SEATTLE – You may have to do not forget that the All-Star Game is only a promotional vehicle for MLB. To start with, it’s a television program geared toward generating interest in sports.
So how is it possible that Tuesday’s match at T-Mobile Park won’t be attended by the most electrifying, most interesting player in the game, not named Shohei Ohtani? How did MLB provide you with so many mechanics and so many various entities that were involved in team selection and yet couldn’t discover a strategy to include Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz who built a lifetime YouTube reel in a month of major league work ?
When you noticed he only played 30 games and made his debut the day before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, please re-read the first paragraph of this text where we mention that the All-Star Game shouldn’t be a religiously sanctioned event, but principally a three-hour industrial for the sport .
It wasn’t long before De La Cruz’s jaw dropped and he stepped up together with his overwhelming speed, strength, hand and enthusiasm. On Saturday, for instance, he went viral by stealing second, third and residential in the same board appearance (Jake Fraley) – making him the first player in over half a century to achieve this. De La Cruz is a uniformed billboard showing what is feasible on the pitch. It suits the mission statement that claims who must be at the All-Star Game. It is a strategy to showcase this type of talent more broadly.
And I believe I actually have a strategy to be sure that this type of player isn’t missed again:
Make the All-Star Game 25-and-younger vs. 26-and-over.
For those “traditionalists” who’re about to pass out or write the nastiest social media post in recorded history, understand that the All-Star Game has been tinkered with in ways big and small throughout its history, including – but not limited to – that there was two on 12 months that “counted” and defined the home field at the World Series, and was the only time you may see an American League versus a National League on the field at the same time outside of the World Series.
![Elly De La Cruz would only add to the MLB All Star Week, but his age will rule out one of the league's most interesting players.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000013778201.jpg?w=1024)
But just in the final weekend of this primary half, there have been five series between the leagues. So there goes the purity. And the players have long since stopped caring about the league’s identity/pride. So if AL vs. NL doesn’t also have a nostalgic charm anymore, why not find something that might be tempting? I’ve seen lots of matches between the US and the world and this might be higher than the current setup.
Nonetheless, I feel that is beginning to detract from the appeal of World Baseball Classic a bit, and I’m undecided how, say, bringing together players from Latin America and Asia is the right strategy to go about it.
I believe 25-year-olds and older would achieve this key goal: it could underline how good hands the sport has, moving forward with youthful talent. This is able to be an actual Futures Game. We are able to return to the classic league versus league all-star game by naming the Junior Circuit and Senior Circuit teams. You may even regain your passion for the game if the older group becomes nervous about who’s in control of the sport and the children wouldn’t have a “wait your turn” mindset.
![Elvis Andrus is eliminated when Bo Bichette tries to steal second base in the sixth inning of the first double header game on the guaranteed field.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000013695919.jpg?w=1024)
To point out just how much Gen Z talent is in the sport, here’s what a team would appear like by the age of 25 (the age is the player’s age by June 30):
catcher: Adley Rutschman, Orioles. Back pole of the Orioles turn towards discord. Switch-hitting, well-defensive leader. Support: Select Francisco Alvarez, William Contreras from Milwaukee or Patrick Bailey from San Francisco.
First Base: Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays. Even in a foul season, Guerrero has an OPS of .801. Reserve: Spencer Steer, Reds.
Second Base: Bo Bichette, Blue Jays. I cheat and put a shortstop here to have each Bichette and Wander Franco from Tampa Bay in the starting lineup. Sub: Andres Gimenez, Guardians.
![Ronald Acuna Jr. at bat during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/GettyImages-1519701586.jpg?w=1024)
Short stop: Franco. Support: Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks – with Anthony Volpe, Cincinnati’s Matt McLain, Bobby Witt Jr. with Kansas City and Houston’s Jeremy Pena on the wings.
Third Base: De la Cruz. Look, there are many young alternatives including Josh Jung from Texas, Isaac Paredes from Tampa Bay and Gunnar Henderson from Baltimore. But the game is on with the sensible De La Cruz shown in front of enormous TV audiences. Period. Support: Jung.
External field: Ronaldo Acuna Jr., Braves; Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks; Juan Soto, fathers. I mean not Luis Roberts Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. or Jack Suwinski. Or Julio Rodriguez, Josh Lowe or Riley Greene.
Designated Beater: Someone from the overflow field.
Starting Pitcher: Bryan Bello, Red Sox; Josiah Gray, Residents; Hunter Greene, The Reds; George Kirby, sailors; Spencer Strider, Braves. Next five: Andrew Abbott, Reds; Bryce Elder, Braves; McKenzie Gore, Residents; Jesus Luzardo, Marlins; Eury Perez, Marlins.
Painkillers: Camilo Doval The Giants for closing plus Matt Brash, Mariners; Emmanuel Clase, Watchmen; Jhoan Duran, Gemini; Gregory Santos, White Sox.