Years ago it was fairly common for some of the players on the All Star teams not to play. Managers came under enormous pressure to get everyone in. You may recall an incident in Baltimore when Gaston was managing the AL team and Mike Mussina was warming up in the BP, but did not get in the game. Gaston was eviscerated in the media for not letting Mussina make an appearance before the home town crowd.

So the pattern became getting the starters out after four or five innings, and getting everyone in.

It would make sense to expand the rosters slightly, or to say that starting pitchers who pitch the Sunday before have to replaced.

Generally I am not a big fan of the All Star game, but last night's game certainly was interesting. I watched it until the end, something I haven't done for many years.

I applaud the managers getting the starters out of the game fairly early, mostly because of the risk of injury. Ted Williams broke an arm in an All Star game. Pedro never was the same pitcher after he showed off in that one All Star game by throwing 98 MPH and striking out everyone. He never threw 98 again.