ASG IGT

[Edgy MD]

And the Astros secure home field advantage.

[dinosaur jesus]

Gwreck wrote: Apparently there was enough booing that Fox turned off the crowd microphones.

Is that true? I really hope it is. I guess there were some people there who didn't realize that the game was being played in honor of Mariano Rivera.

Christ, you're supposed to boo Rivera. Hating the other team in town, or your division rivals, or the team that stole a series from you five years ago is a good thing; it's a big part of what makes the game interesting and fun. Nobody's disrespecting Rivera. But this nonstop fawning is disrespecting what the game is really about, which is all the players, all the teams, all the fans.

[Fman99]

They gave him the MVP of the game as a lifetime achievement award. Which is pretty damn stupid. I grow weary of the adulation. Go home, Jerome.

[Frayed Knot]

Frayed Knot wrote: Kong76 wrote: This is slowly (painfully slowly) getting ready to be a Mariano love fest soon. I heard he's already been named game MVP.

Turns out that I was more correct than I thought seeing as how any vote that awards the MVP for pitching a scoreless 8th inning in a three run game is essentially a pre-arranged deal.

[Edgy MD]

I just spoke to Worf and he says there's no honor in accepting such an accolade.

[Frayed Knot]

An interesting breakdown of the ASG participants from John Sickels:

Of the 77 players/alternates named this year, 59 came through the draft (US, PR, Canada); and while you often hear about what a 'crap-shoot' the draft is and how examples are always thrown out of great players coming from the back of the draft, the odds still greatly favor those picks towards the top.

Of those 59 drafted players on last night rosters:
- 27 were drafted in the 1st round or 1st round supplemental
- 15 more were 2nd round picks
- 11 came out of rounds 3 thru 9
- just 6 came from the 10th round or later

1st round/Supp = 46%
2nd round or higher = 71%

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Kong76 wrote: This is slowly (painfully slowly) getting ready to be a Mariano love fest soon. I heard he's already been named game MVP. Turns out that I was more correct than I thought seeing as how any vote that awards the MVP for pitching a scoreless 8th inning in a three run game is essentially a pre-arranged deal.

He would have won it even if he gave up a game-winning grand slam.
And he got it only because they couldn't give it to Jeter.

Later

[Ceetar]

Thoughts on the All-Star Game. My second actually. (blessed, or financially reckless? hmm.. Last time I tried to sell the tickets in Pittsburgh, couldn't find a buyer, so decided last minute, on Sunday, to go with a friend. Got yelled at Wednesday morning by the boss, great company that was, how do I find these places? This is what I wrote about going to that game)

Obviously being at Citi made it specialer. I felt a little proud like a host or maybe someone who has an exhibit in an art gallery. "Look at all these people enjoying my home!" It was great to see all the far concourses open too. I remarked on Sunday that this booth was usually closed to a woman having trouble swiping my card and she's all "See? They banished us out here! figures!"

It was cool to see the place so packed from a "energy" standpoint but it's nothing. _nothing_ like it being a meaningful game. As far as energy goes, a half-packed place in a meaningful Mets game would rock more. And wouldn't have the maybe 10k people in there that feel like you invited those second cousins no one likes to the family reunion who cheer and boo the wrong things. But it's cool to have the interest and attention on the place, and I always find it neat when you get all the silly free giveaways outside and on your way in because they know they've got a crowd to pitch to. (Free Mountain Dew, Pepsi Next Challenge, that sorta thing) Verizon Studio was closed and T-Mobile set up a silly stand across from it.


I'm pretty sure Citi won't ever shake like Shea did, judging by many people clapping along to Lazy Mary, although maybe we just didn't build it up enough because Alex Anthony had to break in pretty fast to announce the score of changes, or maybe Shea only shook like that after it'd been broken in? Did it shake in '69? Did people get into that mass-bouncing the same way back then?

Also in a meaningful game of Mets fans, you won't get that 'lost tourist' feel of people in your way or not knowing how to move around the stadium properly. at least less so. It also won't be 95 and so humid I would've been dryer swimming.

The crowd was into it at the beginning, but it seemed to taper off after that. Clapping for Harvey and 2-strikes and all in the first but then it mostly dipped to a muted buzz the rest of the game. Good cheers for Wright, appropriate booing for the Yankees (drowned out Mo's intro) appropriate booing for the Molina's and Braves of the world, although it'd be nice if there were more people to cheer and less people to boo, but on the other hand I find Mets fans want to boo. Perfect opportunities to cheer Beltran and even Gomez that didn't get quite what it should've.

