Prince: A hero for veggie lovers everywhere.
(espn.com)
The time is here. All baseball aficionados have their eyes on the Gateway City tonight, where many of the titans of the game will be participating in the 80th MLB All-Star game. From Gonzalez to Greinke, I always look forward to seeing the emerging stars of the game side-by-side with potential future Hall of Famers. Helps to have the game be in a classic baseball locale like St. Louis, where baseball is as much of the fabric of the city as anywhere in the country. However, I can easily see if they were voted as the most overly-friendly fans in the country. I'm afraid there might be applause when rival Cub Ted Lilly is introduced. Maybe it's the ultimate reverse psychology. Whatever the reason, I will go as far as to say that baseball produces the most competitive and enjoyable All-Star game out of the 4 major professional sporting leagues. In the last 10 Midsummer Classics played, all but one contest had a three-run differential or less between the two teams. There was a 15 inning classic at Yankee Stadium last year, which had added drama with Bud Selig pondering his possible new career options. There has also been an inside-the-park homer in the Bay Area, a game-winning triple in the 9th in Pittsburgh, and a late go-ahead homer in Chicago. With that said, I think that there has to be a few tweaks made to the MLB All-Star game. When the celebrity softball game becomes the least controversial and most enjoyable event of the break, it's time to look into a few things. Bud, I hope you're taking notes.
A caped Home Run Derby would be priceless.
(cyclelikesedins.blogspot.com)
The Home Run Derby was always one of the most anticipated events along with Christmas when I was growing up. But looking back, and by watching all the replays on the MLB Network, I can't help but feel miserable from being hypnotized by a steroid showcase. I felt even worse when I was leaning back and forth on the issue whether I missed steroids or not. This year's derby must have been another sign in '09 that I'm getting old, because I thought it was waaaaay too long. I mean, it is as long as the actual game itself. Between three rounds, a dreaded "bat-off", and a disappointing overall showing throughout the almost three hours of derbyness made me as tired as Nelson Cruz sitting an hour and a half for a 2nd turn. The lack of big names was another detriment to the latest version of the big "bop-off", which was punctuated by Brandon Inge's goose egg. I felt so bad watching. It was like watching Joe Buck's career as a host plummet after Artie Lange's infamous appearance (O.K. I sadistically enjoyed that). Other than seeing my underdog pick reach the finals (Nelson "The Caribbean" Cruz himself), the excitement waned exponentially as the night went on. There was nothing memorable in this year's contest, like bombs off a Baltimore warehouse or any Monster jacks in Boston (Andro-fueled of course). I think MLB should cut the amount of participants in half and just have 2 rounds. There is no legitimate reason to have the 1st round of any derby to last as long as your average comedy flick, which would honestly be more worth it. You also avoid the threat of players tiring themselves out due to the long waiting or the constant swings, guaranteeing a better show. The worst part of it all is that there is too much apprehension in creating a skills showcase in the MLB that's similar to other sports. It's hard to see baseball owners accepting their pitchers to participate in a fastest pitch competition or seeing their speedsters put their hamstrings on the line in a fastest man contest. With a strong union and some astronomical salaries, the major league baseball player is probably the most protected asset in professional sport. However, there should be more draws other than the derby. The homerun can only evolve so far. How 'bout a target practice session for hitters? Or a fielding game of P-I-G for some of the Gold Glove All-Star fielders? This protective business-like concern not only adds to the continuing dullness of the pre-game festivities, but in the Classic itself.
I think the AL has their extra inning substitute.
I think the AL has their extra inning substitute.
