Shaikin: Could Bat Flips Be the Secret to Reviving Baseball’s All-Star Game?
Commissioner Rob Manfred even said the Home Run Derby needs to keep innovating — it’s entertainment at its core. Exactly, Rob. Now’s the time to run with that spark. But there’s a glaring problem — right now, the very best players often aren’t even showing up to the All-Star Game. When rosters were first announced, there were 65 stars; by game time, the count ballooned to 81 with replacements, illustrating that top-tier talent frequently opts out.
For every four All-Stars named, one chooses not to take the field. Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber acknowledged this, noting the reality that you don’t always get the best of the best playing. Pitchers, who throw harder and need more recovery time these days, dominate the absence list. This isn’t just a scheduling hiccup — it’s a call for rethinking how the midsummer event fits within the grueling 162-game grind.
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