Adrian Gonzalez dismisses idea of starting season with All-Star game

As Major League Baseball considers a variety of options for trying to schedule a 2020 season, former Dodger, Adrian Gonzalez, is not a fan of starting the season with the mid-summer classic.

This past weekend Bill Shaikin wrote a column for the Los Angeles Times making the case for why Major League Baseball should start the 2020 season with the All-Star game at Dodger Stadium. Former Dodger, Adrian Gonzalez, isn’t a fan of the idea.

Before the novel coronavirus shutdown everyday life across the country, including the suspension of the 2020 MLB season, Los Angeles was scheduled to host the All-Star game in July. Whether that will happen now, considering the season is in peril, is anyone’s guess.

If baseball is able to return this summer, Shaikin sees the All-Star game as the perfect event to bring America together to embrace the return of its national past time.

Former Dodgers first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, doesn’t seem concerned about the symbolic nature of starting the season with the mid-summer classic. He wants to make sure the integrity of the game remains in place. He gave his thoughts on the idea while appearing as a guest with Fred Roggin and Rodney Pete on Tuesday.

“It’s a disservice to the All-Star Game itself,” Gonzalez said on AM570. “The All-Star Game has to be earned and it can’t be a popularity contest. If you start it with an All-Star Game, it is 100% going to be a popularity contest and it is going to be who the fans want to see.”

The Silver Slugger, who had nothing but kind things to say about his time playing with the Dodgers, prefers to use this year’s All-Star break to make up games missed from the delayed start and then give Los Angeles a chance to host the event again next season.

Gonzalez said he still keeps in touch with some current Dodgers, particularly Joc Pederson, who he says he keeps in constant contact.

Gonzalez played for the Dodgers from 2012-2017, hitting 101 home runs, earning an All-Star bid, himself, in 2015. The first baseman was eventually traded to the Braves, before retiring after a brief stint with the Mets.