Six Pack of Observations: 2009 All-Star Game
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.
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Anyone can use their logic as a baseball fan and know that Werth is nowhere near Matt Kemp’s talent. Charlie Manuel made an ass out of himself in my opinion. It may not have cost him the game, but it’s blatantly selfish to have your entire outfield on the team. Yes, Ibanez was selected, and Victorino was voted in as a reserve, but to then pick a guy like Werth who wasn’t even close in the voting in flat out dumb. In the end, the entire Phillies outfield made the team -whereas Andre Etheir, Matt Kemp, and Juan Pierre have put up slightly better 5-tool numbers than those guys combined. Ibanez’s selection was well-deserved, but please, Victorino? And even worse, Werth? Matt Kemp is quite possibly the most talented all-around outfielder in the NL and Manuel had the chance to select him — in the end, he ended up picking his own mid-level player. I lost a good deal of respect for him. I don’t care how old he is, it was selfish move. I’m surprised people aren’t more angry at this. Maybe they just don’t know who Matt Kemp is, and that’s a shame.
Did you see that catch he made over his head in Milwaukee? Best catch of the year. Jayson Werth couldn’t do that next year’s salary was on the line. And was is his batting average? Like .260, while Kemp is batting over .300. Oh yeah, Manuel manages the Phillies. Sorry to complain, but it’s annoying when average fans notice decision that could’ve helped the team win.
I’d even rather have Aaron Rowand out there over Werth.
Chris – Kemp’s catch in Milwaukee last weekend was awesome. The fact that the game was on the line made it even sweeter.
Do forget about Pablo! Stats aren’t everything, but if you’re looking for a breakdown:
Matt Kemp – .320, 11 HRs, 50 RBI, 48 Runs, 19 SB
Jayson Werth – .263, 20 HRs, 56 RBI, 60 R, 12 SB
Pablo Sandoval – .333, 15 HRs, 55 RBI, 41 R, 4 SB
You could make a case for any of them, although Kemp and Werth’s defense is stronger than Sandoval, who has had to play three different positions at times this season.
To tell the truth, I didn’t plan to watch much of the game. I turned in to watch the opening and figured 3 innings would be enough but I never stopped until the end.
I thought there were several fantasic plays to in Mike Young’s play in the field. The game had it all and one run says it.
I thought it was a great game by some real good players.
Nice job
Chris, you made a decent argument until you threw Juan Pierre’s name out there to replace Werth. Pierre was a nice fill-in while Manny was out but part time 3 tool players aren’t all-stars. Kemp isn’t even the best 5 tool OF in the LA area. It’s the manager’s prerogative to fit as many of his guys as he can on the team, especially when those guys are wearing rings. And with Werth having 20 hr’s (9th in the NL) and 56 rbi (14th in the NL) at the half, with his manager leading the NL team, I don’t have a problem with him being there.
Personally, I’d take Werth over any OF on the Dodgers except Manny, of course.