All-Star Game 2011: What Did We Learn from 82nd Edition of Midsummer Classic?

The 2011 MLB All-Star Game was the 82nd time the midsummer classic took place. It was held at Chase Field, which is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

The National League defeated the American league for the second year in a row. However, this time around they did so by a larger margin, winning 5-1.

In fact, it was the first time since 2004 that two or fewer runs didn’t decide the All-Star Game. 

So what did we learn from the 82nd edition of the midsummer classic? Well, other than finding out that San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell is a bit crazy, San Francisco Giants' closer Brian Wilson has gnomes in his beard and Prince Fielder's children have awesome hair, we learned that the National League means business.  

Two of the top three records in the MLB belong to the National League. The best pitching in baseball is found in the National League, as well as some of the best hitters in the majors.

Four of the top five teams leading the league in pitching are from the National League, and it will remain this way for the rest of the season. The 82nd edition of the midsummer classic proved that the National League is just a more cohesive unit.

Yes, the American League couldn't use some of their top pitchers in this game, but the National League would have still shut down American league hitting. Roy Halladay and Jair Jurrjens dominated as expected last night. Aside from Cliff Lee giving up the first home run in an All-Star game since 2008, the National League pitching staff was dominant Tuesday night.

Even if those top pitchers in the American League weren't ruled out of the game, the National League would have still prevailed. It would have come down to the bench players, and the National had a stronger and deeper depth chart.   

Moving forward, the National League will continue to show that they are the best this season. Aside from the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, the American League can't hang with the National League. 

Either the Red Sox or the Yankees will meet any of the top teams in the National League in the World Series, and it will make for a great series.

You can make a case for any of the National League division leaders to win the World Series this year. Plus, the National League Wild Card leader is better than several American League teams: The Atlanta Braves would easily take down the top teams of the American League because of their superb pitching.

Locking up home field advantage was huge for the National League, and whoever reaches the World Series will definitely make the most of it. The Phillies, Giants and Braves have the best shot at reaching the World Series, and all of them would win over the American League.

Another thing we learned at the 2011 MLB All-Star Game is that some of these top players could not care less about the All-Star Game.

Does that hurt the game at all? Has it lost value and meaning because of this? It stings a little bit, but some players skipping out on the All-Star Game is not a huge blow because the fans will always show up.

The fans vote in the players they want to see, and even though they don't get to see said players sometimes, it's not the end of the world. They still come to the stadium, and they still turn on the game at home. That is something that will never change about the midsummer classic. 

The 2011 season has been a tight race thus far, and it's only going to get more dramatic throughout the season. Every division in the MLB features a close competition for first place, and it's truly amazing that the largest division lead is only three and a half games. We're in for a great second half!

The National League has taken great strides over the American League, and they will remain the superior league for years to come.