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Five things we learned about opening weekend in MLB

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:35:29 +0000

There’s a good chance that this post will be irrelevant in the next couple of weeks but I’m going to write it anyway. You can’t tell me what to do.

Here are five things we learned about opening weekend in MLB.

1. The Orioles are for real.
I’m kidding – relax. The Orioles are for real after just three games? That’s an over exaggeration on my part, although who can blame the Baltimore faithful for being excited about the start of the season? Their team just swept the Rays on the road and did so in rather convincing fashion, limiting Tampa to just three runs in three games. Considering how brash Buck Showalter was this offseason in his comments about Theo Epstein and Derek Jeter, it has to be refreshing for fans that the O’s came out of the gates hot. It’s also nice to see Brian Roberts (4-for-13, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 runs) get off to a good start after injuries limited his production last year, and guys like Nick Markakis make plays both offensive and defensively (what a catch he had over the weekend when he crashed into the wall). Given the young talent that this club has, it’s not a stretch to think that they could surprise this year in the AL. But if nothing else, at least there’s a little excitement in Baltimore again.

2. The Red Sox’ pitching is still a concern.
Again, again, again: It’s early. Just because the Rangers swept the Red Sox over the weekend doesn’t mean that the BoSox won’t make the playoffs or that they’re overrated. That said, this was about as bad of a start for the Red Sox as Yankee fans could ask for. They dropped three consecutive games to open a season for the first time since 1996, they were outscored 26-11 and their pitchers surrendered a whopping 11 home runs in just three games. Jon Lester gave up a career-high three home runs, while John Lackey served up two and Clay Buchholz gave up four solo shots. Granted, pitchers know that when they travel to Texas their chances of serving up a long ball are great. But 11 home runs in three days? Yikes. This was an ass kicking to say the least and one that brings Boston’s pitching concerns back into focus.

3. The Giants’ defensive issues are concerning.
Everyone knew there was going to be a bit of a transition period for Aubrey Huff when he moved from first base to the outfield to make room for rookie Brandon Belt. But considering he logged about 500 innings in the outfield last year, nobody thought he would make right field look like he was playing in the freaking Amazon or some foreign, unknown patch of land. The Giants committed five errors in the first two games against the Dodgers this weekend, and Huff had two foul-ups on Sunday night that cost his team runs. (On one, he turned a single into a triple when he miscalculated on a diving attempt and on the other, he spun around so much on fly ball over his head that you thought he was practicing a dance routine.) Granted, when Cody Ross comes off the DL the Giants can shift Huff to left field and Pat Burrell to the bench. That should, at the very least, limit Huff’s destruction in the outfield. But Huff wasn’t the only one made costly errors in L.A. Buster Posey, Miguel Tejada and Pablo Sandoval all had throwing errors, while pitcher Jonathan Sanchez couldn’t handle a routine comebacker on Friday, which essentially cost the Giants Game 2 of the series. Sloppy doesn’t even begin to describe the defending champ’s play to start the season.

4. Matt Kemp is on a mission.
Kemp was routinely criticized in L.A. last year from anything from his weak batting average to his laziness on the basepaths. But if the first four games are an indication of whether or not he’s motivated to rebound, then he could be in store for a MVP-type performance. Kemp has started the year hitting .417 after going 5-for-12 at the dish this weekend. He drove in three runs, scored four times and hit a home run off Barry Zito on Sunday night that still hasn’t landed yet. He also swiped a bag and scored on a throwing error by catcher Buster Posey to help the Dodgers win Game 1 of the series. Simply put, the guy looks focused again.

5. The Reds aren’t going to just hand over the NL Central.
There were many pundits (this one included) who thought that Adam Wainwright’s injury opened the door for the Brewers to eventually seize the NL Central. But if their play in Cincinnati this weekend is any indication of how the Brewers’ season will play out, then the Reds should have no trouble defending their division title. In Cincy’s three-game sweep over Milwaukee, the Reds scored 23 runs and hit eight dingers. There’s a long way to go but considering Cincinnati essentially returned the same roster as it did a year ago, maybe people should have given the Reds more respect this offseason.

Don Mattingly helps Dodgers find new way to lose

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:45:11 +0000

You know things are going badly for your club when Bruce Bochy does something to get the best of you.

