2009 All-Star Game Thread
By
Last night’s Homerun Derby was about as exciting as having your teeth pulled, so we can only hope tonight’s game is a bit more fun to watch. Last year’s 15-inning marathon was actually pretty entertaining, especially once Terry Francona and Clint Hurdle began to watch nervously as they tried to figure out what the hell they were going to do with the pitching staffs if the game kept going.
The American League has won every All-Star Game since 1996, save for that tie in Milwaukee a few years back. Looking over the rosters, it seems like we could be in for another AL win because of the quality and experience of the pitching and the depth on the bench. Remember, it’s the reserves that usually decide this thing. The starting position players get their two at-bats and hit the showers. And you know, this game decides home field advantage in the World Series. It’s dumb, but them’s the rules.
Unfortunately, Evan Longoria has an infected finger and can’t go tonight. He’s been replaced on the roster by Chone Figgins. For shame, Longoria was one of the few players I actually wanted to see. Anyway, here’s the starting lineups:
American League
1. Ichiro!, RF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Mark Teixeira, 1B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Josh Hamilton, CF
7. Michael Young, 3B
8. Aaron Hill, 2B
9. Roy Halladay, SP
National League
1. Hanley Ramirez, SS
2. Chase Utley, 2B
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Ryan Braun, RF
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. David Wright, 3B
7. Shane Victorino, CF
8. Yadier Molina, C
9. Tim Lincecum, SP
I’m not saying he belongs in the game, but I’ll miss seeing A-Rod wear those funny white cleats. The game is supposed to start at 8pm, but you know first pitch won’t be until 8:20 at the earliest after the starting lineups and all the unnecessary bells and whistles that’ll be attached to this thing. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver have the call. Enjoy the game.
Graphic from Flickr user N i c o_
321 Comments
RAB Info
The Founders
Mike Axisa, Ben Kabak, Joe Pawlikowski
Editor-In-Chief
Mike Axisa Archives | Email
Managing Editors
Ben Kabak Archives | E-mail
Joe Pawlikowski Archives | E-mail
Contributing Editors
Larry Koestler (Archives)
Moshe Mandel (Archives)
Eric Schultz (Archives)
Weekend Writers
Hannah Ehrlich (Archives)
Matthew Warden (Archives)
Special Contributor
J.R. O'Grady (Archives)
Technical Consultant
Jay Gordon
Subscribe to RAB by RSS
Follow @RiverAveBlues
Search RAB
Yankees News from YESNetwork.com
- Yankees-Blue Jays finale rained out
- Yankees continue to dominate Blue Jays, improve to 8-1 in the season series
- With a strong start against the Blue Jays, David Phelps makes a case for himself as a regular starer
- Cano homers twice to help Yankees beat Blue Jays for the eighth time
- Yankees acquire Reid Brignac from Rockies
- Kuroda proving he's one of baseball's best
- Joe Girardi's confidence helping Yankees rookies seize their opportunity
- Postgame Notebook: Yanks holding out for a Hiro
- Kuroda pitches eight scoreless innings to carry Yankees past Blue Jays in series opener
- Managing a steady stream of injuries, Girardi's creative lineups powering Yankees
Banner Design By
The Tyler Austin Watch
Go American League.
But, seriously, I’m just hoping the game keeps me awake.
Rooting for the National League is Un-American.
ICWUDT
I know that people on this blog obsess over having Yankees players represented and Red Sox players left off the All Star roster but having Arod on this team would be a travesty.
Well, even though I’ve got no problem with him being left off, there’s easily a legit argument to include him on the team.
Maybe not easily, but there’s an argument to be made.
His numbers are better than Young’s.
There ya go, then.
A Yankee colored argument. If Arod played for any other team you would be outraged at the suggestion of his inclusion.
No Manny, no Arod, Brian Roberts ect. and anyone else that is a proven PED user. Just keep them away.
Ryan Franklin was suspended in 2005 for PEDs. Not counting him, I guarantee there’s at least one player on each team tonight that has either used in the past or is using right now.
I understand your point Mike, I’m not trying to be holier than thou its just what we do know about Arod and all of his denials doen’t sit well with me. Also, your contention about at least one player from either team is sadly right on. So in the end its not a Yankee or Yankee vs Red Sox issue I just want these guys to be accountable in some small way.
