Keep the All-Star Game relevant

Making the home-field advantage in the World Series dependent on who wins the All-Star Game was a great move. Last night's game proved why once again.
The game went 15 innings and most of the players were still at the top of the dugout watching. Pitchers who originally wanted the day off pitched, and pitched well. Players stole bases, there were close plays and blocking the plate and all the trimmings of a game that mattered.
Contrast that to one of the last games that didn't matter: the 2002 game, an 11th inning "tie" that ended because both managers considered it more important to get everyone in the game than to try to win.
Earlier in that game, AL centerfielder Torii Hunter robbed Barry Bonds of a home run, and Bonds playfully embraced him after the inning. What better sign could you ask for that players didn't care much about the outcome?
You didn't see any American Leaguers hugging Russell Martin last night after they were thrown out at home plate.
The players whine to the media about the rules change every year. They try to say that they're professionals who care about the game, and they would play just as hard if nothing were at stake.
Bullshit. We saw how they play with nothing at stake: distractedly. Hugging their opponents. Refusing to pitch even one inning because they've had only one day of rest.
I don't know if the idea of World Series home-field advantage means much to Orioles reliever George Sherrill, or Texas shortstop Michael Young, or many of the other players who played key roles in the extra-inning win.
But it is clear that none of them will dare slack off in the All-Star Game when there's something collective at stake.
Sure, some players were motivated in the past, when it was just a meaningless exhibition. But now, they're all on notice. If you're the one who makes the game-losing error (Dan Uggla, you are sooooo lucky), at least one team is going to be cursing your name come October -- and Fox announcers are going to point out repeatedly that you're the one who blew it. In a game where the average salary is $3 million, that sort of pressure is much better motivation than a little extra cash.