During the ninth inning of the Dodgers-Giants game last night, L.A. hitting coach Don Mattingly walked out to the mound to talk to closer Jonathan Broxton, who had once again gotten into trouble for the second time in three days. With the Dodgers leading 5-4, Broxton allowed an infield single by Juan Uribe to start the inning, then walked Edgar Renteria before recording the first out when Aaron Rowand laid down a sacrifice bunt.

After Aubrey Huff was intentionally walked to load the bases, Mattingly came out to the mound to lay out the plan of attack with Broxton and his infield. But when he stepped off the mound and into the grass, then went back onto the mound to answer a question from first baseman James Loney, it counted as two visits. Bochy, or “Eagle Eyes” as his drinking buddies like to call him, noticed the gaffe and immediately complained about it to home plate umpire Adrian Johnson.

After the umpires huddled, they determined that Mattingly’s trip to the mound did count for two visits and Broxton had to be pulled from the game. It was a great move by Bochy, because then the Dodgers had to insert a cold pitcher from their bullpen into a bases loaded situation. George Sherrill was that cold pitcher, who promptly gave up a double to Andres Torres to surrender the lead. The Giants tacked on one more run during the inning to go up 7-5, which turned out to be the final.

What’s interesting is that the only reason Mattingly was handling the mound visits at the time was because manager Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer were both ejected earlier in the night after Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw and Denny Bautista played a rousing game of pitcher’s retaliation. (Lincecum hit Matt Kemp in the fifth, Bautista brushed back Russell Martin in the sixth, which led to Schaefer’s ejection, and Kershaw intentionally hit Rowand in the seventh, which led to Torre’s ejection.)

The loss was absolutely stunning for the Dodgers, not only because it was their sixth straight, but because they a) blew a 5-1 lead and b) lost on a technicality. Mattingly was three inches away from keeping his feet on the dirt of the mound, but as soon as he stepped into the grass and then back onto the mound, it counted as two visits. He looked towards the Giants’ dugout with a, “You can’t be serious,” look on his face, but credit Bochy for using the rules to give his club the best chance to win. That’s the manager’s job and Bochy did that for the red-hot Giants last night.

On the flip side, teams that aren’t playing well will find ways to lose, which is exactly what the Dodgers are doing now.

Dodgers’ GM rips Kemp for defensive effort

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:45:52 +0000

While recently appearing on Peter Tilden’s radio program on 790 KABC-AM, Dodgers’ GM Ned Colletti had some harsh words for his last place team and even went as far as to criticize star player Matt Kemp.

From the Press Enterprise:

“Why is it? Because he got a new deal?” Colletti said in reference to Kemp’s new two-year, $10.95 million contract. “Can’t tell you. But you know, it’s below-average. If this is the last day of the season and people are voting for the Gold Glove, his name is not even on the ballot. It’s a shame that he would go from where he was a year ago to revert back to when the ball goes up in the air and you’re not sure where it’s going, or if it’s going to get caught.”

Colletti has every right to be upset with the Dodgers’ play so far this season. The defending NL West champs are 8-12 on the year and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They’ve already lost series against the Pirates, Nationals and Reds, and own a brutal 4-10 mark on the road.

That said, he knows better than to try and motivate a player through the media. If he wants to criticize Kemp behind closed doors fine, but to publicly out one of his best players wasn’t smart. Plus, it undermines what Joe Torre is trying to accomplish in the clubhouse.

Motivation can be a great thing when it comes from the right person. But something tells me Colletti isn’t the right person.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2010 MLB Preview: NL West

Anthony Stalter — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:00:54 +0000

In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.

Last up is the NL West.