Perhaps I’m holding him up to unfair standards but I just don’t want to see him and Manny at the All Star Game. Time for some new blodd and a new vision.
If Arod played for any other team you would be outraged at the suggestion of his inclusion.
No, I wouldn’t.
No, I really wouldn’t. He’s got real, real good numbers, especially considering his “lack” of playing time this year. If Manny or Roberts or A-Rod were in there, I’d have absolutely no problem with it.
That.
If Maanny were there it would be ridiculous; sample size.
Wakefield in the game is a travesty and an insult to Moose.
How do you figure that?
Tim Wakefield has a 4.31 ERA and pretty crappy peripherals.
What does it have to do with Mussina? The guy is retired.
I don’t know, I just don’t think Wakefield should be there; taht’s the side of the argument I’m talking about.
Last year, Moose had better numbers. He had the same win, a lower ERA, and better peripherals.
He did not make the ASG despite dominating Francona’s Sox the day before the picks for pitcher were maade.
And now this joke of a pick is made for Wakefield?
Insulting and ridiculous.
You’ll have to take it up with Joe Madden, he made the choice. Besides its a lifetime achievemnt award. There is room for that sort of thing.
What RAB poster said.
Really?
His OPS+ is at 150.
His OBP% is at .411
His on pace to have another 30+ homer and 100 RBI season.
Well hopefully the AS game is at least watchable.
Last night was a great reminder of how little I dig the long ball. I’ll be so glad to see balls and strikes again, let alone singles, doubles, and triples.
I was so bored I started calling the non-HR hits. “Popped-up!” “That’s a double at least.” And so on.
The novelty wore off after the first batter, literally.
Axisa, I know you obsess over the DSL, what can you tell me about Yeicok Calderon. The man is mashing the ball.
What a wonderful, wonderful name.
+42
“New York signed Yeicok Calderon, a lefthanded-hitting left fielder/first baseman with some power and below-average speed.”
If he’s already stuck at LF/1B, he better be able to hit.
http://tinyurl.com/kjt4an
Did any body read the article on the Daily news today about A-Rod not being the top player in baseball and etc?
I understand right now Pujols and Mauer has surpassed him, but they had players like Manny and ichiro over A-Rod. I was like are you kidding me? Ichiro?
A-Rod is better than Ichiro, but Ichiro is a tremendous player. Don’t underrate him either.
Ichiro is overrated. He’s a glorified slap hitter. He hits for no power and doesn’t walk. His play in the field is stellar, I’ll admit, but at the plate he is overrated, IMO.
I tend to disagree.
Care to say why…?
He has blazing speed and hits for a ridiculously high average, every year.
I believe he also has over 3,000 hits.
There’s more to hitting than batting average and speed.
Of course. But you can just as easily argue there’s more to hitting than power and OBP; now somebody tell Swisher.
Of course. But you can just as easily argue there’s more to hitting than power and OBP; now somebody tell Swisher.
http://www.instantrimshot.com
+10
If Hamilton made it, A-rod should have.
Good point.
Josh Hamilton in the All Star Game makes Ty Cobb want to bust out of hell and go stab some guys.
Maddon said Mo is his closer; I’m happy
Why The Yankees Should Trade Jesus Montero
http://thunderbaseball.wordpre.....s-montero/
Sorry, I’m all for making a Halladay deal and would even include one of our young MLB pitchers, but Montero is my one and only untouchable. Its a position of depth, that should be something that can be worked around.
I saw the article. I understand his points. I disagree and agree with you.
But you don’t agree with me enough to call Kim Jones/Adam the Bullshitter and argue for our cause? Then what good is it, I ask you.
Yeah. Look anybody can be traded if ur a prospect especially for a elite player like Halladay.
Nevertheless, the yanks have depth in the C position neither of those players have Montero ceiling. Not that close either. Romine has skills no doubt, but at least wit the bat, Montero beats him rather easily.
Hitting prospects like Montero Don’t often especially if your the yanks.
Most organizations put defense first at the Catching position, and would like Romine more than Montero if they need a catcher and think Jesus will wind up in LF/1B, as most scouts do. Could be a better fit.
Halfway through the article, Mashmore says:
There’s a word for those people. The word is “smart”.
