Wednesday, July 12, 2006

All Star Game ramblings

The American League wins again, thanks to a two-run triple by Michael Young in the top of the 9th inning. Young was named the game's MVP and did so without headbutting anyone. Zebster on Zidane I won't get tired of this American League domination of the Mid-Summer Classic because I remember watching us lose year after year after year. Click here and look at the results from the early '60's to mid '80's, and you'll see what I mean. Even after the Junior Circuit's current unbeaten streak of 10, the National League leads the all-time series by seven games.
The one time each year I allow myself to cheer for Yankee players and they take the collar. Here's hoping they continue to stink. At least you can count on Mariano Rivera, who closed the game out in the 9th for the save. (not that my Sox fared any better and Manny didn't even show up)
Is not Vladimir Guerrero the best bad-ball hitter you've ever seen? After Brad Penny overpowered the first 5 hitters he saw, he made the mistake of leaving a pitch within reach of Guerrero, up around his shoulders, which Vlad deposited into the right field seats.
My favorite part of the game though is when we had some rarely-seen small ball play in the All Star game, and great defense. Vernon Wells throws a pea to home plate to throw out the speedy Alfonso Siriano from 2nd on a base hit by Carlos Beltran, with Beltran going to 2nd on the throw to the plate. Beltran subsequently steals 3rd and scores on the very next pitch, a wild pitch by Halliday...a play which gave the Senior Circuit a lead they would hold on to until Young's heroics in the 9th.
This is a series of plays that Roberto Clemente would've loved. Now there was a ballplayer...a five-tool player with humility and class, one who gave of himself on and off the field, a man who paid the ultimate price when in 1972 his plane crashed while on a humanitarian mission to Nicaragua. Not familiar with Clemente? Then take a look at these stats Official Clemente site Major League Baseball honored Clemente during a break in 5th inning of the game.

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