Bud Selig and his FOXie friends might have the answer to their prayers, and they might not even realize it.

The commissioner and baseball’s television benefactors have tried for years to find a way to enhance the television ratings for the All-Star game. They have turned somersaults, done cartwheels and back flips and have concocted gimmicks to lure viewers.

Eight years ago they linked the outcome of the All-Star game to home field advantage in the World Series. That scheme, however, did not raise ratings. In fact, the rating for last year’s game was the lowest ever, 7.5.

That disappointing development prompted another gimmick this year, a fan contest to pick the “favorite moment” in All-Star history, presumably aimed at getting people thinking about and interested in watching the game. That gimmick, however, seemed highly unlikely to have an impact on the game’s rating. It did not. The rating was even lower than last year, 6.9.

But the night before the game, another new gimmick offered promise for the future, if baseball wanted to do it.

During regular-season and post-season games, players are not permitted to use electronic devices, such as cell phones. For the Home Run Derby Monday night, though, players were permitted to tweet on their Twitter accounts. And tweet they did.

According to Major League Baseball and the Players Association, players who were on the field during the home run derby participated in the first social media derby, “resulting in a significant volume of online activity” and “considerable increases in Twitter followings for the participating All-Stars” and “increased television ratings and viewership for the events on ESPN.”

It was the first time players interacted with fans live during an M.L.B. event.

The 23 players who tweeted from the field gained a combined 121,428 new followers, an average increase of 17 percent, during an 18-hour period, a joint news release said.

Robinson Cano, the New York Yankees’ second baseman, who won the home run contest, saw his Twitter activity increase by 84 percent. He was followed by Jose Bautista plus 49 percent, Gio Gonzalez 46 percent, Matt Kemp 43 percent, Howie Kendrick 28 percent, Heath Bell 18 percent and David Ortiz 17 percent.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do not have a Twitter account, have never and don’t expect ever to tweet. Furthermore, I don’t understand Twitter and fail to see why anyone wants to tweet. Have we become so egotistical and self-centered that we want others to know where we are and what we’re doing at any given moment?

My personal views aside, which younger readers will criticize and older readers will say amen to, Twitter would seem to be baseball’s answer to its ratings problem.

The All-Star game is an exhibition. Having players tweet during the game would not be a serious violation of the sacred nature of a baseball game. Players sitting in the dugout or in the bullpen could presumably maintain their focus on the game while tweeting an occasional message on their Tweeter account.

This would normally be an idea that would be repugnant to me, but I suggest it in the best interests of Bud Selig, who could retire happily after next season if the FOX ratings actually go up. Selig, however, would have to abandon that home field advantage silliness in exchange.

I firmly believe that Bud the fan doesn’t like the gimmick that Bud the commissioner created. I can’t believe that the fan in the commissioner saw anything in the latest All-Star game, a 5-1 National League victory, that was enhanced by the home field advantage link.

He might have to acknowledge that the outcome of this game and last year’s had nothing to do with increased desire and passion and everything to do with National League pitchers, who in two years have allowed two runs.

Now to address another All-Star issue, one that comes from a reader, who lives in Peoria, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix, site of this year’s game. The reader takes issue with the pre-game activities known as FanFest.

Referring to the recent column in which I wrote about the M.L.B. “favorite moment” Web site, one reader wrote:

“If the web site makes you feel badly – and I agree completely – the Fan Fest, where I have volunteered this week, would make you want to take a shower each day.

“If MLB could place a vacuum cleaner into the wallet of every attendee, regardless of age, it would. Between official sponsors, major collectible dealers and the MLB Clubhouse store, my head has been spinning at the prices.

“My favorite sponsor was Phiten, a company that apparently makes official versions of the necklaces that ballplayers have been wearing lately. Their name was new to me, so I visited their large display, noting the wristbands and necklaces, with each team logo in sight.

“The Phiten representatives acted as if I were visiting a jeweler, offering to show me any item, if desired, by removing it from its locked case. I demurred, but asked about the cost of the items. The wristbands were $25 – this for a band similar to the one Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong group sold for $1, for charity – and the necklaces were $36 for a single necklace and $50 for a braided necklace which the rep explained was actually constructed of two necklaces. I slithered away, shaking my head.

“Retired players – both from MLB and the women’s league whose story was told in the film, ‘A League of Their Own’ – were on hand for their piece, too, offering to go beyond the event’s free autographs to pose for pictures or sign bats or other premium items for a cost.

“Fergie Jenkins and Gaylord Perry, in particular, were slated to man the specialty signing tables for most of the weekend. I know they didn’t clear millions when they played, but it seemed beneath them to be feeding at this trough. But that is probably my error in judgment, not theirs.

“The whole thing makes me feel foolish for having gotten involved, having purchased a ticket to the events – Futures game today, HR Derby (my 26 year old son is attending) tomorrow, the game itself on Tuesday. I’m more embarrassed at the prices I paid – from MLB, by the way, not from scalpers.

“I doubt that those reactions are what MLB wants. I suspect they are getting the reaction in general.”

Prices have not deterred fans from attending FanFest, which began in 1991 and is held in the host All-Star city the week before the game. It has become a popular event.

Attendance figures weren’t immediately available for this year, but M.L.B. said last year’s FanFest in Anaheim drew 118,000 and the year before in St. Louis 150,000. Cost of tickets this year was basically $30 for adults, $25 for children.

Jacqueline Secaira-Cotto, director of special events, said baseball approved the approximately 40 attractions, but the operators of the attractions set their own prices.