Cool to see Seaver and him demand to throw the first pitch from the mound. (They must've shown this right?) It's the type of machismo/ego that Harvey exhibits. Good job by Wright catching the curveball off the plate before it hit the ground (why can't ceremonial first pitches hit the ground? They're always treated like the flag (not that I get flag traditions like that either)) I don't believe we saw Piazza either. I think Seaver to Wright was perfectly fine in this regard, old-new not old-notasold, but why only have Mike at the HRD stuff? I suspect it was just Fox stuff, saw Gooden, but not Strawberry or Franco, although I think they were around? Not surprising that Fox chose to skip Oh Canada but still wanted to make sure they got the American anthem on the broadcast.

The game went fast, which was nice, until Leyland remembered he has 8 billion situational relievers. That was nice because the game ended about 5-10 minutes before I'd have had to leave for my last train anyway.


There were some nice montages on the screen between innings, although I still like the HR Derby one of famous home runs the best (left out Ventura went with Pratt. fine though. And at least they chose non-championship Yankee ones, I don't particularly hate Aaron Boone)

Did they show the fixed Mascot race on TV? I enjoyed that. It was ridiculously silly but I think in-stadium antics should always be ridiculously silly and pitched to appeal to a 10 year old. (As much as it's silly, things like Sweet Caroline sing-a-longs are that, but they don't need to be played on the TV either..) Anyway, I enjoyed the race. They grabbed a bunch of random mascots from around the league, the Italian Sausage, Randy Johnson, George Bush, etc and had 'em race pretty far actually with Mr/Mrs Met holding the finish line. Of course, the Minnesota thingy won, so that he (it?) can defend it's title next year on it's home turf. FIXED!

I had a blast at all three events though, and am suitable exhausted now, even if it was probably more than I should've spent financially. I should've known better, but the best way to approach these things, and what I might do if I the game is in Philly or Washington or Baltimore soon (or Boston again) is wait until the week before when people thought they'd be able to upsell $500 tickets and are desperate enough to sell them for half that and go for almost a reasonable price.

I know I'm rambling, but whatevs. Another aspect I enjoy is seeing the mass of baseball love from the whole continent. Locals (mostly the never go to a game but I was really into the Mets in '99 so let me where my Payton shirt) generally had more odd, random, knock-off shirts and jerseys than the out of towners, who were more likely to also buy a Jersey or something modern since they're here, but I did see a '99 All-Star Griffey, and Piazza. And one of the real old colorful Astros jerseys. And a new Astros cap as well, with pins on it from a dozen or so All-Star Games.

I think that's what I love most about it. It's a stadium full of 45000 people from across the world that just absolutely love baseball. I didn't get as social about it because I'm anti-social and was more at home since it was Citi but you could probably strike up a conversation about any random tidbit of baseball with anyone and have a blast. Talk to the guy in the Griffey jersey and I bet he'd have some great stories to tell. And you'll get discussions that aren't strictly "Stupid Wilpons" and "Gotta fire the Hitting Coach!" and "Release Ike". These events are a great celebration of baseball, and baseball is worth celebrating. It's Oktoberfest for MLB.

(mostly anyway, corporate seats and the swarms of media (Acela club became auxiliary scoreboard) )

Yikes, I just wrote 1100 words. I should probably polish that up and blogpost it.

[Ceetar]

Also, besides the NYC (NO GRAND CENTRAL ACCESS FOR YOU) and the 7 fire I think the Mets and Citi Field did a great job as a host. People seemed well directed to their seats and helped out, the lines moved for the most part, getting in as well. Security wasn't overly grabby (although they made me empty my pockets yesterday for some reason).

There were vendors from around the majors too. I thought that was neat, and must be a pretty cool experience. One guy, from the Rockies, was singing his pitches "Aquafina!" etc. One of the hot dog vendors was barking. They had on red shirts similar to the jerseys with the ASG patch and their team patch.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Clayton Kershaw got a nice reception based mostly, I suppose, on his comments about Harvey deserving to start the game.

[Ceetar]

Swan Swan H wrote: Clayton Kershaw got a nice reception based mostly, I suppose, on his comments about Harvey deserving to start the game.

I presumed that as well. Good hand at the Parade as well. I lot of the Superstars did get nice hands though. everyone loves Prince Fielder. Cabrera, Ortiz, Verlander, McCutchen.

