Ahhh...the All-Star Game
Every All-Star Game is a joke, the NFL being the worst (NHL, then NBA), but MLB is right there with the other major sports. The whole home field in post-season should end, actually should've never started. For 100 years rotating between the AL & NL worked, start that again please. An "all-star" from last place teams shouldn't determine who gets Game 7 in the World Series; it will happen someday if this arrangement continues.
The hype around this years game with the living Hall of Famers parading to the ballpark was followed up by a game which eneded with both teams out of pitchers (again) and future Hall of Famers across the NL outfield (Ludwick, McLouth & Hart...combined 0-9, 3K, 5 LOB). Guzman (0-4, 3 LOB) was at 3B in an all-star game even though he's never played any position except SS since turning pro. Navarro (actually got a hit...and struck out twice) was at catcher for the AL and there was a true all-star performance by Cook (3IP, 4H, 3BB, 1K). When was the last time Sherrill pitched 2.1 innings (yes, I know only 25 pitches) in the majors? 7/20/04, nice! He did pitch 2.0 innings three other times in his career, once each in '04, '05 & '07.
Yea...a real classic.
Move the event to a weekend. Play the futures game on Friday night. On Saturday & Sunday from 10am to 4pm have a fan-fest type setup with tables or boothes wrapped around the warning track that (more) fans can get into with an admissioin fee. Saturday night have the homerun derby (ticket required). Let fans tour (wander through) the ballpark hosting, including clubhouses & press box. Let them throw some pitches from a bullpen mound.
The All-Star game used to be a place where fans got to see "all the stars" play at once, things have evolved. Because of television and/or the internet the vast majority of fans can see whomever they want whenever they want, even if it's in highlight form. If the past few years is what the All-Star game is going to be, just change the whole set up of the All-Star event.