Have you ever heard non-baseballs fan talk about baseball? Well the general consensus among the cow-hide hating public is that the sport is just well, boring. I love baseball, but unfortunately after watching the 82^nd MLB All-Star game, the baseball hate club might be right after all.

The All-Star game has been a staple of every summer I’ve had growing up. I couldn’t wait for mid July to watch the Homerun Derby and All Star game in consecutive nights and discuss how “sweet” it was with all the kids at camp. Now, I pity those little campers.  What will they be talking about at camp tomorrow? I personally couldn’t help but watch a little Family Guy on my computer while the game was going through its mid inning dullness. It was just boring to watch; my eyes were in pain. I wanted to see homeruns, web gems, some late inning drama; not Washington Nationals Pitcher Tyler Clippard. Wait, who? …Exactly.

The game was played at beautiful Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. I mention this because the highlight for my viewing party was the awesome pool behind the right field fence with its scantily clad party goers. The starters for the game were Philadelphia Phillie, Roy Halladay for the National League vs. Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the American League.

I’ll chalk that one up for one of the few right things the MLB did right with this game as both are top pitchers in their respected leagues. Sad though that the AL did not have much of a choice since a large amount of its aces were unable to play in the game, but that’s a different story.

Now, to the lack luster game itself. The first inning breezed by with both pitchers making minced meat of their competition. Hey, it’s a pitchers league now right? Of course, both Halladay and Weaver were out of the game by the second inning proving once again the poor coaching tactics in the All Star game.

In the second inning, Sox nation all held its breath at once when Josh Beckett was scratched from the game with a sore knee. At this point I was still very much into the game as the pre-game hype really got to me. It was when old time announcer Tim McCarver compared Yankees reliever David Robertson to Mariano Rivera when I lost all hope for the mid-summer classic. Yes, it got worse from there.

Nothing great happens until the fourth inning when the Boston Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez continues his amazing season and bombs a solo shot to right center field giving the American league a 1-0 lead. This was only the first hit for the American League, and the first time I looked up at the TV since McCarver’s off based comments.

Then in the fifth inning, AL manager, Ron Washington brings in his prized Ranger pitcher in C.J. Wilson to show why he was originally picked over Sabathia for a spot on the All-Star squad. Wilson goes on to give up a three-run homerun to Prince Fielder and Washington bows his head in disgust. Wilson would go on to lose the game and folks that pretty much wrapped up the 82^nd MLB All-Star game.

The American League would later go on to give up two more runs in the most non-dramatic sporting event of all time. At least the game doesn’t mean anything like in every other sport right? Oh wait, this is awkward. Well the American League really blew this one and the National League pitching staff looked like a bunch of Cy Young’s.

It was great to see young aces like Jair Jurrjens and Clayton Kershaw show their electrifying stuff because I know I’ll probably never see them pitch again unless it’s on a “SportsCenter” Highlight.

The All-Star game finished 5-1 in favor of the National League.  It will probably be remembered for being the most unmemorable All-Star game of all time; if that makes any sense. Usually, I like my All-Star games filled with stars. I wanted to see Jeter, Sabathia, Felix Hernandez, Albert Pujols, not Tyler Clippard (Two Tyler Clippard mentions in one article? Must’ve been a poor game). Personally, I would have rather this game meant nothing and witnessed another tie again like in 2002 to add a little controversy.

Any press is good press right? Baseball is just too slow for our high speed world and I don’t know if it can catch up. I’m still not sure I will be able to recuperate in time for the 83^rd game next summer.  Chalk the All-Star game up with the irrelevancy of the Pro Bowl and NBA All-Stars; sure looks like its heading that way.

Richard Paul Kane / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Cody Carbone
19 year old, junior at SUNY Cortland. I am a sport management major with a minor in communications. I'm an avid soccer player and play for SUNY Cortland. I love sports and love to write about them

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