Why not bring the All-Star Game to the Nation’s Capital?

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The major league All-Star game format needs to be revamped. Here are my 10 ways to make the game better:

» 1. Have an All-Star weekend. Instead of playing the game on the traditional Tuesday, play it on Sunday with Home Run Derby and the futures game on Saturday.

Have a massive fanfest all weekend with rides, games for kids, concerts, plays, restaurant competitions and comedy shows. Open the weekend up to the entire entertainment world.

» 2. Have the teams chosen by five groups with each having an equal vote: the fans, media, general managers, field managers and players.

» 3. Eradicate the rule that says each team has to have a representative. We all want to see the best players in the world.

Who cares if our home team isn’t represented? It is archaic and stultified thinking.

» 4. Use the Designated Hitter Rule regardless if the game is being played in a National League Park or American League Park. I have been very outspoken in the past in my strong feelings that the DH rule should be eradicated.

However, this is the one game when it makes sense. Who wants to see a pitcher bat in an All-Star Game?

» 5. Instead of having the manager who was in the World Series the previous year manage, let the five groups listed in No. 2 vote for that position as well.

» 6. Play the game at 2 p.m. and afterwards have a cookout and autograph session on the field for the players, their families and fans.

» 7. Increase the player rosters to 35 and institute a new rule that all voted in non-pitching starters must play a minimum of three innings.

» 8. Start the tradition of all first pitches to be thrown by that year’s Hall of Fame inductees.

» 9. Move the trade deadline and draft pick signing deadline to Saturday night at midnight before the Sunday All-Star Game, forcing worldwide attention to our sport.

» 10. Play all the All-Star Games in Washington, D.C., the Nation’s Capital, at the new Nationals Park.

Ok, so I got a little carried away, but we should always try to brainstorm and try to find a better way to showcase our games ... including the All-Star Game.

As told to The Examiner’s John Keim.

Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden provides an exclusive column to The Examiner each week, ranging on topics from the Nats to the state of Major League Baseball.

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