That’s insane. If Toronto offered Halladay for Montero straight up, the Yanks would absolutely take it. As good as Montero looks, he’s still a 19-yr old in AA with major questions about his defense.
Agreed. And I’m a huge Montero fan. But straight up you don’t even think about it.
Unfortunately, I have to agree.
But I hate admitting it and hope it doesn’t come to that.
As good as Halladay looks, he’s still 32 years old and we still already have CC Sabathia and A.J Burnett already under contract and fronting our rotation and CMW, Pettitte, Joba, and Hughes as excellent options to fill out the back of our rotation.
Would the Blue Jays trade Halladay for Montero straight up?
Doubt it very much.
It’s more than that. Halladay has done more than looked good. He has dominated in a division containing the best lineups and hitters in the game and made them look silly consistently.
If it comes to that, you have to do it.
David Cone was 32 when we got him from Toronto. How did that work out?
We didn’t have to give up Jesus Montero to get David Cone.
Would you have been in favor of giving up Derek jeter or Bernie Williams to get David Cone? That’s the level of hitting prospect that Montero is right now.
I’ve already referred to Jesus as “my one and only untouchable” but that wasn’t in the context of a 1-1 deal. I’d have to do a straight up deal. We don’t know what Jesus will be as a MLB player, and if he winds up at 1B (as most scouts suspect) he will wind up blocked and being traded down the road anyway.
In any case, my point was that being age 32 isn’t something that should hold us back.
I hope he keeps catching.
You have to make that deal. Montero for Halladay, gotta make that deal.
I’d trade him in the right deal. Realistically, will his stock ever be any higher than it is right now? Doubt it.
So would I. The “right deal” would be for a stud, dominant, top-five guy at his position who’s 24-26 years old, like Hanley Ramirez, Felix Hernandez, Grady Sizemore, Joe Mauer, Justin Upton… you know, the guys who aren’t available in trades.
The right deal would NOT be for a stud, dominant, top-five guy at his position who just turned 32 a couple of months ago. Because that’s 6-8 years of production we’re not going to get, because it’s gone.
You might have a point there.
But Halladay is more than that. He dominates in the best division in baseball and is as close to a sure win as you’ll find in baseball. I think you can expect five or six years of reall, reasonable production from Halladay.
That’s also 6-8 years of production that the odds say the Yankees are unlikely to get because he’s just 19, no matter how good he looks.
Halladay for the next 1.5 yrs is as much as a sure thing as you can get.
I’m worried about more than just the next 1.5 years.
I understand that. But you’re talking about one singular prospect for one of the two or three best pitchers on the planet when the team is build to win right now.
I love Montero. I think he’s going to be one of the best players in the entire game. I think he has a chance of being the next Piazza. I have said that I think his ceiling (as in, in the absolute best case scenario) he’s as high as Pujols.
But the fact is I have no idea how good he’ll be. I DO know how good Halladay will be. So in a straight up trade, and straight up is the only way I’d consider trading him, you do it.
The team is built to win both now and later.
The “We’re in Win Now Mode” meme is a paradox. We have to both damn the future for the present and damn the present for the future at the same time.
You’re right;if the trade is straight up we’re still in good shape because we have a ton of good catching prospects.
You’re right. You don’t go NEAR Montero.
What has he done in the majors? I would have to think anyone who has never seen action in a big league has to be available in the right deal. you never know, and assuming he’s the next big thing is well, dumb.
I revised my position when I realized they were talking about a straight up deal.
Not dumb. If you think that, you’re basically saying that rating prospects is essentially useless.
Not useless, just very far from an exact science. Do we really need to run down the lists of monumental busts? Especially when you’re talking a guy who is 2 years away from being able to go out for a beer.
You’re right, but he is still expected to be one of the best in the game. There are also some really high profile success stories.
Unless it’s a straight up deal.
I love Montero. His bat is going to be a special one. He will be a star.
Probably.
Halladay will definitely be a star.
A star who has already passed the typical prime years of an MLB player.
A star who has already passed his typical prime years, but is still better than just about everyone.
But not a power pitcher who tries to miss bats, so there’s no reason to think he can’t keep doing what he does for at least a few more years.
