All Star Break

Everything that happens in baseball from April thru early July sets the stage for October.

The All Star Game is the one game in all professional sports that truly showcases the best of the best. We the fans get to choose the players we wish to see on the field. Neither side is really a "dream team" of baseball. They are more of a hodgepodge of the who's who world of baseball.

The All Star break is a 2 day event these days. It begins with the homerun derby the Monday night before the game. The games best hitters are invited to participate. Most do, ego's and bragging rights are at stake. Pujols was there last night. The derby was held in his home field, so everyone just knew it would be no contest. Everyone was wrong. I'm not saddened by this turn of events. You see, there are those that are saying that my beloved Albert is most likely the next steroid victim. This hushes some of that talk.

The All Star game is now very important to both leagues. The winner of the game clinches home field advantage in the World Series. Since the inception of this new rule, the AL has won an overwhelming percentage of the games. Let's hope this year is different.

The importance of this break to me is the stats going into the second half. My redbirds lead their division by two games. This is very important for morale. We have the lead in a tough division. The Cubs aren't producing as everyone had anticipated. The Brewers are playing like predicted. I am the only one that predicted the Redbirds would be a force in the division this season. =)

Last season I whined a lot about the fact that I had to learn 17 new names. This season only three of those new names returned to St Louis. LaRussa loves to utilize the Triple A team. He rotates players more than most men change their underwear. While this is very risky, it also ensures that each player shows up ready to play and prove his worth. Literally the only men on the team that are certain they will play before arriving at the ball park are the announced starting pitcher, Albert and Yadi. Even Ludwick and Ankiel who signed very lucrative contracts aren't certain of starting. The result is that every swing of the bat and defensive play count.

So, good luck to the NL tonight. Get some rest tomorrow - then the mad dash to October begins!

Long days and pleasant nights to ye...