MLB players have changed over the years

Here are a few notes from the All-Star game in Houston.

Covering a game in Philadelphia before the All-Star break, Larry Bowa and I stood watching the Phillies’ batting practice. He turned to see one of his players giving a hug to a friend on the visiting club.

Bowa turned to one of his coaches and said, “Go tell —- he can talk to his buddy on his own time.” Bowa was mad.

Bowa played in an era when guys in the other uniform were not your friends, not when you took the field. It disgusts him to watch the on-field fraternization among opposing team players today, a matter once against baseball rules.

I thought of that watching the players at the All-Star game, hugging and chatting in the outfield.

It is perhaps the greatest change in the game over the past 50 years. Major League Baseball is about players against owners now. Of course, players compete and want to win, but they all recognize they could be playing in another uniform tomorrow.

They all also know they share the common desire to maximize profits for their career and that common goal is the one that binds. Not necessarily bad, just a thought.

Will the All-Star game continue to decide the home field advantage for the World Series? MLB wants that. The players association is undecided. The reality is the players don’t care. The issue to the players is a negotiating chip.

MLB used the logo “This One Counts” to tout the 2004 game. The other 74 didn’t?

What counts for the players is no one gets hurt. No one has played an entire game since 1997. Only five active players have done so. Willie Mays did it 11 times and Stan Musial 10. This one counts? Not like it did then.

That’s OK. The game is an exhibition, a side show to the regular season with pomp and circumstance.

The seldom-discussed issue MLB is scared to the bone about is the urine samples of some MLB players being held at UCLA where Olympic drug tests are conducted. The IRS seized the samples in April from those doing drug tests for MLB.

A federal court in Los Angeles is hearing a request from the U.S. attorney’s office to be allowed to test those samples for steroids. Just how many samples exist and of what players remains uncertain, but it appears those involved in the Balco Lab steroid controversy, including Barry Bonds, have samples there.

The move of the Expos to Northern Virginia will occur without any formal objections from Baltimore, but Commissioner Bud Selig has reservations about moving there instead of D.C. Political and franchise viability issues are involved.

If the Marlins don’t get a new stadium, look for them to want to move. Tampa Bay will not be far behind.

Oh, yes, the second half of the season is under way, and the Sox need that wild card spot again.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.