He should also make AJ better, and maybe some other pitchers (Hughes) on the staff as well. His value goes even beyond his own performances, which are stellar.
How useful is having a star on the pitching staff, really? If having a stud pitcher makes all your other pitchers better through his knowledge, wouldn’t Mo have helped the Yankees consistently have dominant bullpens?
No, Mo’s a one pitch pitcher with insane control. I’m sure he can help guys out, but he’s so unusual himself.
Halladay’s a fairly typical starter with a very advanced approach and off the charts work ethic. AJ raves about him, I’ll take his word for it.
But taking that to its logical extreme, wouldn’t any pitcher with an advanced approach (what is this, exactly?) and great work ethic be good to have on staff?
How many MLB pitchers have poor approaches and poor work ethic? Obviously having someone setting an example can help, but it’s not going to turn, say, Sergio Mitre into a number 2.
I’m just skeptical about how much Halladay’s presence would benefit the other pitchers, other than having him around to soak up innings. How is having him around better than having, say, CC around? Or having vintage Clemens/Mussina around? Or even late-career RJ?
You know, St. Louis has the only true baseball fans. Why are we all wasting our time? We’re all frauds.
+1
Hahahaha!
Maybe if I can get an old lady to sit next to me and wear a silly red shirt, I’ll be a better fan.
Over/under: First pitch 9 PM
under 9 since I’m in central time.
In case anybody was wondering what the infamous Matt (expletive deleted) Bush was up to, this should about sum it up-
http://withleather.uproxx.com/.....to-custody
EAST F$%#&IN COUNTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, just wow. Talk about falling apart.
Mo got the modest ovation from the Al side
Biggest not modest
I think that thing on the Ryan Franklin’s chin is self aware.
Ever see this movie?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.....dvertising
In re: Jeter’s earlier comments, it’s nice to see the man say something of the non-platitude variety, especially when he’s so right.
Now if we can just get him to come out against Interleague play . . .
Hahah ichiro greets jeter with a big “Whats up baby boy?”
Just realized the pitchers are hitting.. Ugh
No they’re not, they’ll be pinch hit for.
Good point.
Damn yo, Doc and Lincecum haven’t even started warming up yet.
Like I said. 9 PM.
I can’t decide whether the cuts in Molina’s hair are Dope, Fresh or Fly.
Heh IETC
Medchill just went deep. That’s 5 homeruns so far for SI. Kid is a beast!
Is it just me or is J.P Riccardi overplaying his hand? I have a feeling that Toronto is going to come away with a good deal less than has been discussed for Halladay.
To me the team with the greatest urgency and least leverage is the Toronto Blue Jays. I wouldn’t be the least bit supprised if Toronto came away with nothing more than one top prospect and one mid level prospect. Afterall, they are the ones who have to lessen the salary load.
I have a feeling that Toronto is going to come away with a good deal less than has been discussed for Halladay.
Kinda like what happened w/Minnesota and Johan? I don’t know, I feel like Toronto will get more because it’s in-season and teams may be desperate for that last little push to make the playoffs/win the WS.
You may be right Matt. The other side of the aurgument is that teams, even larger market teams seem cautious about taking on additional salary.
True, true. But I think some of these teams will want that last push to make the WS before either blowing it up or just not being able to afford compete after the next year or two.
If they get Wood, Reckling, and something else from the Angels, that would be a nice haul. I’d still try and buy low on Ervin Santana. That threesome has ridiculous upside.
I guess the unanswered question is “Will J.P Riccardi be an astute judge of baseball talent and value?” Recent history says otherwise.
Good point. He’ll probably just ask for Maicer Izturis and Reggie Willits and call it a day.
Either that, or ask for Gary Matthews Jr. straight up so he can add him to Vernon Wells and Alex Rios and assemble the single most overpaid outfield in baseball history.
Good point. Who plays center, could be a real ego mess.
“To me the team with the greatest urgency and least leverage is the Toronto Blue Jays. I wouldn’t be the least bit supprised if Toronto came away with nothing more than one top prospect and one mid level prospect. Afterall, they are the ones who have to lessen the salary load.”
I would be surprised with that haul, since it’s not much better than just taking the compensatory draft picks when Halladay turns down arbitration. I don’t think they have to lessen their payroll quite so urgently that they’d take that kind of deal.
