Baseball All Star Weekend

The NBA all-star game is only good if by chance the game is within reach in the end. Only then you are able to see the games greats all on the same court, actually trying. But the actual all star game is probably the least exciting aspect of the all star weekend. I'd argue that the baseball all star game is generally better because pitchers can pitch 100%, and hitters hit 100%. Runners won't plow into the catcher going home (unless you're Pete Rose) or hustle to go from 1st to 3rd with as much regularity, but the matchup between pitcher and hitter is more like actual baseball than any part of the NBA all star game is like actual basketball.

However, I feel that's irrelevant because the NBA all star weekend is infinitely better than baseballs. The home run derby is occasionally great, as we saw Josh Hamilton last year, but beyond that what is there? Baseball shouldn't stop with just the home run derby, the NBA didn't stop with the dunk contest (kryptonite will always win by the way, congrats Nate!). The NHL has the fastest skater, a shootout competition, the hardest shot, and a breakaway challenge. The NBA has the rookie/sophomore game, a pg skills competition, 3pt shootout, and the dunk contest. The MLB needs to adopt more events like other sports have. Here are some ideas they should strongly consider:

• Best Double-play Competition- have several double play combinations field grounders for the fastest time
• Fastest 1st to 3rd/Fastest stolen base- home to first wouldn't work since lefties have an edge. But wouldn't it be great seeing Carlos Gomez and Jose Reyes running their fastest?
• Best Catcher Arm- Have catchers compete in throwing out base runners
• Best Outfield Arm- So is Vlad's gun really the best? Let's find out who's the best at throwing out runners at 3rd base from right field.
• Fastest pitch- I would love to see this but I realize it could do a lot of damage to a pitchers arm. Who wouldn't want to see Zumaya try to clock one at 100+ mph?
  
• Quickest Pickoff Move- not really that exciting but it's an idea.
• Pitching Accuracy- Have targets that a pitcher needs to nail on the corners.
• Best Bunters- have hitters do there best to bunt it as close down the line as they can.
  

What's the reasoning behind not trying to do some of this? I realize they aren't all great ideas, and that they wouldn't all pass, but some of them would have to, and fans would like to see it. I don't care about the futures game sorry, having 3-4 of these events before the home run derby, like the NBA does on all star Saturday, makes too much sense not to try it out.

If baseball wants to move on from steroids and all the talk about home runs, they should focus on these skills that have gotten lost in the shuffle. Tell kids it's not all about the home runs, that going first to third, or picking off a base runner, or defense, or hitting your spots as a pitcher are just as integral to winning...while they wait to watch for the home run derby. There are so many unique attributes that certain players have, beyond slugging batting practice pitches in to the stands, that it's such a waste not to showcase them as part of the all star festivities. This brings baseball back to its roots, and gives appreciation to the entire game, not just the stars and dingers.

Also as an added bonus, the extra players in these events would be used in case the all star game goes into extra innings. So the pitchers that compete in fastest throw could be used if the game keeps going. Brad Lidge shouldn't warm up 5 different times in a game and David Wright should never have to worry about pitching. Players won't have to play out of position or pitch in situations they wouldn't normally find themselves. This lowers the injury risk, and allows managers to play everyone without worrying that it may go into the nth inning.

By adding events like these into the baseball all star weekend the MLB can showcase the clean players that do the little things in a time where our stars keeping falling in steroid scandals, create an insurance policy to keep the all star game in control, and probably most importantly make more money.