How do you put a coherent sentence together to describe what transpired on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning?
I simply cannot put into words how much I enjoyed watching the 2008 MLB All-Star Game.
I know what you’re saying, “Come on now, you’re getting giddy over an All-Star Game?”
Yes, I certainly am.
Anyone can sit back and bash this 'til they are blue in the face. You can talk about how stupid it is that this decides home-field advantage, and it is. Or you can thumb your nose to the fact that Scott Kazmir was working after throwing 104 pitches on Sunday. You can even frown upon the fact that this could have very well ended in a tie.
But you cannot take away from the greatness that was this game.
You won’t forget it as long as you live, I can guarantee that. It was a memorable moment, watching Terry Francona celebrate like he just won the World Series, when, in fact, the only thing he won was the relief of not having to deal with over-using his division rival's best pitcher.
- B/R Ticket Guide
There is a point in time when you know you’ve seen a great game. That is the point where you can’t pick one moment out of it and designate it as your most memorable.
Everything is sticking out at this point. From Nate McLouth’s perfect strike to home plate to nail Dioner Navarro, to Aaron Cook bailing out Dan Uggla after his complete defensive meltdown.
This game was loaded with memorable moments.
What was even greater about it was the players that rode it out. They weren’t the starters, the guys who, for the most part, probably didn’t have any business playing for long time. It was the true All-Stars, the guys who made it in on their peers' votes.
Players like Justin Morneau, who scored the winning run, and Michael Young, who knocked him in. Young stars like Grady Sizemore, who scored the tying run, and rookie Evan Longoria, who made it happen with a double.
I’m not sure what the story will be on ESPN on Wednesday morning. I really don’t know what the public will think of what just happened. Will Bud Selig’s head be on the chopping block?
Will there be mass outcry to remove the silly stipulation of home-field advantage?
Does it really matter?
For once in our lives, let’s take this in stride and enjoy it for what it was: a good, old-fashioned baseball game. There were stolen bases, bunts, great pitching, solid defense, spectacular plays, and the game wasn’t won on a walk-off home run or a big flashy play.
It was won on a flyout to right field.
The only thing this game lacked was a decent play-by-play crew. All-around, it was everything a real baseball fan could want in a game.
If you paint the jerseys two different colors and black out all the thoughts about what was on the line and what the circumstances were, you won’t see a more exciting game all year. Anyone can sit around and downplay it because of the circumstances.
But no one can bad-mouth just how fun this game was to watch.
That is, after all, the reason we watch these games, right?
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4 months ago
Fantastic article. I agree completely. The game went 15 innings, had all the drama in the world, and everyone I talked to couldn't wait for it to end. Sure it's a Wednesday morning, and most of us have work or school tomorrow, but it was a heck of a game.
4 months ago
I had to be at work for 6 which means waking up at 5 and I just couldnt turn it off! Fantastic ball game. Russell Martin should quit baseball and join the Leafs as their new goaltender! He was snapping the balls up in-between hops like crazy!
4 months ago
Nino - Totally agree - amazing game. How many times have you seen the bases get loaded with zero outs and the pitcher work his way out of a jam? How many times were the bases stacked in last nights epic and no one scored a run?
Great hitters with sharp eyes and patience get the bases loaded over and over - great pitchers can pitch themselves out of those jams. All-Stars do those kind of things and we saw that last night.
During those numerous 3-3 tie innings - every batter that came to the plate was good enough to make you think he was going to break it open - and every pitcher that jogged out of the bullpen was nasty enough to make you believe he was going to keep his team alive.
Great collection of old timers - Great display of baseballs best youngsters - and a great baseball game. I loved all 6 hours of it.
from 4 months ago
Absolutely.. That was the whole thing.. Which guy was going to break through.. You couldn't leave because at no point was a weak spot in the order coming up or a bad pitcher was coming in. It was great to see someone like Nate McLouth, who I doubt many of the national audience has never even heard of, make a great play like he did.
I was ready for someone like JD Drew to come in and pitch. People might hate that, but I'd find it entertaining. Hey this is the All-Star game right? I'm supposed to be entertained, with fans voting in the players they want to see. I was ready for more baseball.