Who realy knows. I just can’t get away from this feeling that too much of this is J.P. Riccardi looking for attention. That by playing up the media attention and becoming the center of sports talk shows from Chicago to St Louis to Boston to Philly and New York he somehow becomes some baseball mastermind.
I just don’t think that this going to end well for Toronto Blue Jay fans, all 2,500 of them.
Good thing they have all that free healthcare up there.
“Is it just me or is J.P Riccardi overplaying his hand?”
I don’t think so. It’s still 2 weeks before the deadline, so he can keep the price high for now. But I have no doubt he noticed what happened to Bill Smith and doesn’t want to repeat it.
Jimmy Carter does not look good.
Jimmy Carter?! He’s history’s greatest monster!
Tex owes us fans dinner, I doubt he would have made it if it wasn’t for us. Not saying he isn’t good because he is but not many would have voted for him if wasnt a Yankee , unless he’s a Sox.
I don’t care about a stinkin dinner, give me a championship and I’m happy.
I’ll raise your 8:20 and say 8:30.
8:36
8:43
I lost.
Man, I watch something like this and then I realize I’ve done utterly nothing with my life…
Ugh, don’t remind me.
+a whole heap
I died a little inside.
Now that’s not very optimistic. Or Prime, for that matter.
Just start the damn game. It’s going to take 20 minutes to sing the anthem, commercial, 10 minutes for Obama to walk out and throw the first pitch, commercial, Buck and McCarver 15 minute “This time it counts” preview, commercial, game finally begins at 8:30 PM CT.
Who else thinks the new comedy with Michael Strahan will run for about 12-14 years and become one of the most beloved TV shows ever?
http://instantcrickets.com/
Beuller? Beuller?
I bet it “sacks” the competition.
Eh? Eh?
-1
That TV show is gonna make House Party look like House Party 2!
Or House Party 3!
Get this, they made a House Party 4. Where is your God now?!?!
In Saint Louis, hopefully closing the game out for the AL.
I knew that. With Marquis Houston and Meagan Good.
That makes the information that House Party 4 was made even scarier.
Or House Party 3!
Shut the $%&# up!
That’s at least the second time we’ve done that routine.
And in no way is that depressing.
You went to film school, didn’t you?
Taste the coffee. It got boogers in it?
“Gap in my teeth” jokes can just go on indefinitely.
Or not.
I do! I do!
I’m betting they just secured the rights to L.L. Cool J’s old “In the House” sitcom and decided to plug Strahan into it. Same diff.
I’m sure Maia Campbell is still available.
http://i20.tinypic.com/1z6ee74.jpg
Wow 1997 was a long time ago.
Apparently so.
It’s been so long, Maia Campbell isn’t available, because I guess she’s hooked on crack now?
http://hiphop.popcrunch.com/ma.....ack-whore/
Start the damn game already.
Sheryl Crow wouldn’t win American Idol
But she won Lance Armstrong’s heart.
For about a week or two.
A B-2 bomber?? Why don’t they just have a giant fire pit in center field for wads of $100 bills?
That’s St. Louis Dammit!!! Nothing flashy like a fighter jet, but a workhorse. They just get the damn job done, by god. Middle America is the salt of the earth. But you sissy East Coast fans wouldn’t know anything about that.
Stealth isn’t flashy?
I guess by definition, it isn’t.
New season of House == Cannot wait!
I’m stoked to see Winnie the Pujols against Doc.
The absence of Mark McGwire is quite telling but not shocking
That golfcart is so legit.
Definitely.
Joe: STFU. Let him roll in.
President Cool
Great camera work fox. All the hype about will he bounce it and we cant even see.
+42 (again)
That fist pump was totally a shot at Jeter.
Fox sucks. Couldn’t see how good the pitch was.
I’ll raise your 8:20 with *8:45
Bush league fist pump Obama, that man does not belong in the major le…..
Jorge would be displeased.
“It will be a pitching derby”
My head just exploded.
Better take another commercial. They should get rid of the actual game and just have the introductions.
I didn’t think it was possible for me to get sick of hearing how great Albert Pujols is.
But gosh-darn-it Mccarver and Buck are going to do their best to make me puke.
No pregame ceremony, HR Derby, and the ASG game itself will compare to the one at old YS last year anytime soon.
