Did you like it?
The rule about the All-Star Game ending in a home run swing-off if tied after nine innings was instituted as part of many changes in the latest CBA. I even wrote about it when it happened in March 2022 and in a poll attached to that article about 85 percent of you voted either “love it” or “don’t care either way.”
So do you love it after the National League won the All-Star Game using that swing-off? (The score officially is NL 7, AL 6, similar to how an NHL game is scored after a shootout.)
Old friend Kyle Schwarber won it for the NL by smashing home runs in all three of the swings he was allocated by the rule. Here are all of Schwarber’s blasts [VIDEO].
I like this rule. It was a fairly quick (about 20 minutes) way of ending a game that didn’t have any pitchers left and had already gone three hours. The first nine innings were a lot more interesting than many recent All-Star Games, with the AL coming back from a 6-0 deficit to tie the game in the top of the ninth. After the NL couldn’t walk it off in the bottom of the inning, they went to the swing-off. The AL might have won the game in nine if not for this really nice play by Matt Olson [VIDEO].
The only unfortunate thing about the swing-off is that home run bashers like Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh were long out of the game and likely dressed in street clothes, so the managers had to go to other players. Though it might have been fun to see Judge standing at the plate in street clothes.
As for the two Cubs in the game, Kyle Tucker went 0-for-2 but did make this slick catch in left field [VIDEO].
This game was the first time Tucker had played left field in five years.
Pete Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-2, a double. Here’s a cool field view of that hit [VIDEO].
PCA was also mic’d up during the game. Personally, I think mic’ing up players is fine during an exhibition game like this where the result doesn’t matter. I don’t care for it in regular-season games, though.
Here’s what PCA had to say during the mic’d up inning [VIDEO].
Most importantly for the Cubs, both players (as well as everyone else in the game) left it 100 percent healthy and ready to resume the season Friday at Wrigley Field.
The other thing that was notable about this game was the use of the ABS ball-and strike challenge system. It was used four times, first by Tarik Skubal [VIDEO].
Then Edwin Diaz ended the top of the ninth with a K on a challenge [VIDEO].
The system worked exactly as it should. The calls were made quickly and the game wasn’t slowed down. As you know, this system is likely coming to MLB in 2026. Personally, I can’t wait.
The All-Star Game might not be what it was years ago, when the leagues truly were separate and league rivalries were intense. But it’s still a fun break from the season and this game, at least, was competitive in the ninth inning, and as I noted above, I enjoyed the swing-off.