1. Colorado Rockies (7)
Before I wax poetically about the youthful Rockies, I have an axe to grind about the television broadcasting crew of Drew Goodman, Jeff Huson and George Frazier. Those three form one of the most biased, nonobjective broadcasting teams in baseball history. I’m not kidding. The Rockies never get the same calls as their opponents do. The Rockies never get the national recognition like everyone else does. The Rockies are the greatest team to ever walk the planet and if they played a roster compiled of Jesus, Moses, God and the 12 apostles, Colorado should win 5-4 in extras nine times out of 10. If not, the Rockies beat themselves, because there’s no way Jesus and the gang were better. Don’t believe me? Just ask Goodman, Huson and Frazier. All right, now that that’s out of the way – the Rockies are a damn fine club and should leapfrog the Dodgers in the division this year. Their core – Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart, Chris Iannetta, Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez – are all 27 years old or younger and that doesn’t include 26-year-old stud Ubaldo Jimenez, who is absolutely filthy when he’s on. Throw in key veterans like Todd Helton (a perennial .300 hitter) and Jeff Francis (who could win 15-plus games filling in for the departed Jason Marquis), and Colorado has the tools to make a deep run. The question is whether or not starters Francis and Jorge De La Rosa will keep their ERAs below 5.00 and the young offensive players can move forward in their development and not backwards. But outside of the ultra-annoying broadcast team, I love the Rockies from top to bottom this year and believe they can do some damage in 2010.

2. Los Angles Dodgers (12)
Dodger fans are probably thinking to themselves, “Hey clown face – nothing has changed. This is the same team that won 95 games last year, so what’s with this second place nonsense?” And they would be right to think that – I do have a clown face. But whether fans want to admit it or not, owner Frank McCourt’s divorce from wife and former CEO Jamie McCourt will have an affect on their club this season. In fact, it already has seeing as how the Dodgers’ spending was limited this winter. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake should keep L.A. competitive throughout the season and there’s likely to be a knock down, drag out fight between them and the Rockies for first place. But what happens when Kershaw, Billingsley, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda and James McDonald start making trips to the DL? Ownership certainly isn’t going to spend money on replacements, so experienced players may have to step up and that usually spells trouble. Plus, if guys like Rafael Furcal, James Loney and Russell Martin don’t rekindle the magic they had earlier in their careers, Kemp, Ethier and Blake may find it harder to keep the club afloat by themselves. Don’t forget that Manny only hit .255 after taking a pitch off the wrist in late July last year, so his best days are likely behind him as well. Do the Dodgers boast the same roster as the one that was so successful last year? Yes, but the power has seemingly shifted in the division.

3. San Francisco Giants (15)
Watching the Giants on a nightly basis is like watching a unicorn, in all its mythical wonderment and greatness, frolic around an empty field for three hours, only to be intermittently beaten by some idiot caveman with a club. Only, the ironic thing is that the caveman doesn’t really know how to use the club, so he just flails at the unicorn for three hours until both of them tire out and collapse. San Fran’s pitching staff, in all its mythical wonderment and greatness, is outstanding, but its offense continues to be a cross between a used baby diaper and hot garbage. Reigning two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is the best pitcher in baseball and 25-year-old Matt Cain is a Cy Young-contender in the making. When his heads on right, Jonathan Sanchez can be equally frustrating to hitters and his ’09 second half (which included a no-hitter) suggests that he has a bright future. Barry Zito will never live up to his contract, but he was productive and reliable for the first time in a Giants’ uniform last year and fifth starter Todd Wellemeyer had a great spring. The problem is that GM Brian Sabean hasn’t a clue when it comes to positional talent. With exception of the fun-loving star-in-the-making Pablo Sandoval and future prospect Buster Posey, the Giants don’t have any hitters that will keep opposing pitchers up at night. The offseason additions of Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff, as well as the re-signings of Freddy Sanchez and Juan Uribe should help, but all four of those players are complementary pieces on a good team. On the Giants, they’ll all be counted on as key contributors, which is a problem. This club won 88 games last year – more than any team that didn’t make the postseason. Their starting pitching, Sandoval and their bullpen are rock solid, but if the G-Men hope to make the playoffs this year, then guys like Aaron Rowand, Bengie Molina, Edgar Renteria and Nate Schierholtz (who will finally have the opportunity to play full time) have to step up in a big way. We’ll see if Sabean did enough this offseason to give the Giants a shot.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks (19)
In Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, the D-Backs have an outstanding 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation but the problem is that Webb isn’t healthy. He hopes that his shoulder injury will heal soon and is targeting a late April return, but that might be a little optimistic. Edwin Jackson was a nice offseason pickup, but ‘Zona has to hope that he’ll pitch closer to his first half production of last year (2.52 ERA) and not his second half (5.02). If Webb returns quickly and Jackson pitches well, then the D-Backs have enough pitching to challenge anyone. But there’s a ton of question marks surrounding the rotation (outside of Haren obviously) entering the season. Offensively, youngsters Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds will supply plenty power, while the return of Conor Jackson and newly acquired Adam LaRoche should boost the offense as well. But the key might be outfielder Chris Young, who had a great September after being demoted to the minors earlier in the season to fix his swing. If his September production wasn’t an anomaly, then Arizona certainly has enough offense to compete for the Wild Card. I just don’t trust the pitching and for as good as the offense could be, the D-Backs have several hitters that struggle to get on base on a consistent basis. If Webb were healthy, I could envision this club finishing higher than this. But I don’t think they’ll get out of the gates strong and it could sink their season.