4 months ago
Great Article. I was really tired by the end of the game since it went so long, but I couldn't stop watching because of all the great plays that were happening. This was probably one of the best baseball games that has been played all year, and even if it was the all-star game, and even if some players didnt deserve to be there. And I agree that it would have been awesome if they ran out of pitchers and one of the position players had to pitch. The only dissapointing thing to me was that a lot of fans left and missed the end of an exciting game.
4 months ago
I was hoping to see David Wright and J.D. Drew decide home-field advantage with their relief pitching had the game gone any longer. The only weak spot in the NL lineup was the faulty Dan Uggla, who set a new record with the most errors in an All-Star game with 3. This record will probably not be broken for the simple fact that most players are not left in the game long enough in an ASG.
Most of the game was great, especially the pitching with great defensive plays. One of the more enjoyable games to watch this season.
from 4 months ago
I would have loved to see some position players in there mixing it up. I'm sure Bud would have let them replace JD Drew in right field if need be. Better that then put his butt on the line with another tie.
4 months ago
I agree it was a good game, but one for the ages? How about one for the sleepers? I bet most were asleep when this game ended (myself included). Way too long. And I love baseball but I am not a college student, I actually have a job I have to get up early and go to. And of course you AL fans would like it, the AL has dominated what, the last 1000 years? It sure seems like it. When I was a kid the NL dominated. This was the first time the NL ever lost an extra inning all-star game.
from 4 months ago
I really would have felt this way if the NL won it as well. Especially if Nate McLouth's deep shot to right cleared the fence. I would have been equally pleased watching it. I'm not sure we will ever see something like that again.
4 months ago
I too agree that the game was excellent, however, my concern is if MLB is trying to bring in the young fans and viewers, starting the game at 8:45 just isn't going to do it. Sure, this is summer and school is out, but this could have easily been Game 4 of the World Series and most kids, and even working adults, would not be able to see the game through to completion. Prime time or not, something should be done so that fans of all ages can enjoy games like we did last night.
from 4 months ago
Yeah that has always been a problem though, hasn't it? Even with the World Series. Where do you go though? You can't start it too early or the west-coasters will miss most of the beginning because of work. They have to make a choice, do they want the young fans, or do they want to anger the older ones. I don't envy their position at all.
A good compromise maybe, would be to start the actual game at 7:30 or so and conduct all the pre-game introductions and stuff before hand. The West Coast might miss a half hour, but at least it will finish at a decent time for the people on the East(provided it doesn't go really deep) and people on the West still get to see a good chunk.
Either way that pregame ceremony was great, but I'm sure some people won't mind missing that if they get to see the game. Just record that part and watch it later.
4 months ago
I agree, this was a great game. I was one of few people that probably stayed up and watched the entire five-hour thing. In a way I wish it would have went a little longer. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened when Kazmir couldn't go out there (he was done after he reached a certain limit) and when Lidge was done (he's a closer).
Oh well, it was a fitting ending for Yankee Stadium. The only bad thing is that FOX All-Star song is stuck in my head still...
from 4 months ago
That is one negative thing, and quite possibly the worst. I can't get that song out of my head either!
from 4 months ago
I think even Joe Buck was getting tired of it. He made a comment along the lines of "How many times have we heard this song tonight?"
from 4 months ago
Yeah he said that at the end, and after he said it, it seemed like they started doing something else. Still hearing that at least twice per inning for fifteen straight got it stuck in my head. Does anybody know what it's even called?
4 months ago
I have tried to talk with baseball haters in the past 12 hours about this game, and people don't want to talk about it because it's not the World Series. Get real! This game was absolutely amazing!
4 months ago
I have never even thought of the concept of taping/DVR'ing or buying a DVD of an All-Star game - but I find myself today wanting to watch the game over again (with the commercials and the FOX All-Star mantra cut out of course).
I was glad to be wiped-out tired all day today and telling people I watched the best All-Star game of my life time. Fantastic game.
I thought it was funny when JD Drew was getting the All-Star MVP Trophy that the cameraman only started to pan towards the stands once and as soon as you could see that no one was left in the stadium he jerked he camera right back to Drew and the commissioner and the shot never changed for the rest of the ceremony.
4 months ago
Agreed... quite honestly, this was probably the most exciting All-Star game I've ever watched. Every time you were sure the game was about to be over... something would happen to keep it moving along. Pretty unreal...
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