GAME THREAD: 2014 All-Star Game

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(JULY 15th, 2014)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Andrew McCutchen - CF

Yasiel Puig - RF

Troy Tulowitzki - SS

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B

Giancarlo Stanton - DH

Aramis Ramirez - 3B

Chase Utley - 2B

Jonathon Lucroy - C

Carlos Gomez - LF

Adam Wainwright - RHP (12-4, 1.83 ERA)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Derek Jeter - SS

Mike Trout - LF

Robinson Cano - 2B

Miguel Cabrera - 1B

Jose Bautista RF

NELSON CRUZ - DH

ADAM JONES - CF

Josh Donaldson 3B

Salvador Perez - C *

Felix Hernandez - RHP (11-2, 2.12 ERA)

* Starting in Place of the Injured MATTHEW WIETERS

Prediction: Derek Jeter is announced in his first AB by Bob Sheppard.

Prediction: Derek Jeter is announced in his first AB by Bob Sheppard.

And promptly hits a weak grounder to 2B.

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Let's go, Orio ........ I mean, let's go, American League.

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Let's go, Orio ........ I mean, let's go, American League.

6,7 spots in the AL lineup seem like a REAL spark to me! I think those two could do damage!

6,7 spots in the AL lineup seem like a REAL spark to me! I think those two could do damage!

Shame they put the AL's weakest hitter...by far..in the leadoff spot.

Don't they know this time it means something?

I have to watch this game because no baseball till Friday.

[video=youtube;07Y0cy-nvAg]

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Long before the rule which stipulates that the winning team in the All-Star Game would decide which league gets homefield advantage in the World Series later that season was invoked in 2003, I cared about which team won the M.L.B. All-Star game.

I never even remotely cared about the Pro Bowl in football, the N.B.A. All-Star Game in basketball, or the N.H.L. All-Star Game in hockey.

But for some reason ........ baseball was (and continues to be) different.

It used to drive me crazy when the National League used to win ever year from the early 70's though the early 80's, until the American League finally broke through with a crushing, 13-3 victory at Comiskey Park in 1983.

And not just the fans ....... the players themselves also cared about the game.

In remember in July of 1994, when it was pretty clear that there was a good chance that an impending player's strike would cancel the rest of the season (which it eventually did), and what happened at the end of that year's All-Star Game. The game was tied in the bottom of the 10th inning, and with Tony Gwynn on 1st base, Moises Alou hit a double into the gap. As Gwynn raced around the bases, the American League outfielders and infielders frantically tried to get the ball to the infield in time for a potential play at the plate. Gwynn BARELY beat the throw and the catcher's tag, and the National League MOBBED Gwynn and each other at home plate ........ just like if it had been a win in a regular season game that counted in the standings.

Hence, it's no so much whether or not I think that Bud Selig's stipulation about homefield advantage in the World Series being attached to the All-Star Game winner is a good idea or not ...... I don't think that it was even necessary to drum up attention from the fans and/or interest from the players.

Ya know, this might be fun. I usually mis the game because I work 2nd shift. Not working this year... The fact that the game does matter... HFA and all... A lot of the players DO care! You think Adam and Nellie would appreciate HFA if we made it that far? 4 of 7 in Balmer? Pretty important.

I don't even care if it becomes the Jeter show! Because you know what? He frickin' deserves it!

They shoulda maybe put down the bong and minded their beloved Pepsi. Instead of letting it float downstream TWICE!

I'm sick of all this jeter garbage. He's been mediocre for the last half a decade.

Enough already.

I'm sick of all this jeter garbage. He's been mediocre for the last half a decade.

Enough already.

No offense. Jeter is a legend. No matter what you think about his skills. He played the game right and hard for 20 years. He deserves to be the focus tonight.

Think Pitt would trade us McCutcheon? I'd like to have him!

Catwoman!