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Forbes
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Dave Roberts, MLB Ruined An Otherwise Lovely Baseball All-Star Game Weekend
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers removes Adrian ... More Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres from the game during the seventh inning of the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) If you ignore the asterisk, everything regarding the 2025 All-Star Weekend – including Tuesday's game at Truist Park in Atlanta -- was splendid for the city, the county, the state, the participants, the game of baseball and the lovers of fairytales. I'll tease to the asterisk. I mean, really? With those restrictive voting laws still alive and well in Georgia, there is no way Atlanta should have hosted baseball's Mid-Summer Classic this year, not unless you ignore how Major League officials spent the last few days displaying a convenient dose of amnesia wrapped in hypocrisy. But let's stay warm and fuzzy for now since baseball just completed a mostly successful All-Star Weekend. It culminated with the packed house of 41,702 in the National League home of the Braves enjoying the first-ever 'swing off'' for an All-Star Game when the score was tied 6-6 after nine innings. Each side had three hitters during the grand finale, and each of those hitters had three outs. The winner? Whoever ended with the most home runs. Kyle Schwarber won it for the Nationals with three of their four blasts to edge the Americans by one. That was thrilling, but no more than what occurred for those watching after the bottom of the sixth inning. Courtesy of a high-tech tribute to Braves legend Hank Aaron and his record-breaking 715th home run, MLB and the team challenged the world record for producing goosebumps. Baseball: Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron in action vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Stadium after ... More hitting his 715th career homerun (to eclipse Babe Ruth's record) Atlanta, GA 4/8/1974CREDIT: Neil Leifer (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X18547 TK4 R1 F12 ) Baseball's technical folks put three-dimensional images on the Truist Park field of the Los Angeles Dodgers players at their positions from that night of April 8, 1974 at old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Then, after a firework showed the path of Aaron's shot from home plate to left-center field, digital markings gave Aaron's exact route around the bases to become better than Babe Ruth in career homers. There also were those other moments I mentioned. For the city, the county and the state: Money. According to the four days of All-Star festivities (HBCU Swingman Classic, Futures Game, Celebrity Softball Game, Major League Baseball Draft, Home Run Derby and All-Star Game) will have an economic impact of $50 millions locally and $100 million throughout the state. For the participants: Joy. 'First, this is the best event of the summer,' said New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor in his fifth All-Star Game. 'I'm in there asking questions. Even though I'm one of the oldest players in the National League clubhouse, I feel like I'm a kid at heart. I'm still trying to learn. You get to talk to players that you don't normally talk to. You can put your guard down, and it's not about beating those guys.' It's about handling the other league, and before Tuesday night, the NL All-Stars only had done that once since 2013. Worse, before the NL All-Stars' three-game winning streak through 2012, they were winless against the AL for 13 straight seasons. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a three-run home run against ... More the American League during the sixth inning of the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) This was different for the NL All-Stars (barely). They scored twice in the first inning, and they threatened to seal the deal in the sixth. They had a 6-0 lead after Pete Alonso's three-run homer and a solo shot by Corbin Carroll, but the Americans pulled to within 6-4 after four runs in the seventh, and then it was 6-6 in the ninth to make the Fox Sports folks happy regarding TV ratings. For the game of baseball: Redemption. Those who run the sport discovered tradition isn't that bad for a game hugged by fans for its (ahem) tradition. So, MLB officials ended six years of misery for all those with eyes by allowing players to wear their own uniforms this time instead of special All-Star jerseys, which basically were boring All-Star jerseys. For the lovers of fairy tales: Cal and The Hammer. You had Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh capturing Monday night's Home Run Derby, with his father, Todd, throwing the pitches, and with his 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., catching. Then you had that moving Aaron tribute, which ended with fireworks exploding and the ballpark's big screen showing Aaron's widow Billye standing in a suite and waving to the crowd. We're back to that asterisk, though. Just four years ago, nearly everybody in the game – ranging from commissioner Rob Manfred to defending world championship manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers – blasted this part of Dixie after Georgia's state legislature passed a restrictive voting-rights law that critics said targeted Black communities. Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred did the right thing by yanking the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta after he said it was 'the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport." Before Manfred's remark, Roberts, who was slated to manage the National League back then in Atlanta, said he might boycott the game. 'I will certainly consider it," Roberts said during the spring of 2021. "I don't know enough about it right now. But when you're restricting, trying to restrict American votes, American citizens, that's alarming to me to hear it. As we get to that point and we know more, I will make a better decision. But I do think that if it gets to that point, it will certainly be a decision I have to make personally.' Hmmmmmm. ATLANTA, GA - JULY 14: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates talks to media during the All-Star ... More Press Conference at Coca-Cola Roxy on Monday, July 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) According to a study in October by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, those voting laws passed in 2021 by Georgia's state legislature continues to have 'a larger impact on Black voters than white voters.' Still, Manfred announced during an owners' meeting in 2023 that Atlanta would get its third All-Star Game in 2025, and he hasn't uttered a public word about those same Georgia voting laws since he first blasted them. As for Roberts, he was on stage Monday as part of an MLB press conference hosted by ESPN personality Pat McAfee. Even though they didn't have a problem hearing other questions during the session, they both said they didn't understand what a reporter was asking when she wished to know why Roberts wasn't taking as firm of a stance against an All-Star Game in Atlanta as he did four years ago. Same law, same situation, she said. She repeated the question. Roberts and McAfee said again they didn't understand what she was asking, but after McAfee declared it was inappropriate, he suggested questions should be more baseball focused or something. Nevertheless, Roberts decided to answer. Sort of. 'I do feel that I'm excited to be here,' Roberts said. "It's a great city. Baseball fans are excited to be here and celebrate these great athletes. I'm not a politician. I do feel that everyone has their right to voice thoughts, but right now I choose to focus on the players and the game.' Uh huh.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB All-Star Game 2025: Kyle Schwarber powers NL to win with 3 homers in 3 swings in event's first swing-off
Kyle Schwarber hit three homers on three swings to win the 2025 All-Star Game for the NL. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) The 2025 MLB All-Star Game was tied 6-6 by the end of the ninth inning. Instead of extra innings, fans got some heroics from Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. Decided by baseball's first ever All-Star swing-off, the National League beat the American League in a swing-off to notch its second ASG win in three years. It's only the league's fifth win in 28 years, as well. Advertisement Each team sent three players to the plate with three swings each, creating a mini-Home Run Derby to decide the game. The AL fielded a trio of Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena and Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda, while Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers, Schwarber and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso were the guys for the NL. Rooker put the NL in the lead early with two long balls to one from Stowers, but then Schwarber delivered an absolutely clutch 3-for-3 performance to put the NL ahead going into the final round. Aranda went 0-for-3 to leave Alonso, who forewent the Home Run Derby for the first time of his career this year, hanging and give the senior circuit the win, 4-3 and 7-6 as the overall final score. Naturally, Schwarber was named All-Star Game MVP after the game. Advertisement For fans wondering why Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and other superstars weren't involved, swing-off participants are decided before the game depending on which players volunteer. Players also often leave the All-Star Game early to get a headstart on a mini-vacation ahead of the second half of the season. The AL erased a 6-0 lead to force the swing-off The National League should have had the game won during regulation. It jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning, powered by homers from New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. Alonso delivered the biggest hit of the night, until the swing-off, with a three-run homer off Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic. The AL didn't go quietly, though. After Carroll's homer made it 6-0 in the sixth inning, the AL made it a game again with a seventh-inning rally. Rooker, who was eliminated from the Home Run Derby on Tuesday by a literal inch, added another dinger to his total for the week with a three-run shot. Some nice baserunning from Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia added another run in the same frame. Advertisement The NL entered the bottom of the ninth inning with San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz in reserve, with a two-run lead. It didn't go well. The AL got to Suarez quickly and moved to within a run on an RBI double from Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. Then Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan scored him on an infield single against Diaz, giving him a blown save and forcing the swing-off. Jacob Misiorowski makes his controversial All-Star debut No player entered the All-Star Game with more discourse surrounding him than Jacob Misiorowski. The Milwaukee Brewers rookie was an 11th-hour addition to the festivities despite having made only five starters in his career, by far the fewest games played of any All-Star in history. MLB put Misiorowski in over more deserving players because of his electric arsenal, led by a fastball that sat in triple-digits on Tuesday. Per Statcast, Misiorowski didn't throw a fastball slower than 99.2 mph and at one point unleashed a 98.1 mph slider in a scoreless eighth inning. AL hitters hit a couple deep fly balls off him that managed to stay in the park, but Misiorowski at least provided a reason to keep watching an exhibition game until the ninth-inning drama and swing-off heroics. Advertisement No pitcher had more fun than Clayton Kershaw On the other end of the velocity spectrum was Clayton Kershaw, who topped out at 89 mph but still got his two batters out in the second inning. The more fun part was the Los Angeles Dodgers star being mic'd up on the Fox broadcast for the entire appearance. Kershaw, usually the picture of intensity on the mound, showed off some personality between pitches with self-deprecation ("That was right down the middle, I'm so glad he didn't swing") and nearly cursing out color commentator John Smoltz for thinking he throws a cutter. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled Kershaw early, which proved to be its own nice moment as he walked to the dugout. As he received high-fives and back pats in the dugout, the microphone caught him yelling "Suck it Big Dumper!" as a razz toward his last out, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Advertisement The All-Star Game gets its first five challenges The automatic ball-strike challenge has been slowly making its way into MLB. It started as a test in the minor leagues, then made its debut in spring training this year with an overall positive reception. MLB opted to give it some more exposure in the All-Star Game, with five players opting to challenge the call from the ump. