MLB held its annual Home Run Derby on Monday. The event was so popular, they did it again on Tuesday to determine the All-Star Game winner.

For some reason, the worst slight ever done to humanity was in 2002 when, after eleven innings, the All-Star Game was declared a tie. Then-commissioner Bud Selig was so distraught by it, he launched the inane idea that the winner of the All-Star Game gets home field advantage in the World Series. That will teach those lazy players to play for a win instead of a tie.

It was a silly idea. The All-Star Game is just an exhibition. Time was, it was actually a game. Now, it’s TV programming. 

Last night’s All-Star Game ended in a 6-6 tie. The American League mounted a monumental comeback from being down 6-0, scoring four in the seventh and two more in the top of the ninth. When the National League failed to win it in the bottom of the ninth, they broke into a Swing-Off. Three American League hitters faced three National League hitters. Each got three swings. Whichever team hits the most home runs, wins.

Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs to power the National League to a Swing-Off win, and what is recorded as a 7-6 ten-inning victory in the All-Star Game.

The fans loved it.

Do not be surprised if this format is kicked around for regular season tie-breakers instead of the zombie runner at second. With the huge popularity of the Savannah Bananas and their circus-type playing of baseball, MLB owners, never one to avoid trampling on the game as they chase that next dollar, will certainly see this as a more fan-friendly way to settle ties. Fan friendly meaning profitable.

Then, one bright owner will have the idea: why do we even need the first nine innings? Why not just do this format for nine innings. Both teams pick three players, each player gets three swings, most home runs wins that inning. Do that nine times, you have yourself a game.

This way, we don’t need to pay those expensive pitchers. Don’t need to pay those expensive fielders. Just a few hitters who can crank the ball the ballpark, and an elderly pitching coach to feed them balls to hit. So, not much different than the home run derby the game has evolved into now. But much much cheaper. And much much more fan friendly.

Baseball solved. 

Don’t be surprised if this doesn’t get kicked around.