It is scary how close to my 9 PM we are…
Doesn’t Lincecum have to take off that bracelet on his wrist?
The rules are different in All-Star games. For example, if a runner is attempting to steal and the ball beats him to the bag, he is out. He does not need to be tagged.
At least that is what Marty Foster told me.
Electricity.
This time, it counts.
Jete’s will get his signature hit off a Timmy fastball.
GIDP.
Book it.
Anyone know a site where I can check to see what Toronto’s year over year attendance figures are?
I want to get a sense how motivated they are.
You’re all for Halladay?
Hey Mike! Long time.
Yeah, if you’ve seen any of my comments here or my posts at TYU, I’m all in.
http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/?author=9
Ya, man. Been busy, miss RAB though ;( . But here it goes:
Hmm, I’m real on the fence about it. I think of a Halladay, CC, and A.J. as the top 3 and get real excited. If Wang can come back to norm and Pettitte does anything at all it makes a helluva rotation.
I’m not ready to see Joba or Phil go just yet though. When they turn 27-28, Halladay seems to be declining even worse(even though he’ll probably put up solid numbers). I see the time frame to win as every year for the Yankees, not just the next 3. I mean, if they could deal for Halladay and sign him for 4 more years I’d be stoked about him . Having the best pitcher in baseball would be awesome but do we want to sacrifice 1 of 2 of our future studs for this guy? I wish they had 3 real studs like Joba and Phil so one could be that much easier to part with.
I don’t know if it’s such a good deal as it seems to the first look.
I would agree for almost any other pitcher, but Halladay is SO special.
Funny thing would be how the media would still say the Sox have a better postseason rotation.
Forget it
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
Toronto is 26th out of 30 teams, and down about 20% from last year.
They’re motivated.
Did you include the exchange rate? One Toronto fan is worth like 0.895 American fans.
golf clap.
Hahahahah!
OK just dug up their 08/09 Payrolls, and it turns out that they slashed payroll from 98 mil in 2008 to 80 mil in 2009. So that’s down 20% as well.
Maybe they’re not so desperate after all.
Bunt Jeter!
I expect a Jeterian GIDP.
So is it more “resurgence” from Jeter or is it more the fact that his hand isn’t injured?
ZOMG Lincecum is only throwing teh 91!
To the 8th. He’ll throw 101 every pitch.
Who “dubbed” YSIII the best hitter’s park?
STFU Joe about YS2.
LOOK OUT.
Oh sweet Jesus…
(I glanced through the comments but didn’t see anything on this topic, forgive me if I missed something.)
But I wonder if the entire MSM is going to cry its eyes out about St. Louis fans booing Cubs, Mets, Jeter/Tex and Bay.
… My bad, I forgot St. Louis is baseball heaven with the bestest fans in the world. (Making wanking motion with hand.)
OH SHIT BENCHES CLEARING BRAWL!!!!!
Seriously, wouldn’t a huge fight totally spice the ASG up? It counts this time, after all.
It would make it one trillion percent awesome.
Jeter better be ok Timmy!!!!
Oh and they got their first bandbox reference in already
Damn, yo. Be careful Timmy.
Oh holy Jesus Montero Timmyboy, you don’t hit Jeter!
I want Halladay to throw it 96 mph right at HanRam’s head. Clemens vs. Piazza style.
We take beanballs serious around here, buddy. This time, it counts.
From now on, when sliding into bases their spikes better be up.
But really where is Timmy’s velocity?
Those damn Molina brothers.
Nice Confro by Lincecum and Mauer.
Hey look! Yankees scorin’ runs for the AL!
They’re going to need home field advantage for the World Series.
It is a park that helps them after all.
Ha. Suck it, St. Louis.
lol, hometown hero.
Pujols choke…
Pujols to the ‘pen! He’s got no heart. No grit. Can’t perform on a big stage!
He’s a thrower.
If Pujols was a utility infielder instead of a starting first baseman, he’d be able to hit 500 ft homers instead of just 380 foot ones.
Jeter is pure hustle.
Pedroia would have scored….twice.
Running backwards.
On his hands.
