M.L.B. introduced another new element last year, though not for the game itself. Unlike previous practice, players were permitted to tweet during the home run derby the day before the All-Star game. That idea seemed to be successful that I suggested, not altogether seriously, that M.L.B. allow players to tweet during the game, interacting with fans at the park and elsewhere.

I love this idea

I love this idea

That may be; but it is Murray Chass's idea, and BTF GroupThinkFactory will soon have you tarred and feathered.

Wait for a respectable blogger to think of it.

Eh. I disagree it's a good idea, having nothing to do with Chass. I'd prefer Wright worry about hitting and watching the damned pitcher and defense than ####### tweeting during a game.

With the 15-15 format beginning next year, it's possible we might not know which league has home-field advantage entering the final regular-season series, which would feature at least one interleague matchup. And what if it ends tied? Does the league which had the advantage the year before keep it?

OTOH, it could add some impact to an otherwise meaningless San Diego-Seattle game on the final day of the season.

Maybe only allow players who have already come out of the game to tweet.

And what if it ends tied? Does the league which had the advantage the year before keep it?

I would say win it or lose it. So the advantage would change hands after a tie. Another alternative is to use the All-Star Game or last year's World Series as a tiebreak.

it's possible we might not know which league has home-field advantage entering the final regular-season series

I don't understand why this would matter. Plenty of teams don't know if they're making the playoffs until the last week of the season.

That may be; but it is Murray Chass's idea, and BTF GroupThinkFactory will soon have you tarred and feathered.

Even a blind pig kicks an apple once in a while.

I would say win it or lose it. So the advantage would change hands after a tie. Another alternative is to use the All-Star Game or last year's World Series as a tiebreak.

I like Best of 3: All-Star game result, interleague play, better record among WS participants. I don't like best record by itself, because a team with a better record in an inferior league can get HFA. With Best of 3, it goes to the team with the best record unless that league has failed to ID itself as superior in the only two on-field ways we have of comparing leagues.

The other upside is it makes interleague play interesting for something , which it currently is not.

LET THEM TWEET, FOX. SCREW YOUR RATINGS AND YOUR PATHETIC ALL STAR LYING GIMMICK. FREEDOM NOW.

Before the seasons starts they should blindly choose a game from the entire interleague set and stick it in an envelope on Opening Day. Then, with a month left in the season or so, as football starts to steal baseball's space in the news, they could have a huge event to unseal the envelope and see who won the game that determined home field advantage. And per #4's point, it might be even cooler if the game hadn't been played yet so huge interest could be drummed up to create awkward tension in the dugouts of non-playoff teams. "No thanks, Jim Grey, no need to do an in-game from a Wednesday afternoon game here in San Diego." Can you imagine players from teams that could be in the hunt contacting their buddies on bad teams that might be involved? "bro u gyz sx but pls win ths 1 #illmakeitworthyourwhile"

I can't blame MLB for trying to inject some life into the All-Star Game, but interleague play has done more than its fair share in destroying its importance to the average fan.

Amen.

All-Star caliber players rarely say anything worth a lick on twitter. Usually it's the grunts that are hilarious.

If you're going to use interleague play to settle HFA, just use the interleague record of the actual teams that are in the World Series. Don't base it on the rest of the damn league.

I liked the idea of the all-star game determining home field. It was even an idea that I'd thought of "wouldn't it be be cool if..." before it happened. That said, with making the leagues uniform and interleague year round, I think it'd be best to have homefield be determined by the overall record of the participants. (possibly giving division winner priority over a wild card with a better record)

If you're going to use interleague play to settle HFA, just use the interleague record of the actual teams that are in the World Series. Don't base it on the rest of the damn league.

Logistical problems will prevent what is otherwise a very sensible idea.

Slightly off subject: It just occurred to me that there will be a 163 game to separate a division winner from a wild card now.

I still do not get the blame game on the "this time it counts" issue. We went close to a 100 years with hfa being determined by the last digit of the year being even or odd. At least the all star game made it a little more random.

Given a choice, I like the idea proposed in post 9 the best. But ultimately it really doesn't matter. I personally think the hfa advantage is with the team with the middle three games.

All-Star caliber players rarely say anything worth a lick on twitter. Usually it's the grunts that are hilarious.

Make twitterer a position and have the fans vote. Each league would then have a designated twitterer to keep us up to date on onfield hijinks.

Each league would then have a designated twitterer

National League fans will never go for that.

Tweeting during the games is a great idea. Until a player gets hit by a foul ball and seriously hurt because he's Tweeting rather than watching the game.

All-Star caliber players rarely say anything worth a lick on twitter. Usually it's the grunts that are hilarious.

Well, that all depends on whether McCarthy gets onto the ASG roster or not.

I like Best of 3: All-Star game result, interleague play, better record among WS participants. I don't like best record by itself, because a team with a better record in an inferior league can get HFA. With Best of 3, it goes to the team with the best record unless that league has failed to ID itself as superior in the only two on-field ways we have of comparing leagues.

This is indeed a terrific idea.