AL Edges NL As All-Star Unbeaten String Reaches 14 Seasons
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The last time the NL had won an All-Star game was in Philadelphia in 1996. The string remained intact as AL pitchers retired 17 straight NL hitters from the third inning through the first 2 outs in the eighth. Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino singled and scored a run amidst the NL 3 run rally against AL starter Roy Halladay in the second inning, but pinch-hitter Ryan Howard struck out on a Joe Nathan slider in the eighth inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd foiling a chance for the NL to tie or take the lead. Each team used 8 pitchers and the AL went up early with 2 runs in the first inning against NL starter Tim Lincecum and single runs in the fifth and eighth innings in another drab, boring All-Star affair in which the AL edged the NL by a 4-3 score as their unbeaten string hits 14 seasons.
A lot of pitchers and players were used but very little can be said about All-Star game #80. The most valuable player, AL leftfielder Carl Crawford went 1 for 3 with a fifth inning single only to be rubbed out on outfielder Ichiro Suzuki’s fielder’s choice grounder. Crawford’s main claim to MVP fame was his leaping, homer-robbing grab over the 8-foot leftfield wall to bring down a Brad Hawpe drive in the seventh inning. Had the drive landed over the wall, the NL would have taken a 4-3 lead. Perennial MVP Suzuki also went 1 for 3 with a first inning single and was not involved in the scoring having been rubbed out by a fielder’s choice grounder.
Beyond Crawford’s seventh inning heroics, the most entertaining part of this All-Star game may have been President Obama’s ceremonial first pitch which fluttered, barely making it to the glove of Albert Pujols.
There were no classic, dramatic match-ups such as a Dizzy Dean or a Carl Hubbard striking out Lou Gehrig or Joe DiMaggio, or the 1958 All-Star game where Dick Farrell struck out 5 out of 7 AL stars he faced in 2 innings, the last 4 in a row. And there were no heroics like in the 1964 All-Star game where Phillies’ pitching great Jim Bunning fanned 4 AL stars in his two innings of work and where rightfielder Johnny Callison blasted his memorable game-winning 3 run walk-off homer.
And there were no apparent managerial blunders by either NL manager Charlie Manuel of the Phillies or AL manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay.
Beyond the game itself, possibly the most interesting news to watch is the apparent signing by the Phillies of free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez who has passed his physical. A Yahoo sports report indicates that the Phillies signing of Martinez is to be made official at press conference which is expected to be held in Philadelphia later on Wednesday. According to Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Andy Martino:
…Martinez has signed a one-year contract with the Phillies.
According to a baseball source, the contract is worth about $1 million, and Martinez could make an additional $1.5 million in incentives based on starts and time on the active roster.
A baseball source also said Martinez could join the Phillies in Miami later this week to work out with the team before beginning a minor-league assignment.
The money reports seem to somewhat jive with a series of Metsblog.com Twitters from last week which indicate that a $4 million figure for Martinez could be pro-rated. One of the Twitters indicates that “any deal is likely to be around $1.75 million, which sounds like $4 million pro-rated over two or three months…” We ought to know more specifics about the money in coming days. We’re not talking about huge, make-or-break bucks such that blogging about the money may be superfluous.
Martino’s report continues:
Martinez is 214-99 with a 2.91 earned run average in 17 seasons. Last year, he was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA for the New York Mets.
“If we were to bring him in, it would not preclude us from doing other things,” said Amaro, who is engaged in efforts to acquire Toronto righthander Roy Halladay, among other pitchers.
Martinez likely would need several minor-league starts before joining the Phillies.
Meanwhile, the Phillies resume play on Thursday travelling to Florida to open a big 4 game series with the Marlins. In Thursday’s opener, ageless lefthander Jamie Moyer is opposed by Chris Volstad.
For all of Thursday’s games, click here.
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