Issue: Wasn't that game last week? Where have you been?
Short Answer: Moving, which means I have been without cable or internet for a few days, which also means the All-Star Game is the last sporting event I have seen.
Reasoning: The MLB All-Star Game is nothing short of an enigma. After numerous players pull out of the game because they are "hurt" or "exhausted", you end up with people in the game that you have never heard of. In fact, if you don't make the All-Star Game anymore, than you stink. Look, Scott Rolen started at 3rd base for the National League. Enough said. He may not even be the best 3rd baseman in the Reds organization. But, after the tie years ago, good ol' Bud Selig wanted to make sure the All-Star Game count for something, which means players have to be replaced, even with players who aren't really All-Stars. On a side note, I still can't understand why this is the case. Were baseball fans really THAT upset an exhibition game in the middle of the season ended in a tie? Why would anyone, anywhere care at all? Now, that same exhibition game gives the winning side home field advantage in the World Series. Huh? I would love to watch a team go 162-0 one year, but their league lose the All-Star Game, and them not get home field advantage in the World Series. That's how dumb the idea was, and still is.
Anyway, I am here to give you odd stats about this year's game, not tell you how stupid Bud Selig is. Let the first odd stat be a video (this may be the most boring video ever posted here, but bear with me):
So what does a solo home run early in the All-Star Game have to do with anything? Funny you (or I) should ask. Adrian Gonzalez's home run in the 2011 All-Star Game was the first All-Star Game home run since this one:
That was 2008 ladies and gentlemen. The 2009 and 2010 All-Star Games had exactly zero home runs hit in them. Two other things make these videos odd: 1) J.D. Drew is long gone from baseball now...I think; and 2) Both calls were unfortunately made by Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, possibly the worst announcing crew of all time, which sucks for everyone. Sorry you had to listen to that.
The second odd stat deals with actual baseball stats. The winning pitcher in the 2011 All-Star Game was Tyler Clippard (I told you waaay too many players make the All-Star team...bonus points if you even know who he plays for...3...2...1...the Washington Nationals). What makes this strange is Clippard faced exactly one hitter in the entire game, Adrian Beltre, who singled to left field. I realize some of you are confused right now...how does a pitcher face one batter, a batter who reached safely, and that pitcher still get the win? Here's how: at this point in the game, the American League was winning 1-0 on the above Adrian Gonzalez home run. Tyler Clippard came into the game with runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs. He gave up the hit to Beltre, but Jose Bautista was thrown out at the plate by Hunter Pence to end the inning. In the very next half inning, Prince Fielder hit a 3-run homer for the National League, giving them a lead they would never relinquish. And, who was the pitcher of record for the National League when Fielder hit that home run...Tyler Clippard (since no one else had thrown a pitch for the National League yet). A guy you have never heard of gets the win in the All-Star Game and gives the National League home field advantage in the World Series. Man, I love this game.
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