All-Star tweaking is overdue

PITTSBURGH -- If Derek Jeter could be baseball commissioner for one day (say in mid-July), the Yankees shortstop and seven-time All-Star selection would tweak the format for the All-Star Game.
Because the game is now used to determine home field advantage in the World Series, Jeter says "I'd add more people to the roster. [There are players who] deserve to come but they can't."
Until 2002, World Series home field advantage alternated each year between leagues. Twins fans are certainly grateful.
When Minnesota defeated St. Louis in 1987 and Atlanta in 1991, it was the American League's year to open and close the World Series at home. The Twins won both series with Game 7 victories.
In fact, the Twins were 8-0 at home in those World Series and 0-6 on the road.
That's not to say the Twins couldn't have won either series. But ask Cardinals and Braves fans if the Game 7 locale means anything and you might get a passionate reply.
Fourth year the winnerdecides Series home field
Which brings us to 2006, the fourth consecutive year where the league that wins the All-Star Game earns home field advantage for the championship.
The change came after the 2002 All-Star Game ended in a 7-7 tie when both teams had exhausted their pitching after 11 innings. The ensuing ridicule prompted Commissioner Bud Selig to turn the exhibition game into something that matters.
Baseball's plan for championship advantage is unique among major team sports. The NFL chooses a neutral site years in advance of each Super Bowl, but rewards regular season performance in the first three rounds.
The NBA and NHL also use regular season records to determine their playoff seeds.
Baseball is different. And that's why Jeter thinks the current format should be tweaked.
"If there has to be one player from every team -- I think that's a good thing -- then they should expand the roster," Jeter said, reasoning that the All-Star managers should have plenty of options to win what once was a meaningless exhibition.
At age 32, Jeter has become one the All-Star graybeards.
His squad's starting lineup in Tuesday's game was loaded with veterans: Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, 30, 10 All-Star Games; Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez, 34, 13 selections; Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, 30, seven selections; and Red Sox first baseman David Ortiz, 30, third selection.
And had Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez chosen to come to PNC Park instead of resting his knee, the AL would have had a 34-year-old with 10 appearances.
"I'm kind of sad that Manny is not here," Alex Rodriguez said. "He's a good friend and the greatest right-handed hitter of our generation."
Younger blood addsexcitement for the fans
In the other dugout, a lot of younger blood ran onto the field to start the game: Pirates outfielder Jason Bay, 27, second game; Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, 27, first game; Mets third baseman David Wright, 23, first game; and Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, 29, third game.
The lineup would have been younger if 23-year-old Mets shortstop Jose Reyes had been able to play.
"It's good for baseball," Bay said. "It shows you the progression of baseball. The younger guys coming in and establishing themselves, I think it gives fans new faces to cheer for."
Rodriguez says the AL's recent dominance in All-Star Games, World Series and interleague play is because his league has better players. Jeter agreed.
"In five years, it might go back to the National League but right now the American League is up," Jeter said.
Refreshing is how some of the young guns have wrapped themselves around the NL mantra of "Snap the Streak." The National League's last All-Star victory was in 1996 in Philadelphia.
"I cannot put a finger on it, but it sounds like times need to change," said Utley before Tuesday's game.
What's refreshing about Utley's pronouncement is that his Phillies (40-47) trail the Mets by 12 games in the NL East standings and seven other teams in the wild card race.
Playing hard to benefit a division rival -- that's unusual.
Tom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.