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Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
The 79th Annual All-Star Game
The 79th Annual All-Star Game just began at New York's Yankee Stadium. So, I decided to provide inning-by-inning commentary. The opening ceremonies were a bit drawn out. It was nice to see so many Hall-of-Famers, including a number of Chicago Cubs. It took half an hour to announce all of the players.
Number of times we were reminded "now it counts": 4
7:30 p.m. - Sheryl Crow sings the National Anthem.
7:33 p.m. - George Steinbrenner delivers the ball for the ceremonial first pitch. He is looking old. Yogi Berra, Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson and Whitey Ford throw out the first pitch.
Top of the first
My Mom called to say how cool it was to see former White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio again.
Cliff Lee strikes out Hanley Ramirez (K); Chase Utley strikes out looking (backward K); Lance Berkman pops out to center fielder (8)
Bottom of the first
Ichiro Suzuki pops out to Holliday in right field (9); Jeter singles past Chase Utley at second base (Would that be an error during the regular season?); Jeter steals second; Ben Sheets strikes out Josh Hamilton (K); Alex Rodriguez pops out to Soto (2); Soto slips on a bat. Hmmm.
Top of the second
Albert Pujols grounds out to Rodriguez (5-3); Chipper Jones singles to center field; Holliday grounds out to Youkilis at first (3); Jones advances to second; Ryan Braun steps to the plate (Young Jeezy's "Go Getta" plays); Cliff Lee strikes out Braun (K)
Bottom of the second
Carlos Zambrano warms up; Sheets strikes out Manny Ramirez (K); Milton Bradley walks (BB) and steals second; kevin Youkilis strikes out (K); Joe Mauer walks (BB); runners on first and second; Dustin Pedroia pops out to center field (8)
Top of the third
Joe Saunders takes the mound for the AL; Kosuke Fukudome grounds out to first (3); Geovany Soto flies out to center field (8); Hanley Ramirez singles to right field; Chase Utley grounds out to first
Bottom of the third
Carlos Zambrano takes the mound for the NL; Ichiro Suzuki singles to right field; Jeter grounds into a double play (6-4-3); Josh Hamilton grounds out (4-3)
Top of the fourth
Roy Halladay takes the mound for AL; Halladay strikes out Berkman (K); Pujols singles to right, but thrown out attempting to stretch it into a double (9-6); Chipper Jones grounds out to Jeter (6-3)
Bottom of the fourth
Zambrano strikes out Alex Rodriquez (K); Dan Haren warms up; Manny Ramirez grounds out to second (4-3); Milton Bradley reaches on error by Hanley Ramirez (E6); Zambrano picks off Bradley at first
Top of the fifth
Grady Sizemore enters game to play center field; Ervin Santana takes the mound for AL; Holliday hits solo home run to right field; NL leads 1-0; Braun grounds out (4-3); Alex Rodriguez leaves game and Joe Crede enters to play third; Santana strikes out Fukudome (K); Santana strikes out Soto (K)
Bottom of the fifth
Nate McLouth enters to play center; Russell Martin enters as catcher; Dan Haren takes the mound for NL; Youkilis flies out to right (9); Mauer reaches on infield single; Ian Kinsler enters as pinch runner; Kinsler steals second; Pedroia walks (BB); runners on first and second; Haren strikes out Ichiro Suzuki (K); Jeter grounds out to Haren (1-3)
Top of the sixth
Several AL lineup changes; Hanley Ramirez singles to left; Utley singles to right and Ramirez advances to third; runners on first and third; Berkman hits sac fly to center and Ramirez scores; NL 2-0; runner on first; Jeter leaves game and Michael Young enters at short stop; Pujols singles to center and Utley moves to second; runners on first and second; Duchsherer strikes out Chipper Jones; Holliday flies out to center (8)
