All-Star Game
Some thoughts about the All-Star game, the Home Run Derby, and some other stuff.
First, I meant to mention this before, every episode of “This Week In Baseball” begins with a shot of Jason Varitek leaping into the arms of Keith Foulke as Joe Castiglione is gleefully uttering his now famous line, “And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions.” Of course, there’s more than that, but that’s all they play on the show. Anyway, my point, I’ve been watching TWIB for as long as I can remember and for the life of me I cannot remember how episodes in any other season began. Maybe they all started with a shot of the previous World Series being won, maybe not, I don’t know, but I do know that I noticed this year.
I know the balls are juiced for the Home Run Derby, but it was still a lot of fun watching Bobby Abreu put on that impressive display. Before it started, I wanted our guy to win it, but after seeing that first at bat I changed my mind. How can you not root for a guy after he puts on a show like that? Big Papi represented us well though and actually would have had a record if not for Abreu. Good show.
As for the game itself, I’ll start with this. Scott Rolen made a last minute decision to forego the All-Star game, citing that he needed to take the time to rest his recently surgically repaired shoulder because it still wasn’t where he wanted it to be. I’m sure that’s definitely true, but I can’t help thinking that at least a small part of it was because he knew he really didn’t deserve to be there and there were others that did. Good for him, by stepping down it did 2 things, first it gave Aramis Ramirez the much deserved chance to start, and second it gave Morgan Ensberg a much deserved spot on the team, and he just as easily could have started.
Our boys did their part in helping clinch home field advantage for us in the World Series again. It was very strange, and a little awkward, rooting for Mo Rivera to get that final out. Francona did a good job of balancing trying to win the game and trying to get everyone in and almost did.
It’s difficult to pick an MVP for one game, especially when it’s not likely that anyone is going to be playing for the entire game. I think Tejeda was a good pick. He got the scoring started with that blast into left field, drove in another run with a groundout, and made a couple of nifty plays in the field, including that backhanded double play.
I thought it was an entertaining game and surprisingly short as far as All-Star games go. I’m not sure of the exact time but it seemed like just about 3 hours.
Now it’s back to business, beginning tomorrow night when we go back to rooting AGAINST Mo and the rest of the pinstripes, as they come into town for four.
First, I meant to mention this before, every episode of “This Week In Baseball” begins with a shot of Jason Varitek leaping into the arms of Keith Foulke as Joe Castiglione is gleefully uttering his now famous line, “And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions.” Of course, there’s more than that, but that’s all they play on the show. Anyway, my point, I’ve been watching TWIB for as long as I can remember and for the life of me I cannot remember how episodes in any other season began. Maybe they all started with a shot of the previous World Series being won, maybe not, I don’t know, but I do know that I noticed this year.
I know the balls are juiced for the Home Run Derby, but it was still a lot of fun watching Bobby Abreu put on that impressive display. Before it started, I wanted our guy to win it, but after seeing that first at bat I changed my mind. How can you not root for a guy after he puts on a show like that? Big Papi represented us well though and actually would have had a record if not for Abreu. Good show.
As for the game itself, I’ll start with this. Scott Rolen made a last minute decision to forego the All-Star game, citing that he needed to take the time to rest his recently surgically repaired shoulder because it still wasn’t where he wanted it to be. I’m sure that’s definitely true, but I can’t help thinking that at least a small part of it was because he knew he really didn’t deserve to be there and there were others that did. Good for him, by stepping down it did 2 things, first it gave Aramis Ramirez the much deserved chance to start, and second it gave Morgan Ensberg a much deserved spot on the team, and he just as easily could have started.
Our boys did their part in helping clinch home field advantage for us in the World Series again. It was very strange, and a little awkward, rooting for Mo Rivera to get that final out. Francona did a good job of balancing trying to win the game and trying to get everyone in and almost did.
It’s difficult to pick an MVP for one game, especially when it’s not likely that anyone is going to be playing for the entire game. I think Tejeda was a good pick. He got the scoring started with that blast into left field, drove in another run with a groundout, and made a couple of nifty plays in the field, including that backhanded double play.
I thought it was an entertaining game and surprisingly short as far as All-Star games go. I’m not sure of the exact time but it seemed like just about 3 hours.
Now it’s back to business, beginning tomorrow night when we go back to rooting AGAINST Mo and the rest of the pinstripes, as they come into town for four.
posted by Bob at 7/13/2005 12:40:00 PM
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