No crying in baseball

Wow, wow, and wow. Those are the only three words I have to say after watching the MLB all star game the other night.

To me, that was the best All Star game I have ever seen. There was great pitching, great hitting, and some really good fielding. The game, which was featured in one of the greatest cities in the world, in one of the most historic ball parks, had everything to offer. With guys like Miguel Tejada playing short stop like Derek Jeter, J.D. Drew hitting like Mickey Mantle, and a guy named Nate Mclouth playing center like Willie Mays, this game was nothing short of spectacular. The only thing missing was the babe himself and maybe a slice of some apple pie.

Which left me to question why so many people the following day were complaining about the game. I heard complaints from friends, co-workers and various sports websites that the game was to long and therefore was not that great. Question? Is it not only fitting that a game, an important game at that, in Yankee stadium goes to extra innings? I mean if the camera man doesn't point his camera at the time on the score board than it wasn't a great game in Yankee stadium. Which leaves me to another question; why did so many fans leave? Work? Since when did Yankee fans care about leaving a great game to wake up early for work the next day? Guess they all most not have been Yankee fans.

Jayson Starks on espn.com wrote an article after the game complaining that there was too much lack of scoring in the game. Starks reported that the game set an All star record for men left on base(28)

So?

Who cares about the amount of runs scored. If the game kept going another three hours I would not have moved an itch and that's coming from a guy who can't stand to watch a whole baseball game. How can anyone say that they did not enjoy seeing the AL up in the bottom of the tenth with no out to only be taken out one, two, three? Tijeda's throw to save that inning? Priceless! How about Nate Mclouth throwing out Navarro in the eleventh to save the game? Mind blowing! How about Russel Martins play behind the plate? Love dem dodgers! O, and lets not forget that the NL loaded up the bases in the twelve with only one out to only be struck out back to back to end the inning. That's what you call great defense not a lack of offense. Both teams had their shots to win but it seemed that neither of the teams were willing to give the game to the other. Isn't that what it should be about?

How about the fact that the game counts for something? I have heard arguments that some people think that making the game worth something takes the fun out of the game. However, there was plenty of fun to go around in this all star classic. How about Jonathon Papelbon getting " Mariano" chants from the crowd? I had a good laugh from that and I think we all did. As well, I love the fact that the games winner gets home field advantage in the World Series. I can't tell you how many times I get all hyped up for an All Star game, than watch it and see nothing more than a lack luster performance from a bunch of guys with hang overs. I went to an NBA all star game a few years back in Los Angeles and let me tell you that I wasted my money because the game just lacked excitement. Therefore, I love that it counts. To me, I love seeing the best of the best going head to two and seeing who makes it out alive. Don't we all love that?




The only thing that I would change about the game is the amount of players who participate. It's great to see all that talent but I would love to have seen A - Rod come up at the end of the game in a game winning situation. Also, how can you have a closer as good as K- Rod come up for only one batter? Horrible. Since when does Jeter watch Mariano from the dug out? All I am saying is that it would be really great to see the best of the best in at the end of the game. Watching Dan Uggla in the extra innings should have been proof enough that the best players weren't in at the end. I know that injuries are at stake but this is for home field advantage in the world series. These guys play 164 games a years, what is one more going to hurt? I also would argue that pitchers should pitch more innings. That way there would not be any concern of having lack of pitchers in the 15th inning. Imagine watching the NBA all star game and not having Kobe in the fourth? Obviously you are a loud to sub back and forth in the NBA but you get my point.

All in all I thought the game was fantastic. I even loved Josh Groban in the seventh inning stretch sing G-d bless America, just marvelous. To me Yankee stadium is the Mecca of sports in the United States and nothing less than a great game with a great finish would be acceptable. Just watching that game made me realize how great the sport of base ball truly is. Vin Scully said recently that he use to hate when he went to games as a kid and they would end early. He said he felt that he got cheated. Truly, I didn't want the All star game to end. All I can say to the people who didn't enjoy the game was I hope you're significant other can help you, because you are a hard person to please. Like Tom Hanks says in A League of Their Own, "There is no crying in baseball."