Careful… JimT lurks… Angrily…
Since May 1, Jason Bay has batted .242/.343/.496. Now, that’s definitely not bad, but the way everyone’s been on Bay’s jock this year you’d think he was hitting .343/.422/.649 or something.
ICWUDT
I thought that was pretty clever.
Is it fun when you’re the only guy laughing at your own jokes? Like when you’re in public and everything?
Wait, is the NL team comprised of the Mets defense?
My word, Hamilton slid into first in the All Star Game.
Practically Eckstein-ian.
He just loves the game so much, Mike. You’ve got to respect that. And he came back from such hardships. You know he blew his bonus money on drugs, right?
Is the AL that much better than the NL.
Take the Rangers players out of Arlington, and they make outs at a phenomenal rate.
In the words of my brother, the entire NL team “caught the Mets disease”
Bay leads the AL with 72 RBIs…A-rod has 50 in one less month including almost a 2 week long slump and is still not at full strength
So what you’re saying is:
Al>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bay
And Michael Young, the AL third baseman “better” than him, is hitting .341/.408/.480 at home but only .273/.313/.497 on the road.
His Home/Road splits are quite stark no doubt.
You think that’s fun… go take a look at Ian Kinsler sometime.
He may be the most overrated player in baseball, now that the bloom is off Matt Holliday’s rose.
I completely agree. For some time now, I thought I may have been the only person to notice those splits since everyone has been so infatuated with him.
Losing Longoria was a “big” hit to the A.L. This game counts after all..
A-Rod not being on this team is just as crucial.
I mean if you ask A-Rod, do you wanna play in the AS game when homefield counts or just have sex all fuckin day with Kate Hudson. We all know what A-Rod decision is.
Do you think FOX executives are happy that Joe Buck is whining that the NL is “digging itself a big hole” by being down 2 in the FIRST inning?
“Ahh, screw it, folks. Make it 13 in a row for that league with the DH. There’s probably a CSI re-run on CBS.”
Haha. “Well, you can tune into one of the many HBO channels and look for The Joe Buck Show. Sundays at 8 eastern time.”
The Joe Buck show was the worst idea since Greedo shooting first.
Anyone know if Obama threw a strike? I didn’t see a plate view.
It’s one of those things that is lost in history, no one will ever know. The fans were instructed to cheer no matter what. It’s all a conspiracy.
AL = Can play defense.
Nobody knows. The liberal media wouldn’t show it.
OMG WHAT IS OBAMA DOING WASTING TIME WITH SPORTS WHILE THE COUNTRY IS GOING DOWN THE ECONOMIC TUBES!?!?!??!
Wake up Sheeple!!!!
Except that the game is on the conservative channel, Fox.
Meh, FOX and Fox News aren’t the same thing.
The only really “conservative” show on FOX is “24″. Everything else is pretty solidly left of center.
True, but Buck and McCarver seem pretty conservative, since some many things seem to be ruining baseball and our country’s integrity.
Ugh. Let’s not even tempt people to discuss such topics tonight, k? It’s been a pleasant surprise that the trolls haven’t come out to play, with Obama playing such a prominent role in the evening.
Amen.
Liberal media = FOX?
You just blew my mind.
He seemed pretty happy when he threw bush league fist pump, so I am going to guess it was a strike.
For those of you that didn’t see it, let me let you in on the secret.
Since I have a decided lack of TV right now, I am watching the game online through an ESPN TV affiliate based in Hong Kong, China.
Since they arent run by a bunch of Arch Conservatives (LOL StL ARCH, RED STATE, DOUBLE PUN, CWUTIDIDTHAR?) they showed Obama’s pitch.
Obama lolipoped it in there a bit, but it got to the plate and Albert Pujols made a scoop catch to get it. Obama went with a delivery off of the mound reminiscent of El Duque with a high leg kick.
At least he didn’t bounce it. No politician since Clinton has swagga like him.
If anyone has a video link to the plate view that would rock.
Here you go:
http://tinyurl.com/449w4r
sonofabitch
The Home Run Derby was very easy to watch online.
Is there an actual game-type feed available, or are we restricted to the myriad of raw camera angles that FOX provides?
If there is a feed we don’t post it here.
I wasn’t asking for links.
Michael Young didn’t get the memo.
This is pathetic.
The only thing more boring than watching pitchers hit:
Watching pitchers hit in the All Star Game.
