Column: For Chicago's MLB All-Stars in Atlanta, a chance to show they belong

Chicago Tribune

6 days ago

ATLANTA — An assignment to cover the All-Star Game is a privilege I've happily accepted since my first one at Wrigley Field in 1990.
They've all blended together after a few years, from the 15-inning affair at Yankee Stadium in 2008 to the 2016 game at Petco Park in San Diego, where seven Cubs players were invited to participate.
The one that sticks out took place in 1995 in Arlington, Texas, in a ballpark that was deemed obsolete a couple decades later because it lacked an essential part of modern life, air conditioning.
That All-Star week was made memorable by the scorching Texas heat; a BBWAA meeting at which my Chicago Tribune colleague, Hall of Fame writer Jerome Holtzman, asked the BBWAA president to put it on the record that a fellow New York writer was a 'no-good (S.O.B.)' — and because the player I was assigned to cover, White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, ditched the media by leaving during the game to fly home.
It's now acceptable for All-Stars to depart soon after leaving the game, one of many changes that has made the event less fun to cover than back in the day. All-Star week still thrives despite the best efforts of MLB, which on Monday allowed ESPN clown Pat McAfee to host its media day news conference, an obvious attempt at capturing the 'bro culture' that usually tunes out the game.
But this year's Midsummer Classic is fascinating for many reasons, including the introduction of Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on the big stage, the starting matchup between Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, the mashing of catcher Cal Raleigh and the continued dominance of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the best players of their era.
Unfortunately, after consultations with the office, I was asked not to work this week to save my brain cells for the second half. 'Relax and enjoy the festivities,' I was told. 'We need your brain, or what's left of it, to be refreshed and ready for the Cubs stretch run and the Sox trade watch. Just go have fun.'
'Can I still make fun of Manfred?' I texted.
'Save it for later,' came the reply.
There are 16 replacements for the All-Stars selected by fans, players and the leagues for this year's game, which makes it seem like the game itself is no longer a big deal. I empathized with Cubs starter Matthew Boyd and the many other All-Stars who wanted to participate but won't play for health or other reasons.
It's 'team first,' even if this could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for some.
'I wouldn't say it was a hard decision,' Boyd said Monday on media day. 'It's one of those things that it's just a smart decision. I want to play. It doesn't mean I don't want to play. I want to pitch in this game so badly. It's one thing like, hey, you've got to be smart with. The goal is to pitch through October, and I've already thrown more innings than I have the last two years combined.
'It's a time to be smart, and because of that, I do get to enjoy this experience still, and I'll be soaking it all in.'
Hopefully the 34-year-old Boyd can get back to the All-Star Game, but nothing in life is promised. Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker remembered his first one in 2022 at Dodger Stadium when he played for the Houston Astros.
'It's a cool experience and everything,' he said. 'You never know if you're going to have this opportunity to be here again. You just try and have some fun with it.'
But Tucker understood Boyd's reasoning, pointing to his eight-inning masterpiece against the New York Yankees on Saturday.
'At least he can fully have fun and not worry about getting ready and prepared,' Tucker said. 'I'm sure he's having a blast right now.'
It might have been the same story for White Sox starter Shane Smith. On Friday at Sox Park, manager Will Venable told the media the team would have discussions about whether Smith would be able to pitch in the All-Star Game. The Sox are trying to limit his workload this second half to keep him healthy. But Smith is the only representative for the Sox, and there was no obvious replacement if he was told not to pitch.
Those discussions apparently didn't last too long.
'I'm ready to throw,' Smith said Monday. 'Whatever that looks like. Whether it's an inning or an out. Give me the ball. I'm gonna go.'
For a Rule 5 draft pick who wasn't even sure he would make the team in spring training, Smith is trying to take in this journey, from pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A team in Biloxi, Miss., one year ago to being chosen by the Sox in December to participating in an All-Star Game as a rookie.
'Things change over time. It's kind of what you do with that change,' Smith said. 'You've just got to keep at it as it comes. Rule 5 happened and then spring training and the next thing you know you're 18 starts in and you're in Atlanta.'
Life goes by fast, and you have to enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Crow-Armstrong was already up with the Cubs last year at this time. But at the All-Star break he was hitting .203 with three home runs and 17 RBIs, just trying to prove he belonged in the big leagues.
'I don't remember what I was doing last break,' Crow-Armstrong said Monday. 'I think I was just staying in Chicago. At that time I was just focusing on picking up the pace in terms of how I was playing. It's always nice to think about what you could do a little bit better, but I wasn't quite here (as an All-Star) in my brain.'
Now he's the starting National League center fielder with a chance to be a rare 40-40 player in steals and home runs. It's almost like entering an alternate universe in the same body.
'I'd be lying if I said I didn't know what my stats are, but I don't translate that into, 'I want to hit 40 homers and (steal) 40 bags,' or whatever the mark is,' Crow-Armstrong said. 'If I'm playing well, that usually translates into a better chance for the Cubbies to win ballgames.
'We've got a lot of guys that could be worrying about these benchmarks but don't. We're a good club that only worries about winning every day. … What's cooler is winning the World Series and playing in October. The 40-40 and any other accolades, it all comes second to me.'
The All-Star Game has changed over the decades. To some fans, it's just not what it used to be, and I can't argue with them.
But don't tell that to players who've survived some tough times to make it here in Atlanta for the first time.
The struggles were worth it. Now it's time to relax and have some fun.