You could practically hear the "Who?" for Jesse Crain though.

[metirish]

Nice write up Ceetar......seemed to me that the Dodgers and Giants players got good hands.......agree on the universally liked players ....the Braves players took the booing in good nature, unlike Cliff Lee......agree on the dip after Harvey left, it felt very muted on TV and the game dragged....loved when Harvey was interviewed by Erin he said of course he didn't mean to hit him(Cano) but he was pitching in....nice touch having the players greet the service men and women with American flags, great touch too by FOX to actually have a meaningful exchange on "sounds of the game" when we got to hear the exchange between Brandon Phillips and the service guy he greeted....Phillips just seems like a great guy......

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Not surprising that Fox chose to skip Oh Canada but still wanted to make sure they got the American anthem on the broadcast.

Pretty lame to hear that. ESPN radio featured "O, Canada" and it was refreshing to hear it done straight by an operatic baritone (and not even a particualrly great one, to my ears). To hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" by an R&B singer (Candace Glover) afterwards, feeling her way around the last note of each line was a letdown.

#oldgrump

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: Not surprising that Fox chose to skip Oh Canada but still wanted to make sure they got the American anthem on the broadcast. Pretty lame to hear that. ESPN radio featured "O, Canada" and it was refreshing to hear it done straight by an operatic baritone (and not even a particualrly great one, to my ears). To hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" by an R&B singer (Candace Glover) afterwards, feeling her way around the last note of each line was a letdown. #oldgrump

The 'O Canada' singer was in uniform (not sure which branch) and strode back and forth to the microphone in a precise military gait. He was terrific. As anthems go, it's a pretty good song and he did it proud.

[Edgy MD]

Any idea if he was US or Canadian military?

[Centerfield]

They said he was Canadian.

I think i posted my writeup in the wrong thread. Sorry. Admins feel free to move.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: Not surprising that Fox chose to skip Oh Canada but still wanted to make sure they got the American anthem on the broadcast. Pretty lame to hear that. ESPN radio featured "O, Canada" and it was refreshing to hear it done straight by an operatic baritone (and not even a particualrly great one, to my ears). To hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" by an R&B singer (Candace Glover) afterwards, feeling her way around the last note of each line was a letdown. #oldgrump

I guess I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but I'm just assuming it wasn't on the broadcast because shortly after they were all "Remaining standing while we rejoin Fox.."

[Ceetar]

[Guest themetfairy]

The Franchise was a little short of the plate -



Mr. Wright didn't seem to mind -

[Centerfield]

Great pics!

All I've got is my goofy-ass son and his best friend.

[Guest themetfairy]

Harvey before the game, in the outfield -



And on the mound -



Craziest mascot race ever.....

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: Great pics! All I've got is my goofy-ass son and his best friend.

But goofy-ass kids are what it's all about!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

themetfairy wrote: Harvey before the game, in the outfield - And on the mound - Craziest mascot race ever.....

Looked like he was wearing flippers out there.

[Edgy MD]

You know, sometimes you may think Japan, or Papua New Guinea, or Madagascar has a strange culture. You scratch your head and shrug because you just don't get it.

But take a step back and look at this from an outsider's point of view. What the devil is happening?

[Ceetar]

Want to see the whole race? Don't know if someone got a better video, but here it is straight from the back of section 530.

https://picasaweb.google.com/104855267982232479692/ParadeAndAll0StarGame?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjaovqDs-LXBw#5901604965864705218

[Guest themetfairy]

The only things missing were a pierogie and one of those weird aquatic things from Miami.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

You know, sometimes you may think Japan, or Papua New Guinea, or Madagascar has a strange culture. You scratch your head and shrug because you just don't get it. But take a step back and look at this from an outsider's point of view. What the devil is happening?

I'm not even sure who all those mascots are.

I've got (l-r):
1. George Washington, Nationals
2. Randy Johnson ???, Diamondbacks
3. Guido the Italian Sausage, Brewers
4. A Pepsi Bottle, (what team is this?)
5. A hot dog slathered in mustard or a Twinkie ???, (again, what team?)

[Ceetar]

themetfairy wrote: The only things missing were a pierogie and one of those weird aquatic things from Miami.

taco bell packet too right?

and a groundscrew member half-assing YMCA.

I think my video has audio with the introductions, but I may have missed that part.

[Ceetar]

This helps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascot_race

the Rays are the Pepsi race (Tropicana is Pepsi I guess)

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

I had no idea that there were so many mascot races.