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| 2011 All-Star Game |
Depending on what league one’s favorite team plays in, is the league one would probably be rooting for to win the 2011 All-Star Game. But for those who follow Major League Baseball’s Annual All-Star game might have the mentality of why am I going to watch the game, when the American League will win it. These “skeptics,” if one can call them that have a legitimate reason to think that way. In the last 15 years, the American League has won 12 times while the National League only won twice and the other ending in a tie in 2002. To break it down further, the wins of the National League came in July 9, 1996 and in July 13, 2010. During the National League’s hibernation, the American League amassed 5 straight victories (1997-2001). In 2002, Bud Selig called the game a tie because both leagues had used up all their substitute players, leaving no one available to come in to pitch in relief. Consequently, the game was called a tie by the Commissioner. Then the next 7 years, the American League continued their dominance over the National League until 2010 when the National League finally defeated a foe that has been an annual headache for them. However, for the more polished fan that has a historical knowledge of the All-Star Game knows that the National League still dominates the American League (41-38). For example, from 1960 till 1982, the National League won an astonishing 23 times whereas the American League won only twice in 1971 (from 1960 to 1962, there were two All-Star games played each year). Throughout this span, there was also a tie in 1961 due to rain. So, how will the 2011 All-Star Game pan out?
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| National League |
The National League (NL) is coached by the Manager of the World Series Champion - San Francisco Giants - Bruce Bochy. The players selected from the World Series Champions are Tim “The Freak” Lincecum, Matt Cain, Brian “Fear The Beard” Wilson, Pablo “Panda” Sandoval, and Ryan Vogelsong. “The Giants will have five All-Stars for the first time since 1966, when they sent six in an era of 10-team leagues. They were Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Tom Haller, Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichal” (Henry Schulman of SF Gate, Pablo Sandoval Named by Bochy to All-Star Team). However, none of them are starting the All-Star game.
As for the NL starters of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, they are as follow: The starting pitcher is no other but “Doc” Halladay aka Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies. "When you talk about the best, this guy is at the top," Bochy said of Halladay. His infielders are – Prince Fielder at 1st base, Rickie Weeks at 2nd base, Troy Tulowitzki at short-stop (SS) and Scott Rolen at 3rd base. As for Halladay’s outfielders, they are – Matt Holiday at Left Field, Matt Kemp at Center Field and Lance Berkman at Right Field and the Designator Hitter (DH) is Carlos Beltran. The man behind the plate catching for the “Doc” is Brian McCann. Will this 1st team be good enough to make it 2 consecutive victories over the American League?
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| American League |
The American League (AL) is coached by the manager of the World Series Runner-Ups - Texas Rangers - Ron Washington. The players selected from the World Series Runner-Ups are C.J Wilson, Adrian Beltre, Michael Young, Alexi Ogando, and Josh Hamilton. The difference between the Texas Ranger’s player selection and that of the World Series Champions player selection is that the Rangers have two starters – Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre, whereas the San Francisco Giants have none.
As for the AL starters of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, they are as follow: The starting pitcher is Jared Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jared Weaver got the nod to start because Justin Verlander and James Shields are ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game on July 12, 2011. The defense that will be supporting Jared will be nothing but stellar. At 1st base it will be Adrian Gonzalez; at 2nd base it will be Robinson Cano; at short-stop (SS) it will be Asdrubal Cabrera and at 3rd base it will be Arian Beltre. The AL outfielders are the most reliable with their glove and are power hitters. At Right Field will be Jose Bautista; at Center Field is Curtis Granderson and Left Field is Josh Hamilton. The Designator Hitter (DH) is no other but “Big Papi” David Ortiz. The man behind the plate is Alex Avila. Will this be the year that the American League regains their present day reign over the NL?
This All-Star Game between the NL and AL has been played since 1933. This game also signals the half-way point of the long and grueling MLB season. MLB dedicates a whole weekend preceding the All-Star Game with festivities such as Celebrity Softball and the ever-so popular Home Run Derby. This is not just a game for the fans but is a game that has significant value to each league. The winner of the All-Star Game will have Home Field Advantage in the World Series, which gives each league incentive to take it serious and to give 100% effort in coming out victorious. Since this incentive became permanent in 2006, 4 out of the 6 teams that won the World Series had their league come out victorious in the All-Star Game. Who will it be this year – the American League or National League? The answer lies within the team that one roots for?
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