5. San Diego Padres (24)
For a team that was forced to cut costs, the Padres finished a respectable 75-87 last season. Adrian Gonzalez, Kyle Blanks, Chase Headley and Everth Cabrera comprise and solid offensive core, but the problem is that their starting pitching is beyond suspect after the club traded Jake Peavy to the White Sox last year. Mat Latos may soon assume the No. 1 role, but he his little big league experience and there’s just not an ace among Jon Garland, Kevin Correia and Clayton Richard. Those three can certainly eat innings, but none of them are the top of the rotation arm that the Padres need to replace Peavy. The bottom line is that the Pads could surprise this season, but if Gonzo is traded at the deadline like many expect, then San Diego will sink to the bottom of the NL West. And even if he isn’t dealt, the Padres might still fail to get out of the West basement due to their starting pitching (or lack their of).

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2010 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Outfielders

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:29 +0000

All 2010 Fantasy Articles | 2010 Position Rankings

What’s great about the outfield position in fantasy baseball is that it’s like Wal Mart: you can get whatever you need and you’ll always be greeted with a friendly smile and a hello.

All right, so you won’t be greeted with a smile when you select outfielders in your draft. In fact, that doesn’t even make any sense so just forget we wrote it. The point we’re trying to make is that whatever you wind up needing for your team on draft day, you can usually find it in the outfield section. Need speed? The outfield has you covered. Need power? It has that too.

Below are a group of players that fit into certain categories based on need. You know that a guy like Ryan Braun is going to get you production across the board, same with Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday, Grady Sizemore and Carl Crawford. But the guys we’ve outlined below are players you can target in the middle to late rounds that will give you a boost in certain areas. You’re not going to get production in every category if you draft these players, but hopefully you’ll be satisfied in the specific categories we’ve highlighted.

Power Boosters:

Adam Lind, Blue Jays
Perhaps the most encouraging thing for fantasy owners about Lind’s breakout 2009 campaign, was that he was consistent throughout the entire season and hit right-handed pitching as well as he hit lefties. After hitting 35 home runs and driving in 114 RBI last season, we think Lind will be more apt to match those numbers (or even improve on them) this season than he will be to crash and burn.

Nick Markakis, Orioles
Even though he battled some major slumps last season, Markakis still wound up with decent numbers while hitting .293 with 18 home runs, 101 RBI and scoring 94 runs. At 26, there’s a good chance that he’ll finish right around his 2009 totals, which certainly isn’t a bad thing but if you’re expecting more out of the right fielder then you should probably lower your expectations.

Andre Ethier, Dodgers
Ethier changed his approach at the plate last year and it worked wonders for him in terms of production. He concentrated on hitting more line drives into the gap and his power numbers rose. We like him to hit roughly the same amount of home runs (31) as he did last year, but with a higher average (he hit .272 in 2009) and more runs scored (92).

Josh Hamilton, Rangers
Let’s not sugarcoat things: Hamilton is coming off a tough year and we’re pretty sure he’s made out of chandelier glass. But he’s also only 28 and is two years removed from hitting 32 home runs and driving in 130 RBI. Do we think he’ll match his 2008 numbers this year? No. But he should at the very least hit 20-plus home runs and drive in 80-plus RBI.

Adam Dunn, Nationals
Ah, Adam Dunn. How we love your 40-home run production and 100-plus RBIs, but absolutely loathe your batting average. You bring fantasy owners so much joy and yet so much grief every single year.

