The NL will win it this year

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  • Willie Bee
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 02-14-06
    • 15726

    #1
    The NL will win it this year
    NL All-Stars will shine brightest on Tuesday in St. Louis

    With manager Charlie Manuel at the helm, the National League looks to break a 13-year drought in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in St. Louis.

    Let's forget for a while all that is wrong with the All-Star Game. The fact it "means something" now in the grand scheme of the majors is a bit of a joke, and if it is going to mean something then the guarantee of one player per team is archaic. There are always going to be deserving players left out no matter how much the rosters expand, up to 33 a side this year. And the broadcast with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver on FOX will once again be unbearable as they talk about just about everything but the game on the field and plug upcoming FOX telecasts ad nauseum.

    Despite all of that, the Midseason Classic remains a great break in the season and still provides plenty of excitement for what is and always be nothing more than an exhibition game.

    It's been plenty exciting for AL supporters in recent years. Over the past 13 All-Star Games, the American League owns a 12-0-1 with wins in all six contests since the infamous seven-all tie in Milwaukee back in 2002. That was the game that pushed Bud Selig and his merry band of numbskulls to giving the winning league home field advantage in the World Series.

    Think about how much has changed since the National League last won an ASG. John Smoltz was the NL starter and winner in 1996, getting a 6-0 shutout of the AL rolling. Ken Caminiti and Mike Piazza hit the home runs; Mark Wohlers and Al Leiter combined in the ninth inning for the NL to finish the game off as manager Bobby Cox went through nine arms that July 9 evening at the old Vet in Philly.

    By the way, that 1996 game was the only ASG in which there were no walks issued by either pitching staff. Thought you trivia geeks might enjoy that little tidbit.

    It stands to reason that walks would be down in an All-Star Game, so the fact that has been the only one in the previous 79 contests is a bit odd. The pitching should be stronger when you assemble the best arms for one game, that's a given. With the lineups also beefed up, pitchers will be less likely to even pitch around a batter or two as they would in a regular lineup.

    Pitching will once again be one reason why the NL is going to finally break their July drought with a win at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday night. Albert Pujols is the other reason.

    In a game that will trot out one great arm after another, the one name that sits at the very top of the list is Tim Lincecum. The young ace of the Giants' staff is a very big reason why San Francisco has a legitimate shot at the postseason for the first time since 2004. Lincecum is third in the majors with a 2.33 ERA, tied for first in strikeouts with 149 and already a 10-game winner at the break.

    Guiding the NL from the top step of the dugout on Tuesday will be Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, and if there's a weakness on his 13-arm staff it's the fact there are no lefthanded short arms in the group of relievers. So it will be interesting to see how Manuel mixes in the three southpaws he does have – New York's Johan Santana, Ted Lilly of the Cubs and Pittsburgh's Zach Duke who was named to replace Lincecum's San Fran teammate Matt Cain on the roster after Cain was struck by a liner in his last start.

    The remaining starting arms for Manuel are Arizona's Dan Haren, LA's Chad Billingsley, Florida's Josh Johnson and Colorado's Jason Marquis. If I'm Manuel, I save Marquis for the possibility of extra innings, partly because he's the weakest arm of the bunch in my opinion and partly because he's a decent hitter if the NL bench ran dry in a long game.

    Once the NL has the lead and we get to the sixth inning, Manuel has five quality closers to send to the hill to keep the AL at bay, including the all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman who is having a strong season closing things out for the Brewers. Ironically, Hoffman's replacement in San Diego, Heath Bell, also made the team as did Cincinnati's Francisco Cordero, the Mets' Francisco Rodriguez, and St. Louis' own Ryan Franklin. The only problem Manuel has is picking which guy gets the nod in the ninth. That's a nice problem to have.

    Albert Pujols will be right at home in front of the Cardinals crowd and primed to put his talent on display. There isn't even any argument as to who the most feared hitter is today in the majors as Phat Albert is having a near MLB Triple Crown season to this point on the '09 slate. Atop the HR and RBI columns with 32 and 87 respectively, Pujols is sixth in the majors with a .337 batting average to go with No. 1 rankings in on-base and slugging (and obviously OPS).

    Picking Pujols to be the game's MVP would seem an easy thing to do...if he didn't have Adrian Gonzalez (SD), Prince Fielder (MIL) and Ryan Howard (PHI) behind him on the 1B depth chart in this one. Here again, if I'm Manuel the decision would be to play Pujols the entire game, using the other three sluggers in pinch-hitting roles.

    This will be the NL's season to finally break through and win the Midseason Classic in what should also cash those holding Under tickets. Final score: NL win 5-3.
  • smitch124
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 05-19-08
    • 12566

    #2
    I'm actually not happy about Lincecum starting this game. San Francisco Giants starters have a horrible history in this game. Atlee Hammaker (1st grand slam in AS history), Rick Reushel still waiting for Bo Jackson's bomb to fall and Scott Garrelts finally went into the cover and roll after line drive continued to threaten the lives of the fielders.

    None of them were the same after their humiliation, lets hope Lincy drinks too much again on Mon night before the game
    Comment
    • onthewhat
      Restricted User
      • 05-14-08
      • 15411

      #3
      Did you mean to post this under the Chance Harper account?
      Comment
      • Squirrel
        SBR MVP
        • 06-11-09
        • 1316

        #4
        I'm not happy about Tim Lincecum starting because Dan Haren has actually been better - just the old meaningless 'wins' stat being used to determine a pitchers worth, IMO.
        Comment
        • Wilforth
          Restricted User
          • 05-10-08
          • 16309

          #5
          AL wins, IMHO
          Comment
          • smitch124
            SBR Posting Legend
            • 05-19-08
            • 12566

            #6
            Originally posted by Squirrel
            I'm not happy about Tim Lincecum starting because Dan Haren has actually been better - just the old meaningless 'wins' stat being used to determine a pitchers worth, IMO.
            Well then maybe we can both chip in and hire someone to feed Lincy some shots tonight. I wonder what uncle Richie is doing?
            Comment
            • JumpoffJoeBeezy
              SBR Wise Guy
              • 12-17-08
              • 928

              #7
              National League RRL
              Comment
              • DwightShrute
                SBR Aristocracy
                • 01-17-09
                • 103264

                #8
                tie
                Comment
                • Willie Bee
                  SBR Posting Legend
                  • 02-14-06
                  • 15726

                  #9
                  Originally posted by DwightShrute
                  tie


                  We were just talking about this, thinking about how there's a chance of rain. What the fcuk would Bud Selig do if the game was rained out through the fifth with the score knotted at two apiece? Would the World Series be at a neutral site?
                  Comment
                  • DwightShrute
                    SBR Aristocracy
                    • 01-17-09
                    • 103264

                    #10
                    it should then go to the most hits, if that is also a tie, the least amount of errors. Still tied, most bases gained, then team with the most extra base hits, then rocks, paper and scissors

                    Winner must be determined tuesday
                    Comment
                    • Squirrel
                      SBR MVP
                      • 06-11-09
                      • 1316

                      #11
                      They'd have to have a makeup game between the end of the regular season and the playoffs starting lol
                      Comment
                      • Willie Bee
                        SBR Posting Legend
                        • 02-14-06
                        • 15726

                        #12
                        Rock, paper, scissors. I bet Selig has that on his list somewhere.

                        By the way, been enjoying your avatars recently
                        Comment
                        • obamaismyuncle
                          SBR Posting Legend
                          • 12-31-08
                          • 17801

                          #13
                          American League hasn't lost since 96', I think I will take the AL till they lose. Kinda hard to pick the National League after a 12-0-1 run.
                          Comment
                          • Fishhead
                            SBR Aristocracy
                            • 08-11-05
                            • 40179

                            #14
                            Joe Madden is managing the AL.............huge advantage to the NL.

                            Only thing that concerns me is the AL winning streak.

                            FH
                            Comment
                            • smitch124
                              SBR Posting Legend
                              • 05-19-08
                              • 12566

                              #15
                              Lincy gives up 3 in the 1st innning, AL rides that wave to 7-3 victory. My play AL -2.5 +205
                              Comment
                              • solo1969
                                SBR High Roller
                                • 06-26-09
                                • 139

                                #16
                                Nl revenge!

                                nl by 4 run's.
                                Comment
                                • Quadropheniac
                                  SBR MVP
                                  • 07-13-09
                                  • 2557

                                  #17
                                  This is so tough to cap. The streak has to end sometime.
                                  Smitch, are you serious? -2.5? Sick!
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                                  • flyingillini
                                    SBR Aristocracy
                                    • 12-06-06
                                    • 41219

                                    #18
                                    I really hope they do win it!
                                    המוסד‎
                                    המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים‎
                                    Comment
                                    • Willie Bee
                                      SBR Posting Legend
                                      • 02-14-06
                                      • 15726

                                      #19
                                      Yeah, I agree with the old adage about never trying to out-guess a streak. But just like it was when the NL had the stranglehold on the exhibition game, I will always pull for the underdogs or the team on the dirty end of a streak. Unless it's the Chicago Cubs or Texas Tech Red Raiders, then I hope their losing streak continues until the end of time.
                                      Comment
                                      • Quadropheniac
                                        SBR MVP
                                        • 07-13-09
                                        • 2557

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by Willie Bee
                                        I will always pull for the underdogs or the team on the dirty end of a streak. Unless it's the Chicago Cubs or Texas Tech Red Raiders, then I hope their losing streak continues until the end of time.
                                        I second that emotion. Say nope to Cubs and UGH to TTRR
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                                        • Wilforth
                                          Restricted User
                                          • 05-10-08
                                          • 16309

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by Squirrel
                                          I'm not happy about Tim Lincecum starting because Dan Haren has actually been better - just the old meaningless 'wins' stat being used to determine a pitchers worth, IMO.
                                          Agree with you 500%.
                                          Comment
                                          • Wilforth
                                            Restricted User
                                            • 05-10-08
                                            • 16309

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by obamaismyuncle
                                            American League hasn't lost since 96', I think I will take the AL till they lose. Kinda hard to pick the National League after a 12-0-1 run.
                                            You're da man. I know a lot of people who lost money fading the Rockies during their 16-1 run. AL for me.
                                            Comment
                                            • Quadropheniac
                                              SBR MVP
                                              • 07-13-09
                                              • 2557

                                              #23
                                              Wish we could get stats on how many times the top batter in the league, with home field advantage, pulled out a win during an ASG, and of course, how many losses.
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                                              • BamaBill67
                                                SBR Wise Guy
                                                • 11-12-08
                                                • 682

                                                #24
                                                Halladay vs. Lincecum, WOW............If I bet I think I am going to have to wager on the NL. Just my lean.
                                                Comment
                                                • INVEGA MAN
                                                  SBR Hall of Famer
                                                  • 01-30-08
                                                  • 6800

                                                  #25
                                                  Never bet a team because they are due to win
                                                  Comment
                                                  • jkrap27
                                                    SBR Hustler
                                                    • 02-20-09
                                                    • 75

                                                    #26
                                                    Comment
                                                    • Razz_Donkey
                                                      SBR MVP
                                                      • 12-27-08
                                                      • 1756

                                                      #27
                                                      I think the nl has a slightly stronger batting lineup, and equally or better pitching.

                                                      I'm not worried about the streak, the carry over effect from past years is overated. I'll be playing the national league for sure.
                                                      Comment
                                                      • ijustwant2bpaid
                                                        Restricted User
                                                        • 11-11-08
                                                        • 3706

                                                        #28
                                                        do not ever bet pitchers that will be in for 2 innings in an allstar game
                                                        Comment
                                                        • ttwarrior1
                                                          BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                          • 06-23-09
                                                          • 28456

                                                          #29
                                                          al is 1 1/2 pt fav at bodog, i put 25 bucks on it, if al does win it will be one run tops, this is the nl's year
                                                          Comment
                                                          • Nickelicious
                                                            SBR MVP
                                                            • 05-21-09
                                                            • 2647

                                                            #30
                                                            Originally posted by INVEGA MAN
                                                            Never bet a team because they are due to win
                                                            So true. The underdog has been hammered time and again by superior teams.

                                                            That said, I like the NL pitching this year. I'm going with them and going with the under 9 1/2. Streaks are made to be broken.

                                                            Is the AL a better league with better players and pitchers? The answer is yes, based on recent All-Star games. But this year I think the top end performers in hitting and pitching belong to the NL. Prince Fielder caps his HR Derby championship with a crucial All-Star game home run leading to a victory for the NL!
                                                            Comment
                                                            • pocketlint
                                                              SBR Wise Guy
                                                              • 12-17-08
                                                              • 634

                                                              #31
                                                              Originally posted by INVEGA MAN
                                                              Never bet a team because they are due to win

                                                              Amen. Applies to nearly every set of repetitious events in the universe we occupy.
                                                              Comment
                                                              • Quadropheniac
                                                                SBR MVP
                                                                • 07-13-09
                                                                • 2557

                                                                #32
                                                                under5 1st 5
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                                                                • cankid
                                                                  SBR Hall of Famer
                                                                  • 08-22-08
                                                                  • 7221

                                                                  #33
                                                                  wow what a streak but I think it ends also
                                                                  Comment
                                                                  • Quadropheniac
                                                                    SBR MVP
                                                                    • 07-13-09
                                                                    • 2557

                                                                    #34
                                                                    Originally posted by ijustwant2bpaid
                                                                    do not ever bet pitchers that will be in for 2 innings in an allstar game

                                                                    Coach already said Linceum is to pitch for 3
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