All-Stars Discuss Baseball's Burning Questions

Ryan Fagan and Dennis Dillon - SportingNews.com

ST. LOUIS -- The stars gathered in the Gateway City to play a baseball game that used to be just an exhibition. Tuesday's All-Star Game, as you know, counts. Though, not everybody agrees it should. That's just one of four topics Sporting News asked the stars from the American and National League to discuss on a humid Monday afternoon.

Do you agree that the All-Star Game should determine home-field advantage for the World Series? 

Matt Cain, SP, Giants. "I obviously haven't been in a situation where it comes down to matter before. I think they were trying to put a different spin on it. I've heard different guys say that it should be the guys with the most wins, with the best record, that gets (homefield). I don't know. It's tough to say. I see how both ways can work out in good ways. It's a little bit tough when you get into a situation like last year where the win means a lot and you're having to stretch guys longer than they should. But hopefully with the way it sets up, nobody gets hurt."

Joe Maddon, manager, Rays. "By placing more weight on this game, obviously, we are just talking about the strategical part of it, it definitely takes on a different shape because of all of that. I'm all for it. I think it makes this moment a lot more interesting, I'll tell you that, and a little bit tighter, I'll tell you that, too, because you're playing for the entire league. And for us with the Rays, we believe we have a legitimate chance to get back to the World Series, also and if you check out our home record it's quite different from the road record. You get a chance to play the first game at home which is significant, and possibly the seventh. For me, I like it." 

Besides your own organization, what's one franchise you admire? 

Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies. "I think the Cardinals have a great organization. Their fans are great. It's a good place to play--except when it gets hot in the summer."

Zach Duke, LHP, Pirates. "I don't have any first-hand experience with any other organizations, but obviously I'll look at some organizations that are small-market but still make a run every few years, like a Cleveland or Florida, and you realize they have something figured out. Hopefully one of these days I'll get to experience it here."

Orlando Hudson, 2B, Dodgers. "I admire the Yankees. I admire the Mets. The Kansas City Royals. They're a small-market team, and when they get the big player they get and a couple other players around him, they have a good season. I like how they handle their business over there." 

What's the biggest challenge facing baseball today? 

Curtis Granderson, CF, Tigers. "It's amazing how you see the number of fans that consistently come out, the excitement in the fans that come. But I think there are a lot of markets that aren't getting tapped. The excitement and the knowledge of the excitement needs to be expressed a little bit more. The home run's a great play. The diving catch is a great play. Turning a double play is great to watch. But I think there's an education needed for certain viewers, people who don't understand certain parts of the game, and if we could teach that side of it, then people can start to enjoy the game as much as they do some of the other American sports and some of the world sports."

Duke. "Obviously the economy is not helping things. Ticket sales are down and it's tough. When the fan support is not there, everybody suffers. That's a tough thing to deal with." 

If you could change one baseball rule, what would it be and why? 

Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers. "Nothing really. Though, it would nice to make it so guys could never be pitched around. It would be fun to see Albert Pujols get to hit every at-bat. But overall, I think major league baseball is in pretty good hands. The overall parity is great for baseball."

Brad Hawpe, RF, Rockies. "Nothing right now. There's so many things about baseball that are great that if something's not quite right, there's no reason to harp on it. I'm a big fan of where we're at right now."

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