If the All-Star Game is truly for the fans, as baseball's leadership insists, then major changes should be in the offing.
In a poll of 655 adults from June 26 to July 5, many of them showed interest in changes in the All-Star Game. Whether MLB is listening, however, is an open question.
A poll conducted by Knowledge Networks for the Associated Press and released yesterday showed 56 percent of fans opposed to using the All-Star Game to determine which league's champion gets to open the World Series at home. Only 42 percent of the fans agreed with the current format.
More than half of the voters - 55 percent - said teams should not have a guaranteed spot on the all-star rosters, and a whopping 82 percent said players penalized under MLB's drug policy should not be allowed into the All-Star Game in the year they are punished.
The link between the All-Star Game's result and home-field advantage in the World Series began in 2003, and the American League has won every game since.
Thus the Fall Classic has opened in the AL park for six straight years, and the AL representative is 9-3 in those 12 games.
Still, the NL has won three of the six Series since - the Marlins in 2003, the Cardinals in 2006 and the Phillies last fall.
Unfortunately, the chances of ending the link at any time soon are exactly zero. What began as a two-year experiment in 2003 is now part of the labor contract through 2011, and neither the players' union nor management seems interested in a change.
The fans? Who are they?
Late additions
Milwaukee's Trevor Hoffman, the major-league career saves leader, was added to the NL's all-star squad, as was Pittsburgh pitcher Zach Duke.
Hoffman, in his first season with the Brewers, replaced Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton, who has an injured toe. Duke replaced San Francisco starter Matt Cain, who took a line drive off his right arm Saturday.
The baron of balks
New York Mets righthander Mike Pelfrey committed his sixth balk yesterday, becoming the first pitcher with six balks in a season since Chris Michalak with Toronto and Texas in 2001, according to Stats LLC.
Slugger on the mound
Chicago Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano pounded out his 19th career home run yesterday in a 7-3 win over St. Louis. The total is tops among pitchers in the history of one of baseball's oldest franchises.
Now it's real
Lefthander Eric Milton of the Los Angeles Dodgers was on the disabled list Thursday with what some suspected might be a phantom back injury designed to create a roster spot.
But he went out for a run Thursday in the outfield at Citi Field in New York and came down with a real back problem. He underwent an MRI exam on Friday, which revealed a herniated disk.
The 33-year-old pitcher, who missed the previous two seasons recovering from an elbow operation, will be examined in Los Angeles today. The ex-Phillie is not expected to pitch again anytime soon.
Noteworthy
The Dodgers finished their best first half in 32 years at 56-32. The 1977 Dodgers were 57-31 after 88 games. . . . The St. Louis Cardinals optioned reliever Blake Hawksworth to triple-A Memphis. . . . The Florida Marlins sent Doug West to double-A Jacksonville and bought the contract of former Minnesota reliever Luis Ayala from triple-A New Orleans. . . . The Atlanta Braves activated infielder Greg Norton from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Gregor Blanco to triple-A Gwinnett. . . . The Cincinnati Reds recalled infielder Adam Rosales from triple-A Louisville. . . . The Houston Astros optioned righthander Felipe Paulino to triple-A Round Rock and will likely bring lefty Wesley Wright up when play resumes Thursday. . . . The Washington Nationals will option lefthander Ross Detwiler to triple-A Syracuse and bring up righthander Garrett Mock.
Contact staff writer Don McKee at 215-854-4611
or dmckee@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
