Major League Baseball players are accustomed to a hectic work schedule. Time off is hard to come by during the marathon season, which stretches from February to October, and teams can go weeks without an off day.
That makes the annual All-Star break an interesting case in personal preference. Most players, who just crammed roughly 100 games into the last three-plus months, now have four days to relax. If they were lucky enough to be invited to the All-Star activities in New York City that becomes just two days off before regular season play resumes on Friday.
Rest seems like a good thing, especially with playoff races and the weather heating up, but what about the timing of the break for teams like the Dodgers and Phillies who are on the fringe of playoff contention and have gained ground in recent weeks?
"I think people needed [a break]," Clayton Kershaw told RealGM. "It's always good to get a little rest. We were on a pretty good streak. I hope that doesn't kill our momentum, but we needed the rest for now."
The Dodgers, winners of seven of their last 10 games, are just 2.5 games back of the Diamondbacks in the National League West.
"I think we are just excited that we have a chance to get in the playoffs," Kershaw added. "Three weeks ago we were 10 games out and if we were there now, the second half would look a little bleak. Where we are at now, we've got a great shot at it and that's all we can ask for as bad as we played."
Paul Goldschmidt, who's Diamondbacks the Dodgers are chasing, isn't sure if there is a right answer regarding the pros and cons of the midsummer break.
"We had 20 in a row, so it's nice to at least get one day off. It's good timing I think, but I don't know," the first-time All-Star told RealGM. "You play a few in a row and then you think it's good to have a day off. Then all of a sudden it turns the other way. You don't really know, but it's always good to get rest."
The defending World Series champion Giants are scuffling. Four games over .500 after beating Atlanta on June 14, San Francisco is 43-51 after losing 20 of their last 28 games. They are only 6.5 games back in the NL West, but Buster Posey thinks the All-Star break came at a good time for his club.
"I think it'll help to take a step back," Posey said. "We did play better in the last series in San Diego, so I think it's good to take a step back for a few days."
Posey is hitting .325/.395/.536 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI this year, following up the career numbers he posted in 2012. He may not need the time off, but catcher knows it should help the Giants to catch their collective breath.
The Phillies are 6.5 games out in the NL East, but in much better position than they were this time last season.
"We are working hard, just trying to keep moving. We've got great veteran leadership in the clubhouse and we're going to take it to the second half," Domonic Brown said. "We were back a lot more last year. I don't even remember how far back we were, but we made a nice push at the end of the season."
Cliff Lee, Brown's teammate, is looking at the break optimistically. Philadelphia has been playing well, but his opinion isn't going to change how Major League Baseball handles the schedule.
"We were playing pretty good leading into the break, but there is no other option other than to take four days off," Lee said.
"Every team is doing it and you can't change the timing of it because there's a schedule. I'm going to try to look at it as positive as I can and think that it's going to be good -- guys are going to get rest. I felt like it was really hot leading into the break for us, so I think the rest is going to be good for some guys."