Recently in All-Star game Category

Who is the only player to win the All Star Game MVP and World Series MVP in the same season?

It's time for a new feature here at The Southpaw.
So here's a cool photo of Jayson Werth making a nice play during the All-Star Game.
Tell us what your caption would be.

Again, the All-Star game was a good one. Hope you had fun. I know we here at The Southpaw did.
We do have to say, however, that Curtis Granderson should have been the MVP. Crawford's catch was impressive, but the AL probably doesn't win without Granderson's triple.

And now, for the second half and the pennant races.

Thoughts on the later innings:

1. This game started too late. Young kids are headed to bed without some of their favorite players getting in yet.


2. I continue to reflect on Ryan Franklin's roster spot. It does bother me that a player busted for 'roids was chosen, let alone allowed to play.


3. Justin Upton looked like he'd just rolled out of bed on Curtis Granderson's big fly.


4. A bit of managing: Uncle Cholly puts Victor Martinez on first in hopes of the double play. Of course that meant speedster Adam Jones was coming up next. His fly ball put the AL on top, 4-3.


5. What's with Uptons and running slower home to first than first to second? Evidence: BJ in World Series against Phillies. Justin in 2009 All-Star game.


6. One reason for the American League's dominance in recent years has got to be the bullpen. It's not fair having to hit against Mariano Rivera, let alone Jonathan Pappelbon and Nathan. Plus they used to have Eckersley, Wetteland and Gordon at the high points of their careers.

The National League needs to make a move soon. Maybe Utley can go yard.
Some thoughts from the middle innings:

1. Is there a warning in the tale of Dan Haren and Co. for Mark Mulder with what the Phillies could do with Roy Halladay. The Oakland right was on his way to the Hall of Fame when he was traded to St. Louis. Since then, Mulder's career has been derailed while Haren has been a three time All Star, winning 68 games. Could J.A. Happ do the similar things? It's possible. But right now, if Halladay is there for the taking, the Phillies should grab him.


2. Jeff brought up David Wright's work as a pitchman. Remember, Jeff, he has a huge amount of stock in the company.


3. Someone needs to tell Carl Crawford to shave his ministache. It's rough. Really rough.


4. What a play by Chase Utley. Of course, Hanley Ramirez' stretch was as important. No word on that by Timmy McCarver. Of course, we had to bring up Timmy Mac, who should just retire. He's become a complete caricature of himself in the booth. The sad thing is when he does interviews he's insightful.


5. Can't help but wonder if Derek is wearing his thong.


6. Is it just me, or is the National League swinging very early in the count? Call these guys the Jimmy Rollins.


7. I'm not one to talk, but the ESPN headline right now says "Shinning in St. Louis" Groundskeeper Willie says: "Do you want us to get sued, lad." Anyway, the best part is Molly looked at it and said, "You didn't do that did you?"
   Gotta love the confidence.


8. That "It's all about the Buffalo's, Baby" Taco Bell commercial lasted longer than Todd Van Poppel's career.

York County's own Vic Wertz blasted a solo home run off Sal "The Barber" Maglie during the 1951 mid-summer classic.
It wasn't enough, however, as the National League won 8-3.
Wertz played in three All-Star games and was selected for another. He went 2-for-7 with a home run and two runs driven in as a representative for the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers.

We're not sure he's the only one ever to do it, but did you know you know York County's own Ken Raffensberger was an All-Star pitcher the same season he lost 20 games. He played in the Mid-summer Classic in 1944 for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Raffensberger's numbers in '44 included 13 wins and a 3.06 ERA. He finished his career with 119 wins against 154 losses.

Here are some early impressions:

1. It's nice that the National League let a prepubescent fan pitch the first inning.
   That kid, Tim Lincecum, had a rough first inning.
   Of course, he got hurt by hometown hero Albert Pujols kicked around a ground ball.


2. The Pepsi refreshed generation commercial was really cool.


3. Michael Young's play on Albert the Great's rip wasn't as fantastic as Joe Buck would have you believe. First of all, he stepped to the side and waved at it. He was lucky he got it. A good play would have been had he stepped in front of it and fielded it fundamentally.
   It just wouldn't have looked as cool


4. How about Roy Halladay's at-bat. Maybe he was showing the Phillies he could hit. He fouled off a bunch of pitches from Tim Lincecum. Of course, he didn't have his own batting helmet, which was fun to watch.


5. How about Tim Timmons umpiring down the left field line? What makes that interesting is it's the same name as a character from The Sandlot.


6. The last three presidents have been in the broadcast booth and it's nice that they're not as awkward as some other politicians. Presidents Obama, Bush the elder, Bush the Younger and Clinton are all sports fans and can have an easy rapport with broadcasters. It's a stark contrast from John Kerry. Here's something Peter Gammons wrote in 2004.
   So who puts the bug in candidates' ears about seeming what they are not? John Kerry last week professed to be a big fan of "Manny Ortez," then re-emphasized the phoofery by correcting it to "David Ortez." No, that was Dave (Baby) Cortez and "The Happy Organ." A few years back Kerry went on a Boston station with Eddie Andelman and said "my favorite Red Sox player of all time is The Walking Man, Eddie Yost," who never played for the Red Sox. Kerry is going to sweep New England. He's going to get 70 percent of the vote in Massachusetts. He doesn't have to be a Red Sox fan, all he has to do is not be John Ashcroft.
   

The All Stars Among Us was a fantastic idea.
And the follow through was pitch-perfect.
Watching the players crowd around those 30 fans who've done a lot for their communities was very touching. It was also very reminiscent of when the players surrounded Ted Williams at the 1999 Mid-Summer Classic.

Only Major League Baseball can screw up something as glorious as the All-Star game. There's no competition during the summer, it's just the marathon that is the Major League Baseball season. The highs and lows that are the backbone of our sports' culture happen then.
And the summer high is the All-Star Game. From May to August, nothing comes close to the drama. Consider, in the last four years, each game has been decided by two runs or fewer. Since 1980, the games have been decided by three runs or fewer in 22 of 28 games.
Yet, it could be so much bigger.
Here are three ways baseball could make the All-Star game the second-most watched sporting event.
1. Play it on Sunday, with the game starting at 7 p.m. This way, fewer people have to go to bed and miss the final innings. This could help make it a cultural event, much like the Superbowl.
2. Announce the Hall of Fame inductees at the game. Sure, there's a shorter turnaround between the game and the induction, but this will get more people paying attention.
3. The Home Run Derby is fantastic. Who doesn't enjoy seeing the big mashers bash the ball into insane reaches. Now, add to it. Have the derby on Saturday, and an alumni derby on Sunday, before the game. It should include some of the biggest stars of yesterday. Think about it, we could watch Mike Schmidt and Mike Piazza go at it. It would be a great warmup.

You take the Superbowl, I'll take the All-Star Game.
Oh, come on, you knew that was coming.
That said, The Southpaw is serious.
Tonight we'll discuss the 2009 game's action, learn some history, find out some local connections to the game, and make fun of Timmy Mac.
Hope you enjoy.

From the AP:
ST. LOUIS -- Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria is out of the American League starting lineup for the All-Star game because of an infected right ring finger.
He is being replaced by Texas third baseman Michael Young.
Chone Figgins of the Anaheim Angels is taking Longoria's place on the AL roster.