2011 MLB All-Star Game: National League Still Honoring the ‘Year of the Pitcher’

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Last year, the National League won the All-Star Game for the first time since 1996. After so many years of futility, it turned out that the only thing they needed to do in order to steal a victory was find a way to keep American League bats quiet.

And they did just that. Eight pitchers got into the game for the Senior Circuit, and they combined to hold the American League to six hits and a single run to give the NL a 3-1 win.

On Tuesday night, the National League won the All-Star Game for the second year in a row, and they were able to pull it off by doing more of the same.

No, really. National League hurlers held American League hitters to just six hits and one run, this time winning 5-1.

Coincidence? Probably, but there’s no escaping the notion that it was something else. Instead of a coincidence, perhaps the similarities between the last two All-Star Games are part of a larger trend.

Last year, we all watched as offensive numbers dropped across the board, the conspicuous upshot of the brilliant pitching that was going on around the league. As a result, we called 2010 the “Year of the Pitcher.”

After watching Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, it should be pretty apparent that the Year of the Pitcher is alive and well, and that National League pitchers in particular are doing their part. Ron Washington’s American League lineup didn’t exactly have any easy outs in it, yet Roy Halladay and friends made it look like this was the case. Adrian Gonzalez’s home run was the only extra-base hit the AL could manage, and NL hurlers were able to get 27 outs on just 122 pitches.

Credit where credit’s due, it’s not like the AL’s pitchers were awful. They may have allowed five runs, but three of those came on one swing of Prince Fielder’s bat. In addition, you have to keep in mind that several of the league’s best hurlers were not able to go because they just pitched on Sunday. Just imagine how close this game could have been if Justin Verlander, David Price, and C.C. Sabathia had been able to pitch.

All things considered, it’s looking more and more like pitchers are the true stars of Major League Baseball in this day and age. That they’re showing off in the All-Star Game is therefore almost too perfect.

Here’s hoping the Year of the Pitcher is still alive in 2012.

-Zachary D. Rymer

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