All-Star Game Recap: I Accidentally Watched 9 Innings

by jscape2000 on Jul 14, 2009 11:36 PM EDT in Game Recap Comment 15 comments

I think the All-Star Game is stupid, I really do.

I hate "This Time It Counts." I hate an All-Star from every team in an 'important' game. I hate Fox (both the broadcast team, and the broadcast- was I the only one dealing with massive pixelation and audio lags?). I hate the uniforms (don't they usually wear those during the game with the team hat? Was this year different?). I hate the fan voting and the final vote. I usually even hate the manager's selections.

I went out to dinner with some friends and got home just as the first pitch was thrown. I put the game on in the background while I balanced my checkbook. I was cursing the stupid All-Star Game that I hate when Jeter got hit. He's having a brilliant season, on pace to eclipse Lou Gehrig. If he gets hurt in this stupid game I'm going to raise hell.

The game was moving quickly, and I told myself I'd go do the day's dishes when one side broke it open. The AL tied it up in the fifth, so I played a game on the computer while zeros lit up on the scoreboard.

When Carl Crawford reached over the fence to save Jonathan Papelbon's lousy pitching, the game was no longer the background.

I was on the edge of my seat as Nathan worked through trouble. I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if Mo had trotted in to face Ryan Howard, and I had to remind myself how good Joe Nathan really is (career WHIP of 1.11, WHIP below 1.0 for 5 of 6 years and the off year was 1.02, career 472 hits in 650.2IP). Howard's half swing elicited a fist pump that left me staring at my arm in confusion.

Sure I was rooting for Derek Jeter (0-2, HBP, 2R), Mark Teixeira (0-3), and Mariano Rivera (0H 0BB 1K SV).

But by the 5th innings I was engrossed in a baseball game. I'm always a little surprised by how wrapped up I get during a baseball game- I watch the postseason even without the Yanks, I watch the national broadcasts when there's no Yankee game.

This was about as good an All-Star Game as we have the right to hope for, and it's always good to be reminded how much I love a good baseball game.

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Another notch on Mo’s belt all time all star game saves leader idk if that counts for anything

by Yankz09 on Jul 14, 2009 11:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure they'll put it on his plaque...

if there’s room…

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jul 14, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Home-field advantage

if the Yankees reach the WS!

My heart did drop immediately upon watching Jeter get hit. Part of me wanted to see an epic AL vs. NL all-out bench-clearing brawl. Pound-for-pound, I think the NL would beat the AL in a streetfight.

by BigSlim on Jul 14, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A part of me wanted to see pap give up that hr

by Yankz09 on Jul 14, 2009 11:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

same here

by Brian5517209 on Jul 15, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i was cursing the ASG

when DJ got hit. imagine if it was serious…

by Travis G on Jul 15, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

forgot to mention

time of game: 2:31. love it!

by Travis G on Jul 15, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i didn't like how batters were swining at the first pitch

by Brian5517209 on Jul 15, 2009 1:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mo got the save

and Papelbum got the win
so Mo gets his handshake and Paps get to do his Irish jig

by Brian5517209 on Jul 15, 2009 1:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love having at least one from each team

When I was a kid there were years when there would only be one Yankee. All Star Games are for the kids, SHEESH. You guys sound like teenage X-Men fans laughing at the Casper comics. All Star Games are to recruit new fans to the game and so you need at least one player from each team and you need the most popular players.

And you watched it— WHY? Because it’s ENTERTAINMENT. It’s not WAR or YOUR JOB. This game doesn’t “matter” any more than next Sunday’s or the final game of the World Series for that matter. None of it “matters.” It’s a GAME!

And the All Star Game is for KIDS.

It’s ENTERTAINMENT. They don’t pay the players millions because they’re saving lives or changing the world for the better, they pay them that much because they are ENTERTAINERS who YOU will shell out money to watch and buy merchandise related to. You all want to talk stats but the stats that matter are the profit margins.

And they make money when they ENTERTAIN and when they RECRUIT NEW FANS.

Enjoy the day off tomorrow. Try not to compute any stats for a day. Go out and smell some flowers. Look at the clouds. Draw a picture. Do something you’ve never done before. Chill out!! haha

by 209209 on Jul 15, 2009 1:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So why

do they try to attach meaning to it with WS home field advantage on the line? You can’t have it both ways. Either it is ONLY entertainment (which it should be) with nothing on the line or it really means something and only the best players are on the field. That’s what gets people worked up.

by potroast on Jul 15, 2009 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MLB stopped caring

about kids when every WS game began at 8:30 pm. iirc, it began in the 70s, and WS TV ratings have declined steadily since then. coincidence? some of it is due to the fragmenting of audiences due to cable TV, the internet, etc., but the super bowl has maintained incredible ratings.

by Travis G on Jul 15, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree on the entertainment part- I’ve tried not to complain about salaries because they’re more or less in line with the top movie stars and musicians.

But nothing about modern baseball is about the kids. If it was, the game would start around 4. It’s about targeting a niche audience who has a disposable income.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jul 15, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, Shea Stadium was practically a big blue and orange amusement park! Fun for the whole family!

Maybe I can take them more seriously now that they play in a venue that doesn’t have the words “Mets Magic” or “Amazin’!” or “Believe!” cartoonishly painted on the walls.

by dzawaki on Jul 15, 2009 4:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs