MLB All-Star rosters expand; DH becomes permanent in All-Star Game.

[madinmaryland]

NEW YORK (AP) -- There will be two extra All-Stars this summer.

Rosters have been expanded again by commissioner Bud Selig's special committee for on-field matters, with each team bringing 34 players to the July 13 game in Anaheim, Calif., part of several changes coming to the summer showcase.

"I think they're serious about it being a true competition. To do that, if the game goes extra innings you have to be able to compete," said St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, a member of the committee. "This way you've got an extra guy you can protect."

All-Star rosters have steadily expanded. There were 28 players per team from 1969-97, and the size increased to 30 with expansion in 1998.

After the infamous 7-7, 11-inning tie in Milwaukee in 2002, when both teams ran out of pitchers, rosters expanded to 32 players, including 12 pitchers, the following year, when the game first started counting for World Series home-field advantage.

The size increased to 33 players, including 13 pitchers, last summer, and will now be 34 players, with 13 pitchers per team.

"Any time you can add people to the All-Star team it's good," said Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who left off San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval last year. "He was having a tremendous year and he wasn't chosen. It gives players like that who deserve it a chance."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/04/28/all.star.game.changes.ap/index.html

[LisaM]

1. I don't mind the expanded roster, but I hate the new DH rule

but then, I don't like the dh in general. I love watching pitchers hit.

[Upton]

2. Panda was ripped off...and Charley Manual knows it..

Pablo is having another great year, currently leading the NL in BA (.373).

Yet, despite the increase in roster size... East Coast bias, voter fraud, and Manual's yen to stock the NL team with Phllies are all sure to take their toll..

Giants fans can only hope there's not another "oversight" like last year...

[madinmaryland]

3. "Voter Fraud"

What a douche! Two years ago, you and cboy spent hours yakking about how you were stuffing the ballot boxes for the Ginats!

DOUCHE!

ETA Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=102403&mesg_id=102403

[Upton]

4. You've got no memory..

that was LAST YEAR, not two years ago..

Since you're apparently suffering from some sort of malady which inhibits your ability to recall things correctly, I'll do it for you..

You are allowed to vote as many times as possible. In fact, MLB encourages it..there was no "stuffing of ballot boxes", which implies something illegal..

I am right, you are wrong...and Pablo was ripped off.

[madinmaryland]

5. The only thing you are right about is that the thread was last year.

And someone who gloats about stuffing the ballot box with over 100 votes is a douche. Like I said "last year" that is very 11 year old of you!

[Auggie]

6. It's an exhibition game... what difference does it make?

(Besides ramming the DH down our collective throats)

[Jack Rabbit]

7. It's too bad they won't play baseball in the All Star Game any more

Hearing about the virtues of the DH from an unsophisticated fan who thinks the DH is a good thing* is like . . .

• Getting a series of lectures on constitutional law from David Addington and John Yoo.
• Getting a lecture on American civics from Sarah Palin.
• Getting the news from Brit Hume.
• Trying to get informed opinion from Rush Limbaugh.
• Listening about good race relations from Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

*OK, I know that's a redundancy; there is no such thing as a sophisticated baseball fan who likes the DH.