2012 All-Star Game: NL Stands Giant, Breaks Out Special Can of Whoop A**

07/10/2012

NL 8 AL 0

National League Wins for the Third Straight Year

Yes, the All Star game was over by the first inning.  No, this did not upset me, I thoroughly enjoyed the rout.  It was a great way for Chipper Jones to end his career.  I enjoyed watching Tony La Russa go out on top.  Again.

La Russa had some curious in game moves. Two of the moves had Cubs fans shouting: Conspiracy!  The first move? David Freese played first base last night.  As we all know, the man is a third baseman.  The Cubs' Brian LaHair was second first baseman on the roster, he entered the game after Joey Votto and David Freese had their turn at first.  The second move Cubs fans jeered was the fact that Rafael Furcal was the only All-Star to play seven innings.  They wanted to see their young phenom shortstop Starlin Castro.  I'm sure La Russa was just remembering those times Cardinals players reached base due to a Starlin Castro error.  (I was).  Luckily, it wasn't a close game, so I felt safe with him at short.

Rafael Furcal had fun last night in his first All-Star start. According to the St Louis Post-Dispatch, he was thrilled play seven innings and to be the player La Russa chose to reenter the game as the "emergency replacement fielder."  He also hit one of a record three triples for the NL.

I wonder if SF Giants fans are upset-- their team drove in five runs last night!  Melky Cabrera had a RBI single and two run homer.  Kung Fu Panda, the alias of  Pablo Sandoval, hit a bases loaded triple.  Perhaps the Giants problem is that they don't have enough people getting on base so these guys can drive in a lot of runs nightly.  That or the offense relaxes because they know their pitching will only allow about three runs.   Giant pitcher Matt Cain started the game,  tossing two innings  and setting the tone for shut out baseball.

The NL may have a losing winning percentage in interleague play, but the league has won  four of the last six world series (Cardinals in 2006, Phillies in 2008, Giants in 2010, Cardinals in 2011-- hey two Cardinals victories!) and the last three All-Star Games. 

Meanwhile after last night, the question on everyone's mind is whether Ron Washington will ever beat the NL when it counts. He is 0-2 in All-Star game appearances and 0-2 in World Series appearances.

Til Later!