(cache.gawker.com)
As I mentioned previously, I believe the contest itself is worthy of its Midsummer Classic title. However, they're a few concerns I have with the current structure of the game in relation to the game's image. And it all goes back to the format of having the winning league have home field in the World Series. I don't see how Ryan Zimmerman of the last place "Natinals" cares if he helps set up the Dodgers to potentially get home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This also makes strategy more complicated for the All-Star manager, as they are trying to win with implemented restrictions for players from their league peers, while trying to ensure everybody's participation (especially players from the host city). This homefield rule has added a serious aura to the game that is supposed to be a fun competition with the game's very best. Sorry for sounding like a Babson alum, but this hurts the legitimacy of the baseball brand, which is already battling steroids and a much disputed WBC tournament. Meanwhile, the NHL has been boosted with a young star recently becoming a champion, the NBA has used the Kobe-Lebron rivalry to its advantage, and the UFC is threatening to emerge in a generation where sports fans have smaller attention spans. We've seen players skip the game, sometimes for seemingly ridiculous reasons (see: Evan Longoria's infected ring finger), but you almost don't blame them. Why threaten your team's status in a pennant race because your commissioner wants to avoid a tie.......in a EXHIBITION GAME (Only 2 ties in 80 contests. We'll live Bud.)? Don't get me wrong. I absolutely despise a tie game. I was probably the most excited person when the NHL eliminated the tie in their league. But why add so much importance to a showcase game that has no true impact on any of the 30 teams' schedules? And remember last year? J.D. Drew is already a pulled hamstring waiting to happen. So why put him in a scenario that risks injury by having him pitch in the 16th inning? Simply use the overall interleague records of both leagues decide this homefield dilemma. For one, it has a legit competitive relevance, being in the regular season and all. Plus it adds more significance to interleague play for both sides, which have been as one-sided as a Reagan-Mondale election lately. Mine as well have something as important as this be decided in games that actually count with the players that should have more control of their postseason destinies (18 of 23 teams that have had homefield since 1985 have won the Series.). In the end, the All-Star game should be a vehicle to showcase today and tomorrow's stars that play a competitive contest, not redeem a reputation of a commissioner. Here's to Obama throwing one over the plate.
Before I Peace: Embrace Crazy
(z.about.com)
You would have to live 6 feet under to not know that the mixed martial arts league, the UFC, is taking off fast in this country. But many in the UFC fanbase got angry with the antics of Brock Lesnar after his 2nd round victory against Frank Mir. Between his bird-flipping and his rabid salivating, Lesnar made himself like the characters created by his former employer, the WWE. And you know what? Keep the dice rollin'. The UFC has been afraid the Lesnar's outburst on Saturday will remove the focus from the technical aspect of the sport, but you can't just sell a sport on it's technicality alone. I mean, where would baseball be without Babe Ruth, or professional football without Joe Wily Namath? Ultimately, it is the characters (lovable or not) that drive the popularity of the sport to the masses while bringing in serious dough. They had tried marketing the sport with the highly technical Chuck Liddell, only to have him lose in virtually all the matches he was most heavily marketed in. And Quentin Jackson.....well he's just the wrong kind of crazy. Lesnar's dominant victory and outburst has created so much national media exposure for the sport than anything produced in the previous 99 showings. If Dana White is smart enough, he should utilize Brock's persona to elevate the sport to a new level. After all, there are millions of reasons not to be outraged.
Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
Avenged a loss earlier in the season by pulling off a comeback on the last day, winning average by one point and RBIs by 1. Once again helped out by good pitching and an offense that did just enough at the end of the weekend to pull off another series win. Winning 4 out of the last 5 series and having the lead at the All-Star break is not too shabby. Still a ton of work to be done.
- Mocha Sox - 56-78-6 (11th, Yahoo Public 38095, 26 GB)
Have won my last four series and 5 out of my last 6. Didn't make much ground on 1st place, but finally gained access outside the cellar. The four trades that I have made have done wonders on all aspects of my team, especially in the offensive realm. Huge potential for a strong 2nd half run.
- Firehawks - 66-67-7 (8th, Yahoo Public 162279, 11.5 GB)
Won the series, but didn't gain too much ground. The Beckett-Lester pitching combo is probably the most enviable pitching duo in my league right now, but my outfielders (Bay, Upton, and Rios) desperately need to step it up. May be looking for offensive upgrades for this team as I press along.
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