As I flipped the channel to FOX at about 8:00 pm, I had no idea that tonight would be one of the most intriguing All-Star Games in recent memory.

With the great opening ceremony linking the former greats with the present stars, I had a feeling this might be a special night and a special game.

The only thing that surprised me about the opening ceremony was the Steinbrenners brought the ceremonial game balls in a brown paper bag. C’mon guys, you’re the Steinbrenners, you can do better.

Before I get to the game:

5 quick reasons I hated the All-Star Game

  1. The players. I really could not care any less about watching Nate McClouth, Joe Saunders, or the closer for the stinkin’ Giants.
  2. The Fox pre-game coverage was way too long. I love tradition, but did we need 45 minutes of geezers and Stienbrenner delivering the first pitch balls in an envelope?
  3. The game was way too long. After the marathon pre-game, I could barely stay awake into the ninth inning (and there were still six more to go).
  4. Tim McCarver is the most annoying man on TV. This is quite a feat with the likes of Bill Walton, John Madden, and Dick Vitale sharing the same profession.
  5. Nothing that happened was going to live up to the festivities the day before. No. Not Josh Hamilton’s impressive Home Run Derby performance, but what I witnessed during the Celebrity Softball game after the Home Run Derby the previous night. Watching Spike Lee lay it all on the line for a meaningless championship was truly a special moment.

The MLB All-Star Game Itself

As for the game, it was a sound, well-played game for 7 innings. As for me being a NL fan, I thought this was the year we would break the streak. Then NL All-Star manager Clint Hurdle has to bring in Billy Freakin Wagner. I had a terrible gut feeling that Wagner would blow it.

With the NL leading 3-2 in the bottom of the eight, Tampa Bay rookie Evan Longoria roped a Wagner slider down the line, tying the score. Now, with the score tied at 3 late in the game, America is treated to watching guys like Ryan Ludwick, Nate McLouth, Aaron Cook, Dioner Navarro, Corey Hart, and Dan Uggla playing for the right to win home-field advantage for their respective league.

No offense to these guys, they’ve had great years, but are not necessarily household names, and since the All-Star Game “counts” now (Thanks, Bud – MORON), I’d appreciate having some household name.

Uggla = Donaghy

As for Dan Uggla, this could perhaps be one of the worst All-Star performances ever. I thought for a second Tim Donaghy was dressed up in a Marlins uniform. Not even including failing to make it out of the first round in the Home Run Derby Monday, Uggla went 0-4 with 3 K’s and booted 3 crucial ground balls — it looked like he was trying to throw the game.

Aaron Cook pitched masterfully to get out of three consecutive jams, and the game would never end. I was tired – somebody please win I begged.

The Completion…Finally

After watching some of the worst situational hitting in recent memory, Michael Young finally hit a fly ball in a situation where there was a runner on third and less than 2 outs (something Uggla also failed to do). With the AL staff depleted and Terry Francona frantically chewing about 5 cans of Copenhagen, the game was over after 15 innings at 1:37 am, EST.

The AL had won, I was pissed, but I could finally rest my eyes on one of the more intriguing, action-packed All-Star games in recent memory.

DRang
Heisman

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