All Star Wrap
It is amazing how a change in success for the Brewers has changed my opinion on the All Star Game "counting". A few years back, when the decision was made to award home field advantage in the World Series to the league that wins the All Star Game, I thought it would make the game more exciting. I hate to say it, but I thought it was a great idea. Little did I know that the game would be dominated by one league. Now that the Brewers have a chance to be the team in the World Series, I hate the idea. I guess I had never really thought about it in the past because it did not impact me and my team. Back then, I just wanted the All Star game to be competitive because it was the only exciting game we would see all season. I do not know what a better solution is, but there has to be one. Whether it rotates between leagues each season, goes to the team with the better record overall, or goes to the team with the better interleague record, it should change because the talent is obviously not equal between the two leagues. Honestly, it is a no win situation, because whatever decision is made, there will always be reasons why it is not fair.
Even though it is supposed to be an exhibition game, it felt like one of the more crushing defeats so far this season. When you look at the Brewers home record of 30-13 compared to their road record of 19-26, you see why the extra home game in the World Series would be so important if we are lucky enough to reach that point.
As for the game, it ended up being more exciting than expected in the 9th inning, but ended up going to the AL… again. Watch it again right here… condensed:
The Brewers did a decent job as a whole, but nothing spectacular, and actually more bad than good. Here’s my analysis of each player and their performance in the game:
Prince Fielder: The error in the first was embarrassing. Luckily it did not cost the team a run. At bat, he walked and smacked a long fly ball to end up 0-1. Because the error did not negatively impact the game and he was looked fine at the plate, I would give him a ‘C-’.
Ben Sheets: Benny looked really good through his first two batters, but the surrendered two hits, before getting out of the inning with no further damage. Like Fielder, Sheets’ performance neither helped nor harmed the National League, so I will also give him a ‘C’.
Francisco Cordero: Just when he was about to have the best game of the three Brewers to play to that point, he had to go give up a home run to Carl Crawford to give the AL a two run advantage. He was on his way to a ‘B’, but the home run drops him to a ‘D’ in my books.
J.J. Hardy: The Brewer that got the biggest ovation also had the best game. J.J. worked a walk in a high pressure part of the game. He then cautiously worked the basepaths and eventually ended up on third after two more walks. He would have been the tying run, had Aaron Rowand gotten a base hit. Unfortunately, that did not happen, but J.J. worked his way to a ‘B’ anyways.
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