Mark Teixeria didn't get a single hit in the tournament? And that Dontrelle Willis and Jake Peavy pitched like crap? You all actually think that's going to happen again?
It could. After the rest of the world caught up to the U.S. college basketball players and somone else legitimately won the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal, putting together the top pros only worked for so long. With so many good international players, especially from U.S. neighbors in the Western Hemisphere, on the same team, it won't be easy.
In any single game, of course, the U.S. has an excellent shot, as any one team could beat another team through the course of one game, so I don't think it's an easy conclusion, now that I think about it.
And the more I do, I can see this happening, with Bud always talking about the globalization of the game.

[SamtheBravesFan]

It could. After the rest of the world caught up to the U.S. college basketball players and somone else legitimately won the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal, putting together the top pros only worked for so long. With so many good international players, especially from U.S. neighbors in the Western Hemisphere, on the same team, it won't be easy.
In any single game, of course, the U.S. has an excellent shot, as any one team could beat another team through the course of one game, so I don't think it's an easy conclusion, now that I think about it.
And the more I do, I can see this happening, with Bud always talking about the globalization of the game.

I didn't say that it couldn't happen. I agree that the world has gotten much better in the international sports scene. What I'm upset about is that people assume that the United States will lose in that situation gauranteed, even if they put their best, well-rounded team out there. Doesn't it seem that if the world puts their best, well-rounded team out there, that they could lose too? Or has this "we're losing in the international sports scene" stuff become so pervasive that it makes a person like me look like a lunatic?

[Captain Cold Nose]

I didn't say that it couldn't happen. I agree that the world has gotten much better in the international sports scene. What I'm upset about is that people assume that the United States will lose in that situation gauranteed, even if they put their best, well-rounded team out there. Doesn't it seem that if the world puts their best, well-rounded team out there, that they could lose too? Or has this "we're losing in the international sports scene" stuff become so pervasive that it makes a person like me look like a lunatic?
Going against what has become conventional wisdom does not make you a lunatic.

However, and I'm with you on this one, if this is still a single game, where both teams go in without opportunity of playing together over the long haul, as well as not having the opportunity to have an easy tourney schedule as opposed to a tougher tourney schedule, the U.S. has as good a shot as the International team to win in this format. The dynamic is different here than it is for the Olympics or similar-sanctioned events.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Going against what has become conventional wisdom does not make you a lunatic.

However, and I'm with you on this one, if this is still a single game, where both teams go in without opportunity of playing together over the long haul, as well as not having the opportunity to have an easy tourney schedule as opposed to a tougher tourney schedule, the U.S. has as good a shot as the International team to win in this format. The dynamic is different here than it is for the Olympics or similar-sanctioned events.

Well, I feel like a lunatic. :eek: I wonder what it makes me then.

The only way to see what would happen in this format is if it were implemented. And that's not going to happen.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Well, I feel like a lunatic. :eek: I wonder what it makes me then.

The only way to see what would happen in this format is if it were implemented. And that's not going to happen.
Some are called prophets. :cool:

[mwiggins]

Looking over the 2006 allstar teams, here's probably the starting lineups if it was US vs. world...(just based on where they were born)

US TEAM

p-hallady
c - lo duca
1b - howard
2b - utley
ss - jeter
3b - a-rod or wright
of - wells
of - holliday
of - dye

WORLD TEAM

p - santana
c - i-rod
1b - pujols or ortiz
2b - lopez
ss - reyes or tejada
3b - cabrerra
of - beltran
of - soriano
of - vlad or ichiro or bay or jones

And that's limiting the world team to just MLB players.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Looking over the 2006 allstar teams, here's probably the starting lineups if it was US vs. world...(just based on where they were born)

US TEAM

p-hallady
c - lo duca
1b - howard
2b - utley
ss - jeter
3b - a-rod or wright
of - wells
of - holliday
of - dye

WORLD TEAM

p - santana
c - i-rod
1b - pujols or ortiz
2b - lopez
ss - reyes or tejada
3b - cabrerra
of - beltran
of - soriano
of - vlad or ichiro or bay or jones

And that's limiting the world team to just MLB players.
If it is the MLB All Star Game, it really should be limited to MLB players. That's what the NHL does, not to open up hockey for discussion.