A Positive Change in Baseball

Wow, I didn't think I'd say that. I mean, Interleague Play has been allright, but makes the All-Star game and World Series lose a bit of its mysterious luster, thus lessening people's curiosity. The league winner of the All-Star Game was then said to have the home-field advantage in the World Series. That was a joke and no, I'm not laughing.

But, just today, well, I guess, last evening, there was a positive change in the game of baseball. The only problem is, this change will only affect one event for the entire season and no, we're not talking about the World Series, either. I'm talking about the Home Run Derby. Yeah, that event which takes place a day before the All-Star game, where guys attempt to hit as many balls with that wooden bat of theirs over the fence before reaching ten outs. In years past, the players would start over again at 0 after each and every round. Philadelphia Phillies' right fielder Bobby Abreu hit a record-setting 24 home runs in the opening round of the derby a year ago, but had to start back over at 0 for round two. Well, starting this year, that would no longer be the case. If someone put on a spectacular show like Abreu did last year, those numerous home runs hit in round one would carry over to round two. I think that's the right thing to do. It's not like in the regular season, players start back over again at the midway point of the season. No, those numbers carry on over throughout the 162 games played. I always hated it when a player belted out 25 total home runs in the derby, but lost to a guy who had hit 15. That just doesn't sound right, does it? I mean, if Hank Aaron hit 47 homers in the season, but only 20 of those came after break and another guy hit 35 homers, with 25 of them coming after break, Hammerin' Hank should still have the home run lead (and possible title) over this other guy. Sometimes players like to make believe that they can start again from clean slate in the second half of the season, since they had such a disappointing first half, but I'm sorry to disappoint them, the scorekeepers will not be on the exact same wavelength as they. Even if they go a perfect 4-for-4 in their first game back after the All-Star break, they will not be batting 1.000 overall. They may only be batting .250. So, for once, I'd like to personally congratulate baseball for making a decent change in the sport. Unfortunately, it's a change that doesn't matter much, but it's a start. Hopefully they can move on from here to bigger and better things, such as, say, that dang home-field advantage in the World Series being awarded to the winner of the All-Star game!