2009 MLB All-Star Game Summary

Another Major League Baseball All-Star game is in the books. Just like the last 12 years, this star studded baseball event was won by the American League. It was oh so very predictable. The National League just can not get it together and assert their supposed dominance when it counts.

This game had a little bit of everything. Ichiro broke his bat, Jeter got hit by a ball thrown high and tight, and both sides played a little defense. I can understand why some people think Major League Baseball has the best All-Star game in sports. I don't agree with some a statement, but I can understand why they would think that.

Lincecum gave up two runs in the first inning. Being the soothsayer that I am, assumptions were made about which league would end up having home field advantage in this years World series. I tend to jump the gun often. Different assumptions were made when Halliday got pwned, and the National League gained a 3 to 2 lead in the second inning.

Mariano Rivera stepped up to close the game, and had a chance to keep me from making a fool of my self with these amateurish predictions. Hes awesome. THis game still didn't make up for the agonizing length of that Home Run Derby the night before, but it was pretty fun over all. Final score was AL, 4-3.

There's one thing that really bothers me about Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. Whoever wins gets home field advantage for their league in the World Series. I'm okay with that. It's goofy, but much better than looking at Inter League play records. It's also better than having Inter League games every season. But I digress.

Knowing this, Managers still end up pulling their best hitters out of the game after a couple of at bats. They play the first few innings, then ride pine till their butts fall asleep, or the American League wins.That's pretty stupefying if you ask me.

Why not just play the mandatory players(I.E. people who baseball fans don't really care a bout enough to vote them in, but made it anyway because there's a rule about every team being represented, no matter how smelly they are during the first half of the season) at the start, then insert the sluggers, and elite pitchers to finish out the game. It's a win win situation. If the Pirates' "Star" representatives shock the world by playing like they should be og good teams, their popularity will grow off that one performance. More popularity means more money being thrown at them in free agency. ($_$)!

It also makes for a much more compelling finish. In a close baseball game, it's important to have your best players out there. With so much on the line in this glorified exhibition game, I'd want guys like Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder at the plate. You need power hitters out there doing their jobs in pressure situations. You need battle tested baseball players, who know haw to drive in runs when it counts most. Other than making it to a World Series after an insanely long season, whats more important than winning home field advantage?