All-Star Game

Surprise surprise, the American League won the All-Star game again. 12-0-1 over the last 13 years leads to very little suspense come All-Star time, but atleast the games are becoming competitive again. This year the final was 4-3, with the MVP of the game, Carl Crawford, pulling back a Home Run from Brad Hawpe that would've been hit off the Pap. While this was dramatic, that was about the extent of the excitement from this years game. With 5 of the 7 runs being scored in the first 2 innings, mostly off poor fielding and broken bat flares, the next 7 innings blew by. The National league put together a two out rally getting 4 consecutive hits, none of which had any real power behind them, and added a strange bounce off Shane Victorino's back in order to score three runs. They then proceeded to record 18 consecutive outs, and would amass just 1 more hit the rest of the night. While the AL didn't fair that much better they were atleast getting people on base if they weren't scoring. The only positive from this years All-Star game is that is only last 2.5 hours, so the uneventful and non-allstar like play wasn't suffered through for a long time. This did lead to some questions though, as to which league would be better 1-9.

The American League would have to go something like this
1. Ichiro Suzuki - RF
2. Dustin Pedroia - 2B
3. Mark Teixera (Or Youk, or Morneau) - 1B
4. A-Rod - 3B
5. Miguel Cabrera (or PAPI) - DH
6. Joe Mauer - C
7. Josh Hamilton - CF
8. Carl Crawford - LF
9. Jason Barlett - SS

Pitcher:
Josh Beckett

Closer:
Pap

Pitcher could be any of a variety of pitchers including, Felix Hernandez, Roy Halladay, Jon Lester, and a bevvy of others. But based on Beckett's post season dominance outside of last year when he was hurt, if I have 1 game to win that's who I want on the mound. And I know Mariano would be most people's choice to close out the game, but at this point in their careers I'll take Pap. Mariano 4 years ago, I'd take Rivera.


While this is a pretty formidable lineup, the NL has what could be more dangerous.

1. Hanley Ramirez - SS
2. Chase Utley - 2B
3. Albert Pujols - 1B
4. Ryan Braun - RF
5. David Wright - 3B
6. Manny Ramirez - LF
7. Carlos Beltran - CF
8. Ryan Howard - DH
9. Yadier Molina

Pitcher:
Johan Santana

Closer:
K-Rod

While I do this giving the NL a DH although they don't have one, it was pretty easy to not put Ryan Howard at first base. These two team would go at it very close were these the actual rosters, but the disparity lies in depth. There are tons of studs in the American league that can play a variety of positions. There can be any of 3 or 4 players to man first base, all of whom are great defenders, which lies the 2nd disparity between the leagues. The defense on the American league side which conincides with the best lineup is far superior to that of the National League. Jason Bartlett is a much better defender than Han Ram, Ichiro is better than Braun, Crawford is exponentially better than manny, Mauer better than Molina, and based on errors and GG Dustin Pedroia is better than Chase Utley. While both leagues boast a group of stars I still see the American League being better than the National League with the difference being minimal at the top, but becoming more and more evident when depth of the league is taken into account.

BUT that's all just speculation for now, and the 2nd half of the season is almost underway, so it should all play out in the end, and hopefully it plays out with Larry Lucchino handing out World Series rings.