For anyone that stayed up past 1:30 ET watching the All-Star Game, you certainly got a treat. The game was absolutely thrilling and it had a little of everything for fans. Here’s a look at the good, bad and ugly from the American League’s 4-3 victory in 15 innings.
The Good
J.D. Drew continues his tear
There hasn’t been a more valuable player to the Boston Red Sox since David Ortiz went on the DL with an injured wrist than J.D. Drew. He showed just how valuable he was Tuesday night as well, blasting a two-run dinger off Reds’ starter Edinson Volquez that tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Terry Francona’s handling of Scott Kazmir
Francona deserves a ton of praise for how he resisted using Kazmir until he absolutely had to in the 15th inning. Kazmir – who by the way, plays for the Red Sox’s chief competition right now in the AL East – threw over 100 pitches Sunday for the Rays. With a chance to host the World Series on the line, Francona could have justifiably used Kazmir more than he did, but honored the Rays’ request now to overuse their young pitcher and the BoSox’ manager complied. Now that’s doing the honorable thing.
Michael Young’s deja vu
Was Michael Young born to produce game-winning hits in the All-Star Game or what?
Ichiro and Nate McLouth’s arms
Even though it appeared Albert Pujols got under the tag at second, Ichiro’s throw from right field to gun down the Cards’ first basemen was a freaking rocket. And McLouth’s laser to nail Dioner Navarro to push the game into extra innings was money, too. (Credit has to go out to catcher Russell Martin’s glove work on McLouth’s throw, as well.)
Miguel Tejada
How rejuvenated to Tejada look last night? If it weren’t for Billy Wagner giving up the tying run in the bottom of the eighth (more on that later), Tejada might have been the game’s MVP for being a one-man show in the top of the eighth to give the NL a 3-2 lead.
Aaron Cook at the NL defense in the 10th
After two-straight errors by Marlins’ second basemen Dan Uggla (more on that later) and an intentional walk, Rockies’ starter Aaron Cook loaded the bases for the AL in the bottom of the 10th. Somehow, Cook and the NL defense got three straight groundouts to nail to runners at home before Justin Morneau grounded out to end the inning. Craziness.
The Bad
The AL almost ran out of pitchers
While Francona deserves praise for his classy move with Kazmir, it’s a wonder what the hell he would have done once Kazmir reached the designated pitch count that Francona had set for him before the game. Who would have Francona thrown if the game extended longer? So once again, there was an issue with not having enough players. How does the league remedy something like this? Expand the rosters? Make a rule that players can re-enter? By all accounts, Francona is rather lucky that the AL won it when they did, because he was about to be Old Mother Hubbard and he didn’t even have Rick Vaughn in the cupboard.
Clint Hurdle’s decision to pull Brian Wilson
With the NL leading 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Giant’s closer Brian Wilson came in throwing absolute gas. After getting Carlos Quentin to fly out to center, Wilson battled Carlos Guillen to a full count before striking him out. Then NL manager Clint Hurdle replaced Wilson with Billy Wagner, who eventually gave up the game-tying double to Rays’ rookie Evan Longoria. Granted, Hurdle probably wanted to give Wagner his moment at Yankee Stadium and Wilson had just pitched over the weekend, but still – he should have let Wilson close the door on the AL in the eighth.
Billy Wagner
One out – that’s it. All he had to do was get one freaking out and he probably would have been replaced in the ninth.
Sheryl Crow
I don’t know if it was the broadcast or the acoustics, but Crow was rough signing the National Anthem. Put down the freaking guitar and just sing, please.
The Ugly
Dan Uggla
Poor Dan Uggla. He’s really had a fantastic season to date, but he was absolutely brutal in the field Tuesday night, recording an All-Star record three errors. (His Marlin teammate Hanley Ramirez had an error too, giving the Florida middle infield four boots on the night.) Uggla is lucky his two errors in the 10th and one in the 13th didn’t cost the NL the game early. And I don’t care what Joe Buck says – Uggla’s mishandling of the ball in the 13th was correctly ruled an error. It was a bad hop, but Uggla still played it like he had thumbs for fingers and a monkey trying to hump his leg.
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