Bottom of the sixth
Many NL lineup changes; Hamilton singles to center; Crede flies out to second (4); Hamilton steals second; Haren strikes out Grady Sizemore (K); Milton Bradley flies out to center (8)
Top of the seventh
Joe Nathan takes the mound for AL; Carlos Quentin enters game; Nathan strikes out Braun (K); McLouth flies to center (8); Russell Martin flies to center (8)
Seventh inning stretch - Josh Groban sings God Bless America
Bottom of the seventh
Ludwick enters into left field; Edison Volquez takes mound for the NL; Justin Morneau doubles to right field; Ian Kinsler grounds out (6-3); Morneau moves to third; Dioner Navarro pinch hits; Volquez strikes out Navarro (K); runner on third
Lovely shot of Alfonso Soriano picking his nose
JD Drew hits 2-run home run to right field; game tied 2-2; Volquez strikes out Michael Young (K)
Top of the eighth
Jonathon Papelbon takes mound for AL; Miguel Tejada singles to right; crowd chants "overrated" to Papelbon; Papelbon strikes out Uggla (K); Tejada steals second and advances to third on error by Navaro (E2); Adrian Gonzalez hits sacrifice fly to left field and Tejada scores from third; NL leads 3-2; Papelbon strikes out David Wright (K); crowd boos Papelbon
Bottom of the eighth
Brian Wilson takes mound for the NL; Carlos Quentin flies to center field (8); Carlos Guillen pinch hits; Wilson strikes out Guillen (K); pitching change for NL; Billy Wagner takes the mound; Sizemore singles to right; Evan Longoria pinch hits for Bradley; Sizemore steals second uncontested; Longoria hits ground rule double to left; Sizemore scores; game tied 3-3; Morneau grounds out to Wagner (1)
Top of the ninth
Francisco Rodriquez takes mound for AL; Aramis Ramirez walks (BB); Cristian Guzman enters as pinch runner; Corey Hart flies to right (9); AL pitching change; Mariano Rivera takes mound; Rivera strikes out Ryan Ludwick (K) and Guzman is caught stealing
Bottom of the ninth
Ryan Dempster takes the mound for NL; Dempster strikes out Kinsler (K); Dempster strikes out Navarro (K); Dempster strikes out J.D. Drew (K)
Extra innings - Milwaukee 2002 Revisited?
Top of the 10th
Rivera strikes out McLouth (K); Russell Martin singles to right; Tejada singles to center and Martin advances to third; runners on first and third; Uggla grounds into double play (4-6-3)
Bottom of the 10th
Aaron Cook takes mound for NL; Michael Young reaches on Uggla error (E4); Carlos Quentin reaches on Uggla's second error of inning (E4); Young advances to third; runners on first and third; Carlos Guillen is intentionally walked to load bases (IBB); Sizemore reaches of fielder's choice (4-2); bases loaded; Longoria reaches on fielder's choice (5-2); bases loaded; Morneau grounds out (6-3)
Top of the 11th
Soria takes mound for the AL; Gonzalez singles; Soria strikes out David Wright (K); Guzman flies to center (8); Corey Hart steps to the plate and the PA plays Sunglasses at Night; Hart flies to right (9)
Bud Selig, get ready to take some heat on Wednesday
Bottom of the 11th
Fox announcers discuss the death of former Yankee Bobby Murcer; Kinsler singles; Kinsler caught stealing second (check replay, he was safe); Navarro walks (BB); Brandon Webb heads to the bullpen; J.D. Drew singles up the middle; runners on first and second; Michael Young singles to center, but McLouth throws out Navarro at the plate (8-2); runners on second and third; Carlos Quentin grounds to third (5-3)
Top of the 12th
Soria walks Ludwick (BB); McLouth reaches on infield single; runners on first and second; Martin sacrifice bunt advances runners to second and third; Soria intentionally walks Tejada (IBB); bases loaded; Soria strikes out Uggla; pitching change brings in George Sherrill for AL; Sherrill strikes out Gonzalez (K)
