Some thoughts regarding the MLB All-Star Weekend.

1. The HR Derby was essentially the "watch Josh Hamilton dipping in foul territory" show.


2. The celebrity softball game was entertaining, especially considering that Nelly was by far the most talented player on the field, again proving he is the best athlete in showbiz.


3. Andy Richter is a worthless piece of shit, on and off the field.


4. Brian Littrell actually throws like a Backstreet Boy.


5. Mike Golic again showed why he isn't funny.


6. Miguel Tejada's son is an attention seeking boy, often knocking other children down to get into view of the camera.


7. Shawn Johnson's marketability is solely based on how attractive she is prior to her turning eighteen.


8. In case you weren't aware, Nelson Cruz is an unknown.


9. I wish Griffey wasn't hurt. Some of my fondest baseball memories
   

Ok, now on to the actual game and 5 things I see as important.

1. Since 1997, the American League is 11-0-1. Yes, this has been said many times, but it's significance is profound in that it shows the clear superiority in the quality of player in the AL.


2. Lincecum and Halladay are starting for the NL and AL respectively. Lincecum is one of the finest pitchers I've seen in a long time. A lanky kid with a delivery perfected by physics, he's gonna be a W machine for a long time. Halladay is much more established, but this is still his first start. Everyone seems a little suspicious as to why the Jays want to deal him right now, but I think it's a sell high strategy rather than one to get rid of a pitcher that clearly had resonating effects from his injury to his lower half earlier this season.



3. Pujols-Braun-Ibanez vs. Mauer-Teixeira-Bay. Seriously? No comparison necessary. But since we are discussing the finer points I will have to say that while Pujols may be the best hitter the game has ever seen when his career is in the rear view mirror, Mauer will be right in that conversation with him. Braun is young and powerful, but Tex has been on a tear for a while and that will ultimately pay dividends. Ibanez has shown a surprising amount of power this year in Philly, but he doesn't belong being fifth in that lineup at all after being injured (thanks, Manuel). Bay has become exactly what Boston needed when Ramirez left: a dependable everyday LF with a big bat. Edge will go to the AL.
   
   
4. Pitching overall: AL. With all the injuries that have been suffered by both sides, this year's pitching lineups are incredibly similar, in addition to being decimated. I've already discussed the starters, so perhaps the closing situation should be brought to light here. Frankie Rodriguez and Trevor Hoffman (replacing Broxton) will be a powerful 8th and 9th inning punch for the NL if they can hand a lead over to them. On the opposite side, there is the jig man himself, Jonathan Papelbon alongside Mariano "Sandman" Rivera, Joe Nathan, and new Los Angeles Angels closer Brian Fuentes. All of them are nasty in their own rights, and if given an inning a piece ill shorten the game to about 5 innings in which the NL has to put up big runs against guys like Greinke and Felix Hernandez...yeah, it's that serious.
   
   
5. The NL Advantage: Ballpark, Benches. The NL is hosting, so no DH this year...a HUGE advantage for the NL, as only Beckett is a true hitter of the AL pitchers. Being that there will presumably be quite a bit of pinch hitting, it's also necessary to take a gander at the considerable amount of power coming off the bench of the NL. Just to name a few: Fielder (22 HR, 78 RBI's), Gonzalez (24 HR, 52 RBI's), Howard (22 HR, 67 RBI's), Zimmerman (14 HR, 52 RBI's), and Brad Hawpe (14 HR, 59 RBI's). That's an enormous amount of power and ability to drive in runs coming presumably once or twice an inning. The bench is quite a bit better than the AL's, and might be the shining glimmer of hope for the National League's squad this year.

We'll have to see, but I'll take the AL until the NL proves they can man up when it counts.