Tuesday, July 11, 2006

FSI Running Diary No. 2: MLB All-Star game

Greetings! We're coming to you live, once again, from the comforts of my living room for another running diary. In case you missed the last one, I painfully chronicled the U.S.-Ghana World Cup match. This is going to be a long game, so the updates may be more sporadic, but be sure to check back often. Hope you enjoy the game.

7:02 p.m.: Someone better fire an intern. The over-the-top-dramatic introduction by FOX was cut short by a runaway commercial break, at least in this market. We came back from the commercial just in time to see Phil Garner say "No matter how wild the pig, let's bring home the bacon." It's not exactly Gene Hackman in Hoosiers, but it works. I guess. Maybe there's a reason the National League hasn't won this thing since like 1923.

7:15 p.m.: My favorite part of the game is the introductions. When I was a kid, I had a bunch of All-Star games on tape. For some reason, I loved watching the introductions again and again. I'm not sure why. Also, when I was a kid, I didn't have very many friends. This may explain a whole lot.

7:19 p.m.: There are three Brewers in this game, the first time that has happened since 1983. It's been a while since a Brewer played a significant role in the All-Star game. And I don't think it's going to happen this year. I bet Carlos Lee plays four innings in relief and goes 1-for-3 with a double. Derrick Turnbow pitches to three batters in the eighth and gets one out. And Chris Capuano does not participate.

7:26 p.m.: There's been some debate over whether or not every team should have a representative at the All-Star game, considering the Royals' Mark Redman is on the team despite a 6-4 record with a 5.27 ERA. I think it's a good rule. But I'd tweek the voting a little bit. While this game is for the fans, I'd rather see them pick what player from their team they'd like to play in the game rather than the starting lineup. That way, if the guy sucks, at least its someone the fans want to see and it will keep the starting lineups from being a combo of the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Cardinals. Likewise, any stadium that hosts the game should have at least one player in the starting lineup. It's neat to see the home crowd get behind their guy, just like the Pittsburgh fans did for Jason Bay. At least they can forget for a few moments that they are 38 games out of first and have absolutely no hope for the next 10 years of fielding a competitive team.

7:42 p.m.: Fire another intern. This one put "Suzuki" in the batting order instead of "Ichiro." That's like putting "Derek" instead of "Jeter." You have dishonored your country. And apparently the commercial mishap during the introductions occured only in the Green Bay market. I'm not completely ready to watch the game yet. I'm not quite foaming at the mouth. Good thing I downloaded "Let's get it started" by the Black Eyed Peas. I'm going to listen that until I'm ready.

8:03 p.m.: The first inning ends without anyone scoring, although Carlos Beltran had a one-out double for the NL. Brad Penny struck out the AL side throwing nothing but gas. I love how all the experts said the AL is so much better than the NL. Sure, the NL hasn't won this game since 1996, but it's not like they are Chico's Bail Bonds or something. I hope the NL wins just to shut everyone up.

8:12 p.m.: Vlad Guerrero just swung at a pitch at his neck and put it into the right field bleachers for a 1-0 AL lead. I'm proud of announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver for not making gushing comparisons between Guerrero and Roberto Clemente, who played right field for many years in Pittsburgh before dying in a plane crash delivering food and supplies to earthquake victims in South America. Nobody can be compared to him, ever. I don't care if Guerrero doesn't use batting gloves. No comparison.

8:48 p.m.: During in-game live interviews with both managers, both revealed that they have no signs for today's game. In fact, Alfonso Soriano stole second then was thrown out at home while NL manager Phil Garner was interviewed. Carlos Beltran stole third and later scored. Some key decisions being made here. Don't forget, this one counts. And in the introductions, Joe Buck kept saying how these managers are treating this like Game 7 of the World Series. Yikes.

9:07 p.m.: More signs that this game shouldn't count for anything: Bud Selig and his posse just stopped the game to present a lifetime service award to Roberto Clemente. Aside from the fact that it shouldn't have taken this long to present Clemente with such an award, the ceremony deserved to be held at this point and given its proper respect. This is what the All-Star game should be... a celebration of the game. Not a forced competition. Anyways, Joe Buck had to serve as the emcee for the presentation, which meant when the following inning started, Tim McCarver was flying solo in the booth. Surprisingly, he didn't break down and start saying stupid Tim McCarver things where he repeats himself over and over to make a point.

9:29 p.m.: The Brewers' Derrick Turnbow is in the game. First appearance by a Brewer. It looks like Garner is going to use his four relievers in each of the last four innings, assuming Turnbow doesn't serve up one to Paul Konerko right here.

9:32 p.m.: Turnbow is in his regular-season form, giving up a single to Paul Konerko and has now fallen behind Troy Glaus. But his teammates bail him out as they turn a double play and Matt Holliday makes a nice catch in right. Good job, Gomer. Doesn't look like Chris Capuano is getting in this game, as I said earlier.

9:47 p.m.: Carlos Lee is now in the game in left field, although since he entered for Jason Bay, it's doubtful he'll get an at-bat unless the AL ties the game or the NL bats around in the eighth. Either Phil Garner wanted to stick with his starters this long or he forgot he's managing in an All-Star game.

10:06 p.m.: One strike away from the NL snapping its nine-year skid, the AL takes the lead on a two-out triple by Michael Young. Looks like Carlos Lee might get an at-bat after all.

10:20 p.m.: Unbelievable. The AL wins 3-2 thanks to late-inning heroics by Michael Young. Carlos Lee makes the last out, weakly popping out to the second baseman. The AL streak continues. There were plenty of players that didn't play, and Phil Garner may have to answer to the fact that instead of putting Nomar Garciaparra in the game to leadoff the ninth, he let Freddy Sanchez hit. The Pirates fans leave disgusted knowing that if their team makes it to the World Series, they won't get home field advantage. Overall, the Brewers didn't do anything embarrasing, although it would have been sweet to have Lee get the game-tying hit there.

Until next time, so long.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Capuano will definitely play. Unless the NL added more pitchers than Oswalt and Cappy, I think Garner has three starting pitchers who pitched Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Why would Garner put Nomar in for Sanchez to lead off the ninth when both are batting .358, tops in the NL?

Anonymous said...

Carlos Lee had his chance to shine but came up short. Turnbow was impressive even though he allowed one baserunner.