The American League pitched a shutout against the National League in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but let's be real, the game itself was a bit of a snooze. Cody Bellinger snagged the All-Star Game MVP, slamming a two-run single off hometown starter Cristopher Sanchez early in the first inning. While the baseball on the field might not have been a barn burner, FOX tried to make the broadcast special, with wildly mixed results.
Ray Charles, Kids on Bikes, and What Makes the All-Star Game Special
FOX actually crushed some parts of the broadcast. They put together two seriously cool video packages. First up, there was this fun Ben Stiller-narrated scene where the All-Stars and mascots hit up a carnival. That's a good time, right? But the real magic happened later, after the sun went down. Kids rode their bikes onto the field to meet players, get autographs, and play catch during a fireworks show while Ray Charles sang "America the Beautiful." Guys were even standing in front of the dugout holding sparklers! That's the kind of tremendous moment that makes you say, "They're just big kids!" It's a celebration, and that kind of pomp and circumstance should absolutely become part of the game's tradition.FOX Went From 'Special' to Straight Up 'Ridiculous' With AI Slop
Then, there's the other side of the coin, and oh boy, it's rough. FOX already posted about Bellinger winning MVP, but then they dropped this absolutely pointless AI graphic: an eagle wearing a baseball jersey next to the Rocky statue. It didn't look good or cool; it looked ridiculous. Honestly, it was horrible. And it somehow got worse when they followed up with a video of that same AI eagle flying over Philadelphia and ringing the Liberty Bell. Sure, they took the tactical sunglasses off the eagle, but then you've got "slopified text" representing Citizens Bank Park. This AI garbage "was seen more than anything else FOX Sports posted last night" and got rightly roasted in the comments. If you need a "stocky American icon" for your Philadelphia baseball graphics, just use some pictures of Kyle Schwarber! Seriously, networks, please stop using these. Just stop.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.