Bottom of the 12th
Guillen doubles to left; Sizemore grounds out (4-3); Guillen advances to third; Cook strikes out Longoria (K); Cook intentionally walks Morneau (IBB); runners on first and third; Morneau advances to second on defensive indifference; runners on second and third; Kinsler grounds out (5-3)
Top of the 13th
David Wright singles to right (shattered bat); Guzman grounds into fielder's choice (1-6); runner on first; Sherrill strikes out Corey Hart (K); Ludwick flies to second (4)
Bottom of the 13th
Carlos Marmol pitches for the NL; Navarro grounds out (4-3); J.D. Drew reaches on Dan Uggla's third error (E4); Marmol strikes out Young (K); Drew steals second; Marmol strikes out Carlos Quentin (K)
Top of the 14th
McLouth flies out to right (9); Martin flies out to right (9); Tejada grounds out (6-3)
Bottom of 14th
Brandon Webb takes the mound for the NL; Carlos Guillen lines out to short (6); Webb strikes out Sizemore (K); Webb strikes out Longoria (K)
Longest All-Star Game: 1967 (15 innings, NL won 2-1)
Top of 15th
Scott Kazmir takes the mound for the AL; Kazmir strikes out Uggla (K); Gonzalez flies to left (7); David Wright walks (BB); Cristian Guzman grounds out (3)
Bottom of 15th
Brad Lidge pitches for NL; Brian McCann enters as NL catcher; Justin Morneau singles to center; Ian Kinsler flies to left (7); Ludwick makes driving catch; Dioner Navarro singles to center; runners on first and second; J.D. Drew walks (BB); bases loaded; Michael Young hits sacrifice fly to Corey Hart in right field (9); Justin Morneau tags from third base to score winning run.
American League wins 4-3
WP: Scott Kazmir
LP: Brad Lidge
Time of game: 4 hours 50 minutes
NL - 000 011 010 000 000
AL - 000 000 210 000 001
The 79th Annual All-Star Game
The 79th Annual All-Star Game just began at New York's Yankee Stadium. So, I decided to provide inning-by-inning commentary. The opening ceremonies were a bit drawn out. It was nice to see so many Hall-of-Famers, including a number of Chicago Cubs. It took half an hour to announce all of the players.
Number of times we were reminded "now it counts": 4
7:30 p.m. - Sheryl Crow sings the National Anthem.
7:33 p.m. - George Steinbrenner delivers the ball for the ceremonial first pitch. He is looking old. Yogi Berra, Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson and Whitey Ford throw out the first pitch.
Top of the first
My Mom called to say how cool it was to see former White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio again.
Cliff Lee strikes out Hanley Ramirez (K); Chase Utley strikes out looking (backward K); Lance Berkman pops out to center fielder (8)
Bottom of the first
Ichiro Suzuki pops out to Holliday in right field (9); Jeter singles past Chase Utley at second base (Would that be an error during the regular season?); Jeter steals second; Ben Sheets strikes out Josh Hamilton (K); Alex Rodriguez pops out to Soto (2); Soto slips on a bat. Hmmm.
Top of the second
Albert Pujols grounds out to Rodriguez (5-3); Chipper Jones singles to center field; Holliday grounds out to Youkilis at first (3); Jones advances to second; Ryan Braun steps to the plate (Young Jeezy's "Go Getta" plays); Cliff Lee strikes out Braun (K)
Bottom of the second
Carlos Zambrano warms up; Sheets strikes out Manny Ramirez (K); Milton Bradley walks (BB) and steals second; kevin Youkilis strikes out (K); Joe Mauer walks (BB); runners on first and second; Dustin Pedroia pops out to center field (8)
Top of the third
Joe Saunders takes the mound for the AL; Kosuke Fukudome grounds out to first (3); Geovany Soto flies out to center field (8); Hanley Ramirez singles to right field; Chase Utley grounds out to first
Bottom of the third