Lol, Lincecum is a bitch, throw the heater to Halladay.
you know what would make this game better? A Mariano pinch-hit AB then he goes in to close it out.
Lincecum is facing legit hitters for the first time.
It would be funny if Barack being a sox fan said:
“Hey guys, who would of thought that a black guy like me would be president before the Cubs win a WS”
Obama is half-black, it’s not the same.
/Sheff’d
IETC.
(golf clap)
Seriously, though, Obama’s included in the Wikipedia blurb about Irish-American Presidents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.....sh_descent
LMAO
You notice as Barack got the Nationals, he tried his very best not to say they suck. Tryin to be politically correct lol.
Man, I would never give up anything good for Halladay now!!!!
/knee-jerk reactionist
Haha, but seriously, it would be hard to part with Hughes, Joba, or Montero.
I’m right there with you. I really don’t want the Yankees to give up any of them. I hope he goes to Philly.
I guarantee you people will say, with a straight face, that the Yankees shouldn’t trade for Halladay since he gave up 3 runs in a “big game.”
Oh, no doubt.
Something like:
I don’t want him because he’s shown he wouldn’t be able to handle the rivalry or the big lights of October.
Yep, exactly.
Dude can’t even handle the media after he struggles in a big game. Pathetic, yo. Pretends to talk.
Halladay is showing that he can’t handle the big stage. Buyer beware.
Put Rivera in.
Why would any team want to trade for Halladay? He just isn’t a gamer when it counts.
Facts are facts. He is struggling on the big stage.
Halladay is a BUST!!
That should lower his price down a bit. I say we offer Tomko, Edwar, and a Bagel to the Jays.
Just offer Pena and (drumroll with my pinkie to my lip) 100 million dollars.
Actually, it is one million dollars or one hundred billion dollars.
Damn. Haven’t seen that movie in so long.
Ummm… I like it. A lot. I lol’d. Is that a running joke lately? I haven’t been around much lately.
It’s definitely better than “offer IPK/Melky/poop on a stick/DeAngelo Jimenez.” Talk about a joke that’s been beaten into the ground.
is it me or has halladay not been the same since his injury? i know in a few of his starts back besides against tghe yankees where he gave up 5, he only gave up 2 or 3 runs but for halladay that is alot.
halladay is nice to have but don’t if i would want to part with hughes or joba
That’s the rub. You can’t get Halladay without giving up at least one of Hughes or Joba.
I have been wondering the same thing. The trade rumors seemed to really get going right after he came off the DL. You wonder if they know something.
Here’s his game log.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....yerId=3973
Only two starts since coming off the DL, so its too soon to tell.
Kinda like the Twins did with Johan? That, he’s declining?
eh, it was a groin injury, not a stiff elbow/shoulder hes coming back from. maybe its mental right now and he doesnt want to ‘push it’ but like its been said its only been 2 starts so not alot to go by
Sound fail.
There goes Teix’s All-Star Game MVP =)
If everyone worked as fast as Mark on the mound, it’d be a much better game.
Teixeira showing Pujols how you play first.
Now if Pujols could teach Mark how to hit like him. You would have an ULTIMATE warrior.
I bet Pujols wanted to make up for that error…nice play Tex
Can’t believe I have to miss the All-Star game!
But I see Obama rocked the jeans…nicee
man tex looks great out there on defense
Hmm, I just noticed Josh Hamilton’s stats this year…
I know I’m a little late to the All Star pick criticism game, but: wha?
I think the only guys from Texas or Colorado who have been legit All-Stars over the past 10-15 years are ARod, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, and Larry Walker.
Everyone else is a myth of park effects.
Ooops, forgot Mark Teixeira.
Tex, ARod, Juan Gone, Pudge, and the Happy Hockey Player. That’s it.
But, J-Hams hit 28 home runs in the HR Derby at the true Yankee Stadium!!!!
I never thought I’d hear David Wright say “holla.”
Got to trade for Buehrle
Dan Haren should’ve started this game.
Haren and Grienke.
If I could build a rotation around one guy, it would be Haren.
Give me the man who started for the NL.
Yeah, you can’t go wrong either way. I just can’t believe opponenets are hitting .199 off Haren.
Buehrle has been so underrated in his career.