let me see if I understand the all-star game:
1. The AL pitchers put on a PITCHING CLINIC. Superb.
2. The managers took a passage approach with no in-game managerial moves. Bochy did the pinch-run with McCutchen. His only move.
3. If you bring up point 2, you will hear, “don’t take the game seriously ... it is mostly an exhibition.”
I guess it is an exhibition. An exhibition of superb pitching and disinterested managing. The pitchers bring their A-game, why not the managers? ... a la Scioscia 2003.
(Speaking of Kipnis, Bochy coulda saved Chapman for Kipnis-Machado-Fielder in the 8th-9th instead of facing 3 Righty bats.
(PS. I didn’t like anything Bochy did. Cuz he did nothing. No pinch-hitting, or matching up his pitchers vs. AL batters. Except the pinch-run with McCutchen. I didn’t like Leyland’s performance either, which is no surprise. he has said in the past that he does not like to manage all-star games.)
I get the impression that most managers are annoyed with the task of the All-star game. Or maybe they have a “just let the stars do their thing” mentality.
I’m with you I’d have liked to see them be more active, why not.