Carlos Zambrano takes the mound for the NL; Ichiro Suzuki singles to right field; Jeter grounds into a double play (6-4-3); Josh Hamilton grounds out (4-3)
Top of the fourth
Roy Halladay takes the mound for AL; Halladay strikes out Berkman (K); Pujols singles to right, but thrown out attempting to stretch it into a double (9-6); Chipper Jones grounds out to Jeter (6-3)
Bottom of the fourth
Zambrano strikes out Alex Rodriquez (K); Dan Haren warms up; Manny Ramirez grounds out to second (4-3); Milton Bradley reaches on error by Hanley Ramirez (E6); Zambrano picks off Bradley at first
Top of the fifth
Grady Sizemore enters game to play center field; Ervin Santana takes the mound for AL; Holliday hits solo home run to right field; NL leads 1-0; Braun grounds out (4-3); Alex Rodriguez leaves game and Joe Crede enters to play third; Santana strikes out Fukudome (K); Santana strikes out Soto (K)
Bottom of the fifth
Nate McLouth enters to play center; Russell Martin enters as catcher; Dan Haren takes the mound for NL; Youkilis flies out to right (9); Mauer reaches on infield single; Ian Kinsler enters as pinch runner; Kinsler steals second; Pedroia walks (BB); runners on first and second; Haren strikes out Ichiro Suzuki (K); Jeter grounds out to Haren (1-3)
Top of the sixth
Several AL lineup changes; Hanley Ramirez singles to left; Utley singles to right and Ramirez advances to third; runners on first and third; Berkman hits sac fly to center and Ramirez scores; NL 2-0; runner on first; Jeter leaves game and Michael Young enters at short stop; Pujols singles to center and Utley moves to second; runners on first and second; Duchsherer strikes out Chipper Jones; Holliday flies out to center (8)
Bottom of the sixth
Many NL lineup changes; Hamilton singles to center; Crede flies out to second (4); Hamilton steals second; Haren strikes out Grady Sizemore (K); Milton Bradley flies out to center (8)
Top of the seventh
Joe Nathan takes the mound for AL; Carlos Quentin enters game; Nathan strikes out Braun (K); McLouth flies to center (8); Russell Martin flies to center (8)
Seventh inning stretch - Josh Groban sings God Bless America
Bottom of the seventh
Ludwick enters into left field; Edison Volquez takes mound for the NL; Justin Morneau doubles to right field; Ian Kinsler grounds out (6-3); Morneau moves to third; Dioner Navarro pinch hits; Volquez strikes out Navarro (K); runner on third
Lovely shot of Alfonso Soriano picking his nose
JD Drew hits 2-run home run to right field; game tied 2-2; Volquez strikes out Michael Young (K)
Top of the eighth
Jonathon Papelbon takes mound for AL; Miguel Tejada singles to right; crowd chants "overrated" to Papelbon; Papelbon strikes out Uggla (K); Tejada steals second and advances to third on error by Navaro (E2); Adrian Gonzalez hits sacrifice fly to left field and Tejada scores from third; NL leads 3-2; Papelbon strikes out David Wright (K); crowd boos Papelbon
Bottom of the eighth
Brian Wilson takes mound for the NL; Carlos Quentin flies to center field (8); Carlos Guillen pinch hits; Wilson strikes out Guillen (K); pitching change for NL; Billy Wagner takes the mound; Sizemore singles to right; Evan Longoria pinch hits for Bradley; Sizemore steals second uncontested; Longoria hits ground rule double to left; Sizemore scores; game tied 3-3; Morneau grounds out to Wagner (1)
Top of the ninth
Francisco Rodriquez takes mound for AL; Aramis Ramirez walks (BB); Cristian Guzman enters as pinch runner; Corey Hart flies to right (9); AL pitching change; Mariano Rivera takes mound; Rivera strikes out Ryan Ludwick (K) and Guzman is caught stealing
Bottom of the ninth
Ryan Dempster takes the mound for NL; Dempster strikes out Kinsler (K); Dempster strikes out Navarro (K); Dempster strikes out J.D. Drew (K)
Extra innings - Milwaukee 2002 Revisited?
