How to fix the ASG, a scapegoat in New York, the Pirates’ decision, and 6 other observations

Major League Baseball’s midsummer showcase simply isn’t working by the simplest measure in which it’s evaluated: people aren’t tuning in to watch it.

There was record-low viewership for Tuesday night’s game (7.1 million viewers across all platforms), down 7% from 7.5 million who watched last year. The game has set five new ratings lows in the last seven years.

While 2023 was impacted to some degree by a carrier dispute between network television channels and DirecTV, that’s still a significant year-over-year decline, and is a far cry compared to the popularity the game enjoyed years earlier. In 1993, 22 million tuned in to the Midsummer Classic, what baseball considers one of its “jewel” events.

What’s behind the decline?

Yes, some of it is tied to how fractured TV audiences are. But strong live sports products (see: NFL) have set record ratings in recent years, so it can’t be explained away only by splintered viewership. People still tune in for compelling events.

Little things might be adding up, though.

Many of us long for the days when the players representing their clubs, cities, and fan bases wore their regular-season jerseys. Not only do fans like to see their team and city represented on a national stage, but if nothing else, it makes it easier to identify who’s batting and on the field. That’s especially important as the game’s telecast has become littered with distractions and split screens.

Speaking of the broadcast: it isn’t helping, either.

There was a constant interruption of live at-bats Tuesday. Between live mic’d-up players, and the decision to share the screen with elements like in-game conversations between former players David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter, the action was hard to follow at times. The Ortiz-Rodriguez-Jeter segment was especially mundane, with weather discussions between bites of popcorn, and Jeter wasn’t having it.

Atlanta reportedly in the running for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game

This afternoon news broke that Atlanta is an option to host the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. Atlanta, which last hosted the game in 2000, was slated to be home to the 2021 festivities, but MLB revoked the game from Atlanta, moving the game to Denver.

Both Gabe Burns of the AJC and Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the news on Twitter, with Nightengale adding that Baltimore, Toronto and Chicago’s Wrigley Field were on the list of options with Atlanta.’

MLB’s decision to change the site of the 2021 All-Star Game was steeped in controversy as the move was purported to be based a change to the state of Georgia’s voting laws and announced just three months before the exhibition was set to be played.

Gerrit Cole, Zac Gallen to start MLB All-Star Game

The loaded National League All-Star lineup will face New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who will start the Midsummer Classic for the first time in his career.

American League manager Dusty Baker named Cole, 32, a six-time All-Star, to face Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen, who will start the game Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park in his first appearance.

With rosters decimated by injuries and absences—those missing include reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, expected AL starter Shane McClanahan, Yordan Alvarez and Clayton Kershaw—the lineups and starters nevertheless illustrated the wide array of talent playing today.

The starting lineups for Tuesday’s @MLB @AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/XMMqR62iYo

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 10, 2023

Check out the full All-Star Game rosters

AMERICAN LEAGUE

C: Jonah Heim (TEX)
1B: Yandy Díaz (TB)
2B: Marcus Semien (TEX)
3B: Josh Jung (TEX)
SS: Corey Seager (TEX)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)
OF: Randy Arozarena (TB)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

C: Sean Murphy (ATL)
1B: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
2B: Luis Arraez (MIA)
3B: Nolan Arenado (STL)
SS: Orlando Arcia (ATL)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
OF: Corbin Carroll (AZ)
DH: J.D. Martinez (LAD)

Below are the pitchers and reserve players:

NL pitchers

Zac Gallen (AZ)
Spencer Strider (ATL)
Bryce Elder (ATL)
Justin Steele (CHC)
Mitch Keller (PIT)
Josiah Gray (WSH)
Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Marcus Stroman (CHC)
Alexis Díaz (CIN)
Josh Hader (SD)
Devin Williams (MIL)
Camilo Doval (SF)

AL pitchers

Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Gerrit Cole (NYY)
Luis Castillo (SEA)
Sonny Gray (MIN)
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
Kevin Gausman (TOR)
Shane McClanahan (TB)
Framber Valdez (HOU)
Michael Lorenzen (DET)
Kenley Jansen (BOS)
Emmanuel Clase (CLE)
Félix Bautista (BAL)
Yennier Cano (BAL)

NL reserves

Matt Olson (ATL)
Ozzie Albies (ATL)
Austin Riley (ATL)
Dansby Swanson (CHC)
Pete Alonso (NYM)
Will Smith (LAD)
Elias Díaz (COL)
Jorge Soler (MIA)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (AZ)
Nick Castellanos (PHI)
Juan Soto (SD)

AL reserves

Salvador Perez (KC)
Adley Rutschman (BAL)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
Whit Merrifield (TOR)
Bo Bichette (TOR)
José Ramírez (CLE)
Brent Rooker (OAK)
Luis Robert Jr. (CWS)
Austin Hays (BAL)
Yordan Alvarez (HOU)
Adolis García (TEX)

From 1st-timers to 10th-timers, All-Star Game’s starting field set

The starters are locked in for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, set for July 11 in Seattle.

The Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani previously secured automatic starting bids by virtue of leading the NL and AL, respectively, in votes during Phase 1 of the Ballot, and the rest of the elected starters for the 93rd Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park were announced Thursday night on ESPN.

Nine different clubs are represented among this year’s elected starters, led by the Rangers with four. The Braves and Dodgers are tied for the NL lead with three starters apiece, and the Rays and Angels also have multiple starters. Eight players won the fan vote for the first time in their careers, including a pair of rookies.

ICYMI: last night the starters for the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle were announced!

Check out the lineups for both teams and tell us who you think got snubbed and who you’re most looking forward to seeing! pic.twitter.com/EJi5PBPox0

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) June 30, 2023