It’s 2 a.m. in New York right now and the All-Star game is still going (Wait, just as I typed that, Justin Morneau scored on Micahael Young’s sac fly to win it for the AL. Make that 11 straight for the DH League). Anyways, I want to know what MLB would have done if both teams ran out of pitchers again like they did a couple of years ago when Bud Selig ended the Mid Summer Classic in a stalemate. We’ve been throwing out few suggestions here in the Sentinel newsroom:
TIE GOES TO THE RUNNER: Inspired by Sentinel writer Jim Seimas’ participation in the Milwaukee Brewers’ famed sausage race. Each team picks their fastest runner to don a wiener suit and race around the warning track. Maybe make it relay since baseball, after all, is a team game.
PICK A FAN, ANY FAN: Imagine sitting in the upper deck at Yankee Stadium tonight trying to stay awake as the game creeps into the 13th inning. Suddenly the PA announcer says, “Would the fan sitting in section 312, row 10, seat 17 please make their way down to the field.” Next thing you know, you’re buttoning up an American League jersey and pitching to Albert Pujols. Sure there would be a few minor liability issues, but it’s better than one of the real players blowing out their arm.
THE ANTI-RINGER: Each team should be required to keep the pitcher with the highest ERA in its league on its All-Star roster just in case scoring hits a stand-still in extra innings. It’s hard to break a 3-3 tie when Brandon Webb is on the mound. Not so tough when Brett Tomko is out there.
