ASG overall impressions...

Very good game. Excellent pitching and in most cases defense. Shows that baseball doesn't have to be an offensive game to make it fun. I had a great time watching the game, but I think I paced about 1.5 miles throughout. My legs were actually sore from pacing...

The players, even from teams not in contention seemed to play it out and wanted to win. That's the thing, Selig. I think the players probably didn't like the outcome in Milwaukee either. It doesn't have to count to make it a good game. Overall, it was a very well played and exciting game. I personally wish the outcome had been different, but I'm sure there are just as many who were happy with it.

That's a minute. Now we get back to real baseball. THESE games count...

Dan Uggla.

Today, Dan Uggla reigns as the luckiest man in baseball. 3 - that's right I said 3 - extra innings errors. Two crappy at bats with runners in scoring position, and the NL did NOT lose because of him. He didn't help, and one might argue that he gave the NL a good shove in the wrong direction, but he didn't "cost them the game" per se.

Dan Uggla does not suck. Far from it. That night however, he played like crap. The only spectaular thing he did that night was to commit 3 errors and have two bad at bats in extra innings. All Star pressure? Maybe. Whatever it was, Dan Uggla, you sucked on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Hopefully that will be remembered for future All Star games.

Thanks for giving me another reason for disliking you, other than beating up on the Cubs...

There's a minute for you. Feel free to suck the next time you play the Cubs...

Other changes....

Some other thoughts on the All Star Game:

5 days All star break. ASG playted on day 4. Here's why. Starting pitchers pitching on Sunday are assumed to be too tired (read: fragile) to pitch two days later. Maybe this is the case. I don't know. But 4 days rest is not completely crazy for pitching 3 innings.

Fan voting - Fans get to vote in their favorites for each position. But they do not vote STARTERS. This allows a manager to put the best team on the field, and plug in where necessary.

Player voting - see above.

Alternates in case of injury - Manager's Discretion. Period.

"Super-Utility" selection - Could be a player vote. Could be a fan vote. Whatever. Qualifying player must have at lease 20 AB's while playing at least 3 different positions of the season. This does NOT includ DH. Gives the manager more flexibility.

Expanded rosters. Each team's manager selects 3 ptichers to be used only if the game enters extra innings, AND the bullpen is empty. Avoids Francona's stress in the 15th.

Everybody has to play - What is this? Freakin' little league? Your guy doesn't get in the game, deal with it.

Managing the ASG - Manager of the Teams with the best records in their respective leagues at the exact half way point, not at the break. You're playing for the Series, you should help determine who get's the bump. Example, last year, enter the conspiracy theories. Tony LaRussa manages the ASG, and with the NL down by one run in the bottom of the 9th, with one on, he chooses between Aaron Rowand and Albert Puljos. His team's not the race. Puljos is arguably one of the best hitters in the game. He goes with Rowand.

Bull#$%^

Put that minute in your pipe and smoke it :)

What works...

Ok, here's my take on the ASG, and making it count.

First of all, what is ok about it -
Fan voting - An exhibition game is by and for the fans. More power to ya. Do you vote the starters? We'll get to that.
Players voting - Voted in by your peers. That's cool.
Every team having a rep - Just because your team sucks doesn't mean there is never a diamond in the rough. Every team should represent, and that's all good.
Home Run Derby/other festivities - These are all good in the hood. Run with em. I'd like to see a bit more coverage of the other things except highlights on sprots center. Run the parade. Run the Celebrity game a full 7 innings like it should be. Etc.

That's a minute on what works. And now...

More All Star Game minutes...

So Fukudome sucked. Not a really big surprise of late. Soto aquitted himself well - the two stolen bases were off Sheets, not Soto. Zambrano was dealing. The pickoff throw in the fourth was freakin' gold - best I've seen this year. Ramirez walked, so not much bang for the buck there, but you can't complain. Dempster was awesome in the bottom of the 9th. Wish he could've done that more last year...:)

Marmol, well, Marmol did well. Can't complain about a scoreless inning...that IS what we're paying him for. I didn't get a chance to really see his stuff because I was pacing back and forth and missed many of his pitches. To be honest, I don't remember much about his specific outing. One of the problems with a late ending game and a full day of activity following. I heard/saw a few swings and misses, so that's a good thing.

As I said before, the Cubs put their best foot forward, and it was NOT because of them that Game 1 will not be at Wrigley. More on that later.

Another minute in the books, another BS exhibition game determines the most important advantage in the most important Series in baseball.

Selig - you screwed up. Change it back and move on.

Ok...one more minute....

Could someone PLEASE explain to me why the best closer in the NL has lost the All Star Game 3 years running?

Gange, Hoffman, Lidge.

Nate McLouth is my new hero, except when he plays the Cubs...then @#$% him.

Aaron Cook got out of jams for 3 consecutive innings including a bases loaded, no out inning. But then again he did get IN to those jams in the first place. Overall - clutch.

You can't really fault Lidge, though I would love to know how he's giving up that many fly balls and he pitches at Citizen's Bank Park?

Anywho...the American League wins again...Michael Young gets the game winning RBI...again...

I hate that man... At least is wasn't Quentin...

There's another minute...

Oh Dear Jesus...

I can only imagine the conversation went something like this:

"Hey Carlos, you blew a 5 run lead yesterday and pissed away a great start from our new ace pitcher. Congratulations - you're going to the All Star Game!"

If you suspected that there is no justice in this world, here's your proof:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080713&content_id=3127779&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

I....I....Right now I just have nothing to say about this right now...

He doesn't deserve one, but that's a minute...

All Stars

7 players. Nice. Says something. Some of the picks? Questionable. I wonder if Soriano will actually play in the game. I'd like to see him playing there, if only because that means he's playing here too, and he did have the big knock last year.

Fukudome? hmm..tough call. You ask me a month ago, and I say "No Doubt". Nowadays? hmm...Good for Ryan Braun. He deserves it. I'll bet Griffey's pretty PO'ed though...

End of the day, it'll be good for the Cubs. Who closes if there's a lead? Lidge. No Question. He of the sub 1 ERA. I can live with that. Although if memory serves, the past two years, the AL has won the ASG in the 9th. Once off Gagne, and once of Hoffman. Maybe they should have Woody up, ya know. Just in case. Looking at the teams though, I have to say the AL looks much scarier than the NL. Time will tell. One week. Should be sweet. Maybe Zambrano will be able to dodge the fungos this year and get to play...

Another minute in the books....er...blog....whatever...