All Star Game Thread 2007

[bedir than average]

The MidSummer Classic resumes and the National League attempts to win for the first time since 1996.

AL lineup
Ichiro (CF)
Jeter (SS)
Ortiz (1B)
ARod (3B)
Guerrero (RF)
Ordonez (LF)
IRod (C)
Polanco (2B)
Haren (P)

Notable is that three of the four most common names mentioned in the midway MVP debate are all in the outfield for the AL.

NL Lineup
Reyes (SS)
Bonds (LF)
Beltran (CF)
Griffey (RF)
Wright (3B)
Fielder (1B)
Martin (C)
Utley (2B)
Peavy (P)

The NL with Bonds in the two hole is looking at putting up runs quikly. I will enjoy seeing the two players of the 90s in the corner outfield slots.

[JoseA]

Why is the media making such a big deal about Bonds batting number 2? I mean come on this is an All-Star game, they are guys way more deserving of the power spot and that number 2 spot than Bonds....It's sad that this was headlining the news. Must have been a slow news day!

I think we will see the American League win tonight. They have dominated the game in the past and just by looking at their lineup have an edge over the N.L.

Should be a good game to say the least!

[bedir than average]

Ichiro on an inside the park homer (first in AllStar history) is now 3-3. He puts the AL up 2-1

[bigheadache]

I don't know how the NL can ever expect to win when they don't play Astro players.

[fabio61]

That error by Fielder in the first inning was embarrassing.
Ichiro's ISP-HR was terrific. Soriano made it interesting in the 9th, which overall turned out to be very entertaining. Rodriguez must have bounced 10 pitches to the plate.

[jtur88]

Did LaRussa blow it? When TLR blows it, Im the first to point that out, and I have been for years. But in the ASG, with they tying run on first in the bottom of the ninth, TLR sent up three straignt all-stars, batting .330, .296 and .310. How do you fault that? And if Pujols (.310) made the last out, he'd be accused of favoritism. And if he had used Pujols, and tied the game, he would be out of reserve position playerss. And Selig would have had to declare the game a tie. How would you like that?

[nanwynnfan]

Strategies aside, TLR blew it by NOT using Albert Pujols, arguably the single most dramatic offensive force in the present [new] generation, matched in talent by very few, perhaps A-Rod.

Managers in All Star games, IMO, should use everone on the roster, with the possible exception only of pitchers, where non-use might be expected simply due to the numbers on the roster and the acknowledgement of some strategic effort to win the game.

TLR had stated before the game that he'd have no compunctions about using Pujols anywhere, say 2B, if needed, so that's a moot point. Moreover, if you've got a body on the bench, unused, say a pitcher along with an unfilled position, then shift your players around and stick him in the OF.

At the bottom line - it's an exhibition for the fans; it's allegedly the best-of-the-best, so play them and MANAGE your roster along the way.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by nanwynnfan

Strategies aside, TLR blew it by NOT using Albert Pujols, arguably the single most dramatic offensive force in the present [new] generation, matched in talent by very few, perhaps A-Rod.

Managers in All Star games, IMO, should use everone on the roster, with the possible exception only of pitchers, where non-use might be expected simply due to the numbers on the roster and the acknowledgement of some strategic effort to win the game.

TLR had stated before the game that he'd have no compunctions about using Pujols anywhere, say 2B, if needed, so that's a moot point. Moreover, if you've got a body on the bench, unused, say a pitcher along with an unfilled position, then shift your players around and stick him in the OF.

At the bottom line - it's an exhibition for the fans; it's allegedly the best-of-the-best, so play them and MANAGE your roster along the way.

[jtur88]

The argument is , did TLR fail to manage it to WIN? Paris Hilton (or maybe even Alberto Gonzalez) could have gone into the dugout and gotten all 25 players into the game, including a pitcher in the ourfield. What's the use of even having a manager if that is the objective?

Using your strategy, Selig would have to rule that every game tied after nine innings is ended and decalred a tie, because you want to impose a rule that by the end of the 9th inning, neither team has any available substitutilons and unused pitchers are playing the outfield.

[nanwynnfan]

Jtur:

RE:

"Selig would have to rule that every game tied after nine innings is ended and decalred a tie, because you want to impose a rule that by the end of the 9th inning, neither team has any available substitutilons and unused pitchers are playing the outfield."

When are you going to read posts before responding to them? I didn't suggest imposing a rule; I suggested that since it is an exhibition, woudn't it be 'just swell, dandy and gobs of fun" if all the All Stars got into the ALL-Star game?

I even allowed that expectations might not be so high due to their sheer numbers and a strategy to win the thing after all. [Gues ya din't read that part, eh, laddie?]

Yeah, I tossed in the rare happenstance that might crop up in which a pitcher put in an inning in the OF; and YOU ran with it seeing some cause and effect that might have with causing an endless series of tie games.

Once again, I'll ask the simple question: Ya think maybe more than a handful of fans might have expected to see Pujols in action, maybe even before the 9th inning; or d'ya think they showed uo to see Dmitri Young or Aaron Rowand go to the plate with the game on the line?

Did TLR blow it? Short answer: Yes. Thanks, TLR, I'm an AL fan anyhow.

[jtur88]

What then would happen to the hapless manager who failed to get all players in before the end of the and the game did NOT go into extra innings. OK, my bad for calling it a rule. Call it your "guiding principle" then.

Seems to me like a sensible balance between trying to get playing time for as many players a possible, yet allowing for the possibility of a 16-inning game (there was one once). Each manager, I.m sure, goes into each game with that balance in mind, and Im not about to criticize one for doing it slighty to one side of the other of where I think dead-center is.