Going Cheese Again

Last night’s Major League Baseball All Star Game was fantastic. The MLB has done a remarkable job taking this sport, which is rooted in century-old tradition, and modernizing it while making it entertaining. The other major leagues should be taking note of how baseball has improved and follow the lead.

Clayton Kershaw was mic’d up while pitching during the second inning and it was so much fun. “I’m gonna try and throw some cheese real quick hold on” he said as he thew a pitch. He even solicited the help of the commentators on which pitches to throw. Pure genius mic’ing Kershaw up during a game.

The league introduced the usage of ABS (Automated Balls and Strikes) that allowed either a batter, pitcher, or catcher to call for a review of an umpire’s ball or strike call. The players loved it, given their smiles while requesting its usage, and the system works: it correct a few incorrect calls.

The game technically would have ended in a tie, but the league had a great solution for avoiding that completely un-American result: a swing-off home run contest.

Watch the faces of the players competing in, and watching, the swing-off and tell me they all weren’t having a blast.

A fantastic night of entertainment. This is how you do it.