Shoulda Pitched Ricky
The biggest story over the All Star Game festivities was the players that didn't show. Another smaller story was the pitchers who were in uniform, but were ineligible to pitch because of injury or their work schedule. I paid very little attention to all of that. I think players should be allowed to take time off if they feel like it, as there would always be another, possibly more deserving, player to take their place.
All of this is well and good until it comes to playing the game. The AL got their ass handed to them last night, and it wasn't really close. The pitching made the difference. The NL had Halladay counter Weaver, which is nearly a draw. But looking at the bench for the AL, and seeing David Price and Jon Lester were there but injured. Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander and James Shields were unavailable due to when they last pitched. Josh Beckett went to warm up, but tweaked his sore knee. Then I heard Joe Buck in about the 7th inning say that Ron Washington was short position players.
When Washington started using relief pitchers, and pulling his starting 9, I started to figure things were lost. "It's hard to beat great pitching and a three-run homer," NL manager Bruce Bochy said. Yeah, especially when you've pulled your best hitter.
Speaking of, Bautista was fairly quiet with the bat, getting a little bloop that was bobbled by Prince Fielder ruled a hit. He was thrown out at home trying to score on an Adrian Beltre line drive in the 4th. Bautista's biggest play was a fantastic catch in foul territory in the 2nd. The cameras didn't show the play during the game, but I knew it was awesome because of the way Dave Robertson adorably clapped.
Speaking of, Bautista was fairly quiet with the bat, getting a little bloop that was bobbled by Prince Fielder ruled a hit. He was thrown out at home trying to score on an Adrian Beltre line drive in the 4th. Bautista's biggest play was a fantastic catch in foul territory in the 2nd. The cameras didn't show the play during the game, but I knew it was awesome because of the way Dave Robertson adorably clapped.
It's especially amazing that Bautista made that play because the only above average aspect of his game is the homer. Right? Right?
CJ Wilson gave up the big bomb to Prince Fielder, making it 3-1 in the 4th. Jordan Walden of the Angels gave up a run in the 5th and Brandon League did the same in the 6th. For the record, League could make 25 All Star teams and we still won that deal.
Washington's reliance on relief pitchers from the AL West seemed a bit silly to me. I might have just kept using starters until I got a lead, and I would've used Romero in there somewhere.
“You never know what really would have happened if they had some of their best pitchers,” NL second baseman Brandon Phillips said. “But for them not to pitch, all I can say is, ‘Thank you very much.’”
I would've used Michael Pineda to face the toughest NL batters, not the bottom of the order, because Pineda is pure filth. I know CJ Wilson is Washington's guy, but he isn't the filth of Pineda. If Pineda is in to face Fielder, this might have been a different game.
“You never know what really would have happened if they had some of their best pitchers,” NL second baseman Brandon Phillips said. “But for them not to pitch, all I can say is, ‘Thank you very much.’”
I would've used Michael Pineda to face the toughest NL batters, not the bottom of the order, because Pineda is pure filth. I know CJ Wilson is Washington's guy, but he isn't the filth of Pineda. If Pineda is in to face Fielder, this might have been a different game.
Pineda has a mid-90s fastball and an 80 something slider, both go down, down, down-straight to hell.
Oh and the supposed "undisputed MVP of the first half" according to Tim McCarver and Joe Buck, got a homer that was barely worth mentioning. Keith Law's tweet on the undisputed MVP label more or less sums it up.
Stop trying to make me hate Adrian Gonzalez, baseball media.I would like to dispute the MVP label. I would like to loudly dispute it, backed with solid numerical proof and expletives.