Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
July 17, 2008
Is a Tie Okay?

David Steele didn't like what went on during the All-Star game because of the over-reaction to the 2002 tie:

And this, we're being reminded in the days afterward, was a "classic." Unlike that disgrace in 2002, when it didn't count, when no pitcher's season (and thus his team's) was potentially ruined by overwork in an exhibition game, when we didn't have to endure late-inning managerial strategizing, and when we went to bed at a decent hour. How did we ever live through that nightmare?

Just file this one away under Things In Sports We Were Convinced Had To Change, But Really Didn't. Right next to the college football bowl system. That, too, seemed archaic, until we got a look at the alternative (the Bowl Championship Series).

He seems very concerned with George Sherrill:

Let's hope, meanwhile, that Orioles closer George Sherrill's answer won't be, "I blew out my arm in the middle of the best season of my life." In which case, Dave Trembley might tell his grandkids, "That was the beginning of the end of my managerial career."

On second thought, All-Star ties just aren't that big a deal. So Bud, pal, chum, this thing you fixed a few years back, can you go ahead and unfix it?

Of course, Sherrill had a pretty easy 2 1/3 innings. He threw 25 pitches, a level he's reached or exceeded four times during the regular season. He wasn't exactly overworked.

Steele does make a good point about how the reaction to the tie might have been more driven by Selig's befuddlement than the actual result.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:49 AM | All-Star Game | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Ties are not ok.

These are professional ballplayers and are paid to play including in the all start game. We fans expect them to do so.

I was so disgusted with the all star game I actually swore off baseball for a time and was only drawn back in due to an argument at work. A co worker commenting on the sox losing the first two to Oakland saying the series was over annoyed me. I pointed out that you have to actually Win the games to win the series and although I didn't watch the next two games took smug satisfaction at the Red Sox wins. By game 5 I was hooked again in time to be crushed by Grady/Pedro the next week.

Its just as well since I was back in time for the joys of 2004 and 2007.

Cobb may have been a bigot and Rose a gambler (and rightly banned from the hall) but give me either of them any day. They insist on winning.

Posted by: P. Ingemi at July 17, 2008 01:23 PM

25 pitches. 25.

No one can complain about that.

Posted by: Josh at July 17, 2008 02:49 PM

Ties are fine in exhibition games. That's what the All-Star game is, was, and always will be.

Posted by: Tor at July 17, 2008 03:39 PM

Japanese baseball always results in a tie if the game goes 12 without a winner (errr, save the postseason). I dislike it, but it certainly means you know how late you'll have to be at the ballpark at worst.

Posted by: Sal Paradise at July 17, 2008 10:32 PM
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