Adam Jones, Orioles
We love this kid and his potential, although it would be nice if he would develop into more of a base stealer. (We think he has the potential, although he’ll probably finish right around 12-15 steals again this year.) Jones missed virtually all of September last season with a strained ankle, but he should be ready to go by the start of the season and considering he’s only 24, we see plenty of upside in the young Baltimore outfielder. If he can stay healthy, we like him to hit between 20-25 home runs and max out at around 85-90 runs and 75-80 RBI.

Nelson Cruz, Rangers
There seems to be a mixed reaction when it comes to projecting Cruz’s worth, but count us among those that are high on the Rangers’ outfielder. We like him to beat the 33-home runs, 76 RBIs and 75 runs he produced last year and as an added bonus, he’ll steal 15-20 bases as well.

Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Here’s the bad: Quentin spent a ton of time in the trainer’s room last year while batting foot and wrist injuries, limiting his overall production. But here’s the good: he still managed to slug 21 home runs when he played. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason he can’t hit 30 dingers.

Speed Boosters:

Shin-Soo Choo, Indians
Bobby Abreu, Angels
Shane Victorino, Phillies
Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
Michael Bourn, Astros
Nyjer Morgan, Nationals
Rajai Davis, A’s
Julio Borbon, Rangers
Juan Pierre, White Sox
Dexter Fowler, Rockies
Drew Stubs, Reds
Michael Brantley, Indians

Speed kills and any one of the players listed above should be good for anywhere between 30 and 55 steals this season. So if you find yourself hurting in the speed department later in your draft, scooping up one of these players will add major value to your team. Just don’t expect much in the power department.

Below is our official ranking of outfielders. As we mentioned above, after you snag one of the top players to be your No. 1, there are plenty of players that can give you a boost in specific areas of production.

1. Ryan Bruan, MIL
2. Carl Crawford, TB
3. Matt Kemp, LAD
4. Matt Holliday, STL
5. Justin Upton, ARI
6. Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
7. Grady Sizemore, CLE
8. Jayson Werth, PHI
9. Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
10. Jason Bay, BOS
11. Adam Lind, TOR
12. B.J. Upton, TB
13. Curtis Granderson, NYY
14. Nick Markakis, BAL
15. Andre Ethier, LAD
16. Josh Hamilton, TEX
17. Adam Dunn, WAS
18. Adam Jones BAL
19. Bobby Abreu, LAA
20. Shane Victorino, PHI
21. Carlos Lee, HOU
22. Manny Ramirez, LAD
23. Nelson Cruz, TEX
24. Shin-Soo Choo, CLE
25. Ben Zobrist, TB
26. Carlos Quentin, CHW
27. Hunter Pence, HOU
28. Andrew McCuthen, PIT
29. Nate McLouth, ATL
30. Torii Hunter, LAA
31. Nyjer Morgan, WAS
32. Raul Ibanez, PHI
33. Alfonso Soriano, CHC
34. Michael Bourn, HOU
35. Carlos Beltran, NYM
36. Jay Bruce, CIN
37. Denard Span, MIN
38. Jason Kubel, MIN
39. Johnny Damon, DET
40. Brad Hawpe, COL
41. Alex Rios, CHW
42. Michael Cuddyer, MIN
43. Garret Jones, PIT
44. Juan Pierre, CHW
45. Carlos Gonzalez, COL
46. Franklin Gutierrez, SEA
47. Dexter Fowler, COL
48. Rajai Davis, OAK
49. Ryan Ludwick, STL
50. Vernon Wells, TOR
51. Chris Coghlan, FLA
52. Julio Borbon, TEX
53. Nolan Reimold, BAL
54. Delmon Young, MIN
55. Lastings Milledge, PIT

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Kemp helps Dodgers take Game 1 over Cards

Anthony Stalter — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:57:19 +0000

Thanks in part to Matt Kemp’s two-run dinger in the top of the first off Chris Carpenter, the Dodgers earned a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLDS.

From MLB.com:

It didn’t start well for the Dodgers. Wolf worked himself into a first-inning mess, loading the bases with no outs on a walk to Skip Schumaker, a ground-rule double by Brendan Ryan and an intentional walk to Pujols. He caught Matt Holliday looking and appeared to get Ludwick on a popup behind second base.

