2008 MLB All-Star Game: If There Were A 16th Inning

Whether it was an attempt to be a good rookie, or better yet, a good teammate, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said in a postgame interview that if the 2008 MLB All-Star Game had gone into the 16th inning, he would have volunteered to pitch.

His Rays teammate and ace Scott Kazmir had thrown 104 pitches just two days earlier, but was able to squeak an inning out of his tired arm to help his AL squad to victory.

There is doubt, however, in many people's minds that Kazmir could have continued to throw, even as the last pitcher in the AL pen. That's where Longoria would have probably come on to toss the top of the 16th inning. We've been as much a witness to Longoria's cannon from third base this year as Cleveland was last year with LeBron James.

Rays GM Andrew Friedman told announcers that Kazmir was not to pitch, but when Boston Red Sox and AL manager Terry Francona ran out of any other plausible options, Kazmir was given the ball.

The equally-compelling story was that the NL was running out of pitchers too, as Brad Lidge had tossed 0.2 innings, but had warmed up numerous times, throwing an estimated 100 pitches in the bullpen. Apparently, All-Star first timer Nate McLouth offered up his services to Colorado Rockies and NL skipper Clint Hurdle.

In a postgame interview with the AP, McLouth noted that he would have pitched, but it wouldn't have been pretty.

"That's fine if you want to see 81 (mph)," McLouth stated.

It certainly looked like he had a better arm than that when he gunned down Rays catcher Dioner Navarro in the 11th inning to extend the ballgame.

Wouldn't it have been something to see a game absolutely dominated by pitching be handed over as position players would take the mound?

All-Star Game MVP J.D. Drew could very well have won the MVP with his arm had the game gone longer. Francona noted that Drew frequently expresses his urge to pitch in the major leagues, so why not give me a shot instead of sending Kazmir to early retirement?

Some of these players, although the best in the game, haven't pitched since Little League.

In all honesty, I think Longoria could have thrown some gas that kept the NL hitters off balance. On the other hand, however, Hurdle entertained the idea of making Mets' third baseman David Wright pitch because he was the final player selected to the team.

And you thought Longoria's arm was strong. Meet David Wright, who can supposedly crank his heat up to 95 mph.

It's pretty obvious that something should be done about the rosters, whether it be making them large enough to field a full pitching staff, or simply allowing the starter to toss more than two innings.

In this instance, though, it could have truly been a game never forgotten. Had Longoria and Wright faced off on the mound, it would have been the most bizarre game in All-Star history, and it would have surely produced some fireworks, either off the bats or from the unusual arms.

Designated pitcher, anyone? Maybe next time there is a 15-inning game, Aaron Miles can come in and toss some innings.