Top of the 10th
Rivera strikes out McLouth (K); Russell Martin singles to right; Tejada singles to center and Martin advances to third; runners on first and third; Uggla grounds into double play (4-6-3)
Bottom of the 10th
Aaron Cook takes mound for NL; Michael Young reaches on Uggla error (E4); Carlos Quentin reaches on Uggla's second error of inning (E4); Young advances to third; runners on first and third; Carlos Guillen is intentionally walked to load bases (IBB); Sizemore reaches of fielder's choice (4-2); bases loaded; Longoria reaches on fielder's choice (5-2); bases loaded; Morneau grounds out (6-3)
Top of the 11th
Soria takes mound for the AL; Gonzalez singles; Soria strikes out David Wright (K); Guzman flies to center (8); Corey Hart steps to the plate and the PA plays Sunglasses at Night; Hart flies to right (9)
Bud Selig, get ready to take some heat on Wednesday
Bottom of the 11th
Fox announcers discuss the death of former Yankee Bobby Murcer; Kinsler singles; Kinsler caught stealing second (check replay, he was safe); Navarro walks (BB); Brandon Webb heads to the bullpen; J.D. Drew singles up the middle; runners on first and second; Michael Young singles to center, but McLouth throws out Navarro at the plate (8-2); runners on second and third; Carlos Quentin grounds to third (5-3)
Top of the 12th
Soria walks Ludwick (BB); McLouth reaches on infield single; runners on first and second; Martin sacrifice bunt advances runners to second and third; Soria intentionally walks Tejada (IBB); bases loaded; Soria strikes out Uggla; pitching change brings in George Sherrill for AL; Sherrill strikes out Gonzalez (K)
Bottom of the 12th
Guillen doubles to left; Sizemore grounds out (4-3); Guillen advances to third; Cook strikes out Longoria (K); Cook intentionally walks Morneau (IBB); runners on first and third; Morneau advances to second on defensive indifference; runners on second and third; Kinsler grounds out (5-3)
Top of the 13th
David Wright singles to right (shattered bat); Guzman grounds into fielder's choice (1-6); runner on first; Sherrill strikes out Corey Hart (K); Ludwick flies to second (4)
Bottom of the 13th
Carlos Marmol pitches for the NL; Navarro grounds out (4-3); J.D. Drew reaches on Dan Uggla's third error (E4); Marmol strikes out Young (K); Drew steals second; Marmol strikes out Carlos Quentin (K)
Top of the 14th
McLouth flies out to right (9); Martin flies out to right (9); Tejada grounds out (6-3)
Bottom of 14th
Brandon Webb takes the mound for the NL; Carlos Guillen lines out to short (6); Webb strikes out Sizemore (K); Webb strikes out Longoria (K)
Longest All-Star Game: 1967 (15 innings, NL won 2-1)
Top of 15th
Scott Kazmir takes the mound for the AL; Kazmir strikes out Uggla (K); Gonzalez flies to left (7); David Wright walks (BB); Cristian Guzman grounds out (3)
Bottom of 15th
Brad Lidge pitches for NL; Brian McCann enters as NL catcher; Justin Morneau singles to center; Ian Kinsler flies to left (7); Ludwick makes driving catch; Dioner Navarro singles to center; runners on first and second; J.D. Drew walks (BB); bases loaded; Michael Young hits sacrifice fly to Corey Hart in right field (9); Justin Morneau tags from third base to score winning run.
American League wins 4-3
WP: Scott Kazmir
LP: Brad Lidge
Time of game: 4 hours 50 minutes
NL - 000 011 010 000 000
AL - 000 000 210 000 001
I agree with scrapping the "now it counts" thing. Either it's an exhibition game or it's a competition. It's kind of hard to take it seriously as the latter when various managers don't want their precious snowflakes to pitch AT ALL because they're coming off a start or whatnot. Or when players don't want to give 100% because they're afraid of getting injured. The All-Star Game should be a brief respite from the grueling season, a time for the best of the best to get together and showcase their talents for the fun of the sport. And I'm for doing away with having the All-Star Game count for anything because apparently the NL will never win it again.
I have a proposal on how to fix the extra innings dilemma. Just had an extra 5 guys to the team that would be allowed to play only if the game goes past 10 innings.
RickMonday, Uggla did have a bad game. I hope he doesn't go into a slump now. I have him in two fantasy leagues.
I wouldn't want to add extra players to each roster. They should just treat the game like spring training. Play nine innings. If you're ties after nine, you play one more and that's it. Let the team with the best record have home field advantage in the World Series.