Ronnie Belliard, starting instead of Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson, headed out and Kemp came in as the ball hung in the air. At the last moment, Kemp yielded to Belliard, who tipped the ball with his glove but didn’t catch it as a run scored. Belliard made amends on the next batter, ranging up the middle to glove Yadier Molina’s sharp bouncer and turning it into an inning-ending double play.
The Dodgers added to the lead in the third. With runners on the corners, Casey Blake grounded over the third-base bag. Mark DeRosa made a diving stop and, as Andre Ethier scored from third, DeRosa airmailed the ball into right field trying to erase Manny Ramirez going to second base.

But Wolf opened the fourth by walking No. 8 hitter Colby Rasmus, who was bunted to second by Carpenter and doubled home by Schumaker as Weaver started warming up. With two outs Wolf walked Pujols intentionally for the second time. But when he nicked Holliday with a 1-2 pitch he was replaced by Weaver.

Carpenter was back in trouble in the fifth with two on and no outs. After pinch-hitter Juan Pierre’s sacrifice bunt, Furcal increased the lead to 4-2 with a sacrifice fly that ended an 11-pitch at-bat. The Dodgers sixth started with Ethier’s double, which was cashed in when Kyle McClellan hit Russell Martin with a pitch with the bases loaded.

All playoff games are big of course, but this one carried extra weight for the Dodgers because they hadn’t played well the week heading into the playoffs (they nearly handed the division over to the Rockies) and Carpenter had owned them in previous outings. So for Joe Torre’s club to get a win in Game 1 to set the tone for the rest of the series is big.

Earning a win in Game 2 isn’t monumental, but it’s highly important for St. Louis. I’m sure before the series started Tony La Russa figured that he had to get at least a split out of the tandem of Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in these first two games before heading back home. We’ll see how Wainwright fares against Clayton Kershaw.

Six Pack of Observations: 2009 All-Star Game

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:47:10 +0000

The American League was once again victorious over the National League in the Midsummer Classic, as the AL topped the NL 4-3 to run its unbeaten streak in the All-Star Game to 13. Below are six quick-hit observations from the game.

1. Carl Crawford is a bad man.
How many times when you were growing up did you go in the backyard by yourself, stand up against a fence and practice robbing home runs? Crawford’s highway robbery of Brad Hawpe in the seventh to preserve the 3-3 tie was the play of the game. The way he sprinted to the wall and timed his jump to make the catch was flat out sweet.

2. The National League will never win another All-Star Game…again.
Or so it seems. It’s not like the NL is getting blown out, but 13 straight years without a win? How does that happen? It’s not like the NL was devoid of talent with names like Pujols, Fielder and Lincecum gracing its roster. But the league can just never get over the hump and the AL’s dominance over the past 13 years has been impressive.

3. Tim Lincecum was incredibly nervous.
Or too hyped up, either way, you didn’t see the best he had to offer tonight. You could tell the excitement of the game got to him, because most of his pitchers were missing high and he had no command of his changeup, which is usually un-hittable. I don’t blame the young man (pitching in his first ASG) for being a little wound up, but I was excited for Lincecum to show the nation what kind of talent he has and it just wasn’t in the cards.

4. Great piece of hitting by Fielder, Mauer and Jones.
You know what the difference is between All-Stars and your run-of-the-mill major leaguers? They can go opp-o. Prince Fielder, Joe Mauer and Adam Jones all displayed great opposite field hitting tonight and that’s a skill often overlooked in the baseball world these days.

5. Mariano Rivera has still got it.
Watching this guy pitch over the past decade has been an absolute treat. It’s amazing – even after all of these years, when he comes into a game you know it’s essentially over. Although I will say this, I would have loved to have seen Ryan Franklin get an opportunity to save the game in the 9th with the NL leading because he has been flat out un-hittable this season. If you blinked at all in the third inning, you probably missed Franklin’s ASG outing, because that’s how quick he ran through the AL hitting.

6. Nice AB, Jayson Werth.
After Werth struck out to end the seventh inning, somewhere Matt Kemp and Pablo Sandoval said to themselves, “Hell, I could have done that.” It’s incredibly unfair to hammer Werth for striking out against Jonathan Papelbon because after all, many have struck out against the Boston closer. But Werth didn’t make his manager Charlie Manuel look too good with that AB, seeing as how the Philadelphia skipper chose his own guy over the equally deserving Kemp and Sandoval.