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal got it right on the first challenge, which caused San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado to strike out. MLB blows everyone away with Hank Aaron tribute On 7/15, MLB and the Braves paid tribute to Hank Aaron's 715th home run with an incredible light show after the sixth inning. With projections on the field and one of the coolest fireworks ever, it was worth watching. Advertisement In attendance was Aaron's 88-year-old widow Billye Aaron, who provided the photo of the night. Here's how the entire 2025 MLB All-Star Game went down via Yahoo Sports:
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB All-Star Game 2025: Kyle Schwarber leads NL to win with 3 homers in 3 swings in event's first swing-off
Kyle Schwarber hit three homers on three swings to give win the 2025 All-Star Game for the NL.. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) The 2025 MLB All-Star Game was tied 6-6 by the end of the ninth inning. Instead of extra innings, fans got something new. Decided by baseball's first ever All-Star swing-off, the National League beat the American League in a swing-off to notch its second ASG win in three years. Each team sent three players to the plate with three swings each, creating a mini-Home Run Derby to decide the game. Advertisement The AL fielded a trio of Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena and Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda, while Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso were the guys for the NL. Rooker put the NL in the lead early with two long balls to one from Stowers, but then Schwarber delivered an absolutely clutch 3-for-3 performance to put the NL ahead going into the final round. Aranda went 0-for-3 to leave Alonso, who forewent the Home Run Derby for the first time of his career this year, hanging and give the senior circuit the win. Naturally, Schwarber was named All-Star Game MVP after the game. Advertisement For fans wondering why Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and other superstars weren't involved, swing-off participants are decided before the game depending on which players volunteer. Players also often leave the All-Star Game early to get a headstart on a mini-vacation ahead of the second half of the season. The AL erased a 6-0 lead to force the swing-off The National League should have had the game won during regulation. It jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning, powered by homers from New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. Alonso delivered the biggest hit of the night, until the swing-off, with a three-run homer off Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic. The AL didn't go quietly, though. After Carroll's homer made it 6-0 in the sixth inning, the AL made it a game again with a seventh-inning rally. Rooker, who was eliminated from the Home Run Derby on Tuesday by a literal inch, added another dinger to his total for the week with a three-run shot. Some nice baserunning from Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia added another run in the same frame. Advertisement The NL entered the bottom of the ninth inning with San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz in reserve, with a two-run lead. It didn't go well. The AL got to Suarez quickly and moved to within a run on an RBI double from Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. Then Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan scored him on an infield single. Here's how the entire 2025 MLB All-Star Game went down via Yahoo Sports:
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB All-Star Game 2025: Kyle Schwarber leads NL to win in event's first swing-off
Kyle Schwarber hit three homers on three swings to give win the 2025 All-Star Game for the NL.. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) The 2025 MLB All-Star Game was tied 6-6 by the end of the ninth inning. Instead of extra innings, fans got something new. Decided by baseball's first ever All-Star swing-off, the National League beat the American League in a swing-off to notch its second ASG win in three years. Each team sent three players to the plate with three swings each, creating a mini-Home Run Derby to decide the game. Advertisement The AL fielded a trio of Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena and Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda, while Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso were the guys for the NL. Rooker put the NL in the lead early with two long balls to one from Stowers, but then Schwarber delivered an absolutely clutch 3-for-3 performance to put the NL ahead going into the final round. Aranda went 0-for-3 to leave Alonso hanging and give the senior circuit the win. The National League should have had the game won during regulation. It jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning, powered by homers from New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. Advertisement Alonso delivered the biggest hit of the night, until the swing-off, with a three-run homer off Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic. The AL didn't go quietly, though. After Carroll's homer made it 6-0 in the sixth inning, the AL made it a game again with a seventh-inning rally. Athletics slugger Brent Rooker, who was eliminated from the Home Run Derby on Tuesday by a literal inch, added another dinger to his total for the week with a three-run shot. Some nice baserunning from Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia added another run in the same frame. The NL entered the bottom of the ninth inning with San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz in reserve, with a two-run lead. It didn't go well. The AL got to Suarez quickly and moved to within a run on an RBI double from Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. Then Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan scored him on an infield single. Here's how the entire 2025 MLB All-Star Game went down via Yahoo Sports:
