Written by
Tonight, at 5pm PST, the 80th Annual All-Star game will take place in St. Louis. Even though the game doesn’t really hold much importance, I still get excited about it. It takes me back to when I was in elementary school, watching Griffey Jr. participate for the umpteenth time. (It still feels strange not seeing him in center.)
Festivities started last night, with the Home Run Derby, in which Prince Fielder took home the top prize. Tonight, following a ceremonial first pitch by President Obama, the game will begin when Seattle’s very own Ichiro Suzuki leads off for the American League. The other Mariner taking the field tonight is Felix Hernandez, who, at the age of 23, is making his first trip to the Mid-Summer Classic. I hope he gets the win.
One thing that’s recently changed for the All-Star Game, is that it’s no longer a game that simply wins you bragging rights. Beginning in 2003, Major League Baseball changed the rules, so that the League that won the All Star Game would have home-field advantage in that year’s World Series. Even though my team (the Mariners) has never been a threat to make it to the World Series, it still added a nice little element of importance to the game.
However, this year, we’re not at the bottom of the barrel, so the game my actually hold some importance. The American League is also riding an 11-game win streak (with the exception of a tie in 2002), so I think they can make it at least one more.
Go American League!