Funky ‘swing off’ gimmick just what All-Star Game needed

ATLANTA — Sure it was a gimmick. But it was a winning gimmick.

Everyone involved agreed that the so-called “swing-off” that decided the All-Star Game worked, nearly to perfection, in fact. It was a long night, but it was a beautiful finish for baseball.

A few of the players didn’t even know a tie after nine innings was going to be settled in a quickie Home Run Derby. But once it got started, and after it was done, almost everyone loved it.

The players who remained here long into the night all stayed involved. The six makeshift derby participants all were into it, and so was everyone on the benches, and the stands, too, as the six derby hitters (well, five since Pete Alonso wasn’t needed as the National League’s anchor) took their cuts.