It's a new wave of players in the Midsummer Classic (and the best part is they are drug-free).
I really have no problem with any of the players named to take part in next week's All-Star Game in St. Louis. And the best part is that none of the drug cheats will be taking part in the mid-summer classic.
In the post-steroid age - if you can call it that as long as players keep getting caught - the 2009 All-Star Game has turned into a coming out party for some of the fine young stars of the game. Of the 64 players chosen to take part, 23 of them are first-timers (13 N.L, 10 A.L.). As well, some of the names could not have been predicted when the season started. Consider Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey who, a year ago, was pitching in Double-A and putting up unimpressive numbers (5-9, 4.32 ERA in 59 games). Or Tampa Bay utility man Ben Zobrist, a spare part a year ago as the Rays made their improbable run to the top of the American League but now a key to one of the most explosive, up-tempo offences in the game. Or Padres closer Heath Bell, a year removed from being a set-up guy for Trevor Hoffman, the all-time saves leader. Or Astros outfielder Hunter Pence, a good player but not one expected to be swinging with the stars in St. Louis.
For the Blue Jays, both of their all-stars are well deserved. Roy Halladay will be making his sixth appearances and will be one of A.L. manager Joe Maddon's choices to start. He makes his final start of the first half on Thursday afternoon against Maddon's Rays in St. Petersburg and come next Tuesday, would be on his regular rest to start. But I think Royals' ace Zack Greinke will get the nod based on his 2.00 ERA and the fact that his return from social anxiety disorder - MLB's designer affliction of 2009 - has been well documented in publications such as Sports Illustrated and Parenting Weekly. I personally think that 'Doc' should get the ball to start, but I'm biased.
The other Blue Jay is Aaron Hill, whose unbelievable return after missing the final four months of 2008 because of post-concussion syndrome should net him the A.L. Comeback Player of the Year. Hill is second in the A.L. behind Ichiro Suzuki in hits and tied for fourth in home runs. Perhaps no player is more deserving of his all-star status and it's good that he'll catch some of the spotlight next Tuesday.
There's also a chance that a third Jay could make his way to the game. DH/left fielder Adam Lind is one of the finalists on the Final Vote ballot, and I suggest all Jays' fans cast their vote (up to 25 times) on mlb.com.
This should be a very interesting game with all the new players participating, and it shows the health of the game is good. And at least none of the chemically altered players will be there to take away the spotlight from the players who did it clean (fingers crossed) and are far more deserving.
STUFF TO RANT ABOUT
-- I am miffed that Manny Ramirez was allowed to play in the minors before his 50-game suspension for using a banned substance had run its course. And I'm doubly miffed at the positive response from members of the media and fans upon his return. What type of message does that send to the youth of today? That it's okay to cheat? Here's hoping that the Dodgers and Red Sox meet in the World Series and watch how fans react to Ramirez playing in left field at Fenway Park.
-- It's time for this ridiculous rule where the league that wins the All-Star Game gets home-field advantage in the World Series. Am I the only one that feels the winner of an exhibition game should not be rewarded with such an important advantage? In my mind, the league that wins the most games in interleague should get that advantage. It makes the most sense to me.
-- Sorry to sound like a bitter conspiracy theorist, but I think the time has come to stop the Yankees from being the only team to play "God Bless America" on a daily basis during the seventh inning stretch. There's no disrespect intended toward those who perished on that horrible September morning back in 2001. I'm talking about the fact that Yankees get an unfair advantage, the ability to keep the opposition pitcher on the bench for an extra couple of minutes while the song is played. And the stats bear this out. Since 9/11, the Yankees have outscored opponents by 99 runs in the seventh inning of home games, while that number drops to just 39 runs on the road. The perfect example was on Saturday, where the delay was extended because it was July 4, when Halladay was chased from the game by Johnny Damon's two-run homer. Plus, games at Yankee Stadium are already ridiculously long enough.
