Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, which has been subject to much tweaking since the infamous tie game in 2002, is getting another facelift.

 

MLB announced today that it has agreed with the players' union on several changes to the Midsummer Classic. A press release was quick to point out that the changes resulted from recommendations made by Commissioner Bud Selig's Special Committee for On-Field Matters

 

The key changes as outlined by MLB:

 

• The designated hitter rule will now be utilized by both teams regardless of whether the All-Star Game is played in an American League or a National League ballpark. The National League's starting DH will be selected by the NL manager, while the American League's starting DH will continue to be selected via fan balloting.
  
• Any pitcher selected to an All-Star Team who starts a regular season game on the Sunday immediately preceding the All-Star Game will not be eligible to pitch in the game and will be replaced on the roster. The pitcher who is ineligible to play in the All-Star Game will be recognized as an All-Star, will be welcome to participate in All-Star festivities and will be introduced in uniform.
  
• Rosters will be expanded from 33 players to 34 players, consisting of 21 position players and 13 pitchers. Last year's 33-man rosters consisted of 20 position players and 13 pitchers.
  
• In addition to the existing injured catcher rule, one additional position player who has been selected to an All-Star Team will be designated by each All-Star manager as eligible to return to the game in the event that the last position player at any position is injured.
  

The issue of pitchers' availability has reared its head frequently in recent years, most notably in 2008, when San Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum pitched eight innings the Sunday prior to the All-Star Game and was unavailable to pitch in the All-Star Game.

 

The All-Star roster evolution began in earnest in 2003, when Selig, in accordance with the union and Fox Sports, decided the game would determine home-field advantage in the World Series. That came one year after the game ended in an 11-inning tie. Since then, fan voting for a final roster spot, expanded pitching staffs and the catcher re-entry rule have been added, among other tweaks.

 

The All-Star changes are among the first recommendations adopted from Selig's 14-man committee, which also suggested eliminating an off day in the playoffs. It consists of managers Tony La Russa, Mike Scioscia, Jim Leyland and Joe Torre, eight current and former front-office executives and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, but no present players. A similar panel convened by USA TODAY in February suggested changes to the playoff schedule and World Series, among others

 

 

 

 

 

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2010/04/major-league-baseball-adopts-several-changes-to-all-star-game/1

The designated hitter rule will now be utilized by both teams regardless of whether the All-Star Game is played in an American League or a National League ballpark.

 

Could...this be a possible foreshadowing of a DH in National League games in the coming years?

The designated hitter rule will now be utilized by both teams regardless of whether the All-Star Game is played in an American League or a National League ballpark.

 

Could...this be a possible foreshadowing of a DH in National League games in the coming years?

ugh, i hope not.

i'm thinking it's just a "chicks dig the long ball" thing

The designated hitter rule will now be utilized by both teams regardless of whether the All-Star Game is played in an American League or a National League ballpark.

 

Could...this be a possible foreshadowing of a DH in National League games in the coming years?

Seriously, never going to happen. It's just for the All-Star Game.

I think the DH thing has to do more with preserving pitchers than trying to make the game more offense intensive.

 

MLB and Selig got a ton of criticism for the All Star Game ending in a tie. This group seemed to be addressing these issues only. I think the intent is to prevent the situation where the pitcher's spot would come up in the lineup, and the manager would feel compelled to take him out of the game prematurely to pinch hit for him.

 

Tommy talked about this today (although he did not mention the change in ASG rules) when Lamb pinch-hit for Hensley. Tommy observed that in the AL, Hensley probably would have gone a third inning. Since the Marlins had someone on base and the pitcher's spot was due up, Hensley left the game.

 

In other words, they are trying to preserve pitchers to avoid another tie. I don't think it will make that much of a difference, but I think this was their line of thinking.

The designated hitter rule will now be utilized by both teams regardless of whether the All-Star Game is played in an American League or a National League ballpark.

 

Could...this be a possible foreshadowing of a DH in National League games in the coming years?

 

nah I think they just don't want pitchers running the bases or up at the plate where they could get injured. Even if this decides world series home field advantage it's still an exhibition game

Yeah, that rule isn't gonna make a difference. And home field isn't a big advantage in the playoffs. Just ask all the wildcard teams who've made it to the World Series.