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The All-Star Game
Now that my first prediction came true and Ryan Howard is the Home Run Derby champion (was there any doubt?) I've been asked to blog on the outcome of tonight's baseball All-Star Game. Before you even consider who will win (is there any doubt?) there are some far more important issues to consider.
Like where is Manny Ramirez? So his knee hurts. So does my Mom's, but that didn't stop her from climbing the steps at Guma's to have a grilled chicken sandwich for lunch today. The guy with the most All-Star votes, the guy that more fans wanted to see than any other big leaguer, will be home resting his sore knee. The same knee that was good enough to play 19 innings a few days ago. At least he should have been in Pittsburgh. I'm sure someone would have given him a nice recliner to rest in while he signed some autographs for the fans. If the knee wasn't good enough to even play one inning of the All-Star Game, maybe he could have just tipped his cap at the opening ceremonies.
The Yankees' Robinson Cano is on the disabled list, but he showed up. He was hanging around the other All-Stars last night at the Home Run Derby. He'll be there tonight when the players are introduced. And I'll bet that most of the old-time players showed up at the All-Star Game in the old days despite having injuries, aches and pains and upset wives. I just can't picture Mickey Mantle or Duke Snider or Willie Mays turning down a trip to the All-Star Game. And they made only a fraction of the massive paychecks this year's stars make.
Baseball has never been good at policing its own or making players accountable for their behavior. Baseball just nods its head when players slap the game in the face. At least there will be no ceremony honoring Barry Bonds for passing Hank Aaron on the all-time home run list. But you still have a guy who slugs a cameraman in the face one season, and starts the All-Star Game the next. Anyone ever heard of Kenny Rogers? No, I don't mean the guy who sang "You Took a Fine Time to Leave Me, Lucille." That guy had four hungry children and crops in the field. This Kenny Rogers has bruised knuckles and a wad of money in his back pocket!
Another issue is that now the All-Star Game "means something." Nothing like a slap in the face to the old-timers, who apparantly never tried to win. The winner this year, and last, gets home field advantage for the World Series. As the Fall Classic goes, that seems to be a nice prize, even though only a few players on each team will get to take advantage of it. To me it makes absolutely no sense to have a prize for the team that wins. These are players who baseball asks to play overtime, to promote the game, and says to them, "If you're lucky enough to win tonight, you might, maybe, just possibly, if your team does well in the playoffs, get a prize."
I've always considered the All-Star Game an exhibition game to entertain the fans. A chance to showcase great players from other teams who don't have big networks like Turner Sports or the Yes Network. And your big city favorites. It's just a fun game for bragging rights and you play your best to win, but when it's over you go back home for a day and then head off into the second half of the season.
Around 8:30pm tonight, when the introduction of the All-Star players begins, everything will come to a stop at 7 Saratoga Court. No answering the door, no talking allowed in the livingroom, no phone calls accepted (except from a certain someone!) and no crunching of potato chips or popcorn. Since I was a kid this was my favorite part of the entire evening. Listening to the introduction of the players, listening to the crowd reaction, looking at the closeup of the All-Star as he smiles into my livingroom. And when the Dodgers players are announced (starting pitcher Brad Penny and reserve Nomar Garciaparra) I'll applaud as if I'm there. It's my ten minutes of the evening to be a little boy once again.
And who's going to win? That's easy. The National League. I'd never pick against a team that has Luis Pujols on it. He is baseball's greatest player right now. What? You want the score? National League 8, American League 5. And my brother wants me to pick the Most Valuable Player of tonight's All-Star Game? It would be great if the Pirates' Jason Bay could be the home town hero, but we all know it will be Pujols. If you doubt me on this, go back and read my previous blog "The Home Run Derby." It will make a believer out of you!
ADDENDUM AT 11:30pm: "Oooops!"
Comments
Manny showing up for the all-star game? I am not surprised, I am sure Manny was at home with ice packs on that sore knee, ice tea in hand watching the game on the tube!!! NOT!!!!! Let's face it - these guys are all overpaid. I did not cast one vote for any of these overpaid all stars. I am sticking with Little League all stars - they show up for the games!!!!!! GOOSE
Posted by: Goose | July 13, 2006 7:03 AM
Fox, Fox, Fox. You sure were close. I want to chime in about "this one counts" Its ridiculous for the winner of the all-star game to get home field in the world series. It should be like most every sport, the team with the best record gets home field, it just makes sense. What is the point of playing 162 regular season games when home field advantage is determined from one "exibition" game? That Bud Selig is always doing something to mess up baseball. By the way I would love to see Barry Bonds in an orange colored jump suit soon for perjuring himself, any takers?
Posted by: Bryan Benway | July 12, 2006 2:33 PM
Thanks alot Foxy....20 bucks down the drain (took your advice and took the national!)...I'm pretty sure Dan Hoffman is a better pitcher than that Trevor Hoffman! ... as a matter of fact so is Dustin and he hasn't pitched since "The Graduate"!!
(Foxy's note: Sorry about that, Carver! That's what baseball gets for wanting a player from every team! Somebody from the Padres had to be there. And Hoffman was their man. That's another reason that the game should just be a game and not "mean something."
Maybe I can make it up to you by riding my big 18.5 horses over to your house and mowing your lawn a few times! What street do you live on?)
Posted by: the carver | July 12, 2006 6:33 AM
The last time I checked the MLB All-Star Game was an exhibition game and in my opinion is a joke based on antiquated MLB rules. The every team represented rule was fine before continued expansion of teams and not the roster. Do you really think Mark Redman belongs on the team? What about Dan Uggla ? How many of you have even heard of the diminutive Marlin.
I'm sorry Mrs G's knee hurts, but unlike Mrs G, the job of Manny Ramirez is to get the Sox back into October baseball. It's not to sign autographs or smooze with Bud Selig's buddies. If you watched any of that 19 inning game you would have seen Manny hobbling around like a certain deputy that worked for Matt Dillon. Manny works for the Red Sox sitting out and getting healthy is far more beneficial to both team and player than playing in an exhibition game. Each year there at least 10 NFL players who back out of the pro-bowl yet there is no backlash or complaints from Paul Tagliabue.
As far as the game goes, this year the national league saw what happened when played "the varsity" in inter-league play. The Americans win again and Goose celebrates as A-Rod wins the MVP. It's the only night of the year Yankee and Sox fans come together as one.
Posted by: Rick K | July 11, 2006 3:16 PM