Hosts: Sonny, Kevin, and Rich.

In this episode, Sonny, Kevin, and myself discuss the All-Star Game. We all weigh in on our thoughts about “Pujols-gate” and we also talk about how the game went. We will also be discussing the upcoming second half of the season and who we like to stand out as we move towards October.

You can find Episode 26 here. (Download mp3)

 

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Congratulations to Vladimir Guerrero for beating out Alex Rios last night and winning the annual home run derby at AT&T Park. While the derby always has some fireworks with mammoth home runs, last night’s was basically a bore.

Vlad won the Derby in the final round with 3 home runs. 3. There wasn’t a ball that splashed down (except for a foul ball) and the favorites in the Derby were all out after the first round. The semis were Matt Holliday, a last minute entry, Alex Rios, and of course Vlad and Pujols. Where was Ryan Howard? Too busy hitting foul ground balls. Where was Prince’s fat ass? Hitting gap shots that don’t work in a home run derby.

I suppose we could have seen this coming. AT&T Park is a very pitcher friendly ball park and the high of five home runs in the first round was probably predictable. At the same time, fans want to see jacks. That 503 foot rocket Vlad hit was amazing. Pujols also had a few that were blasted into the upper pavilion. But aside from the suspense between Pujols and Vlad in the semi’s and the lack of Bonds in the derby, this wasn’t an exciting one. I’ll go out on a limb and say it sucked.

Every year, I anticipate the unveiling of All Star batting practice jerseys. The one unique thing that motivates me to always make a purchase are the themes that set each jersey aside. The theme for this year’s jersey is based off the San Francisco landmark that has contributed to the famous history of the city.

The theme, of course, is that of the Golden Gate Bridge and the colors of the San Francisco Giants. On both the N.L. and A.L. jerseys, one of the the towers is represented on the uni in the script as the letter “I”. The main color on the National League jersey is black with the script in orange. That color scheme is then flipped around on the American League jersey.

The tower on the jersey also has cables extending from it resembling the Golden Gate Bridge. The cables run from the tower towards both the first and final letters in the name of the league. The 2007 All-Star Game patch is sewn on the the left hand sleeve to give the jersey its finishing touch.

The 2007 All-Star batting practice jerseys will be worn during batting practice sessions, as well as the Home Run Derby on Monday evening. You can grab these jerseys with no player names for $99.99. However, if you wish to have a player name on the back, it will cost you $119.00. The jerseys can be purchased at Major League Baseball’s fan shop.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that the Home Run Derby is my favorite sporting event of the year. You can’t compare this spectacle to anything. It is the cream of the crop and the cherry on top. This year, the Homerun Derby is going to be so huge, anyone who wishes to catch a home run ball in McCovey Cove must have their watercraft registered by the US Coast Guard and SFPD.

I find this to be literally amazing. Call me a sucker for enjoying this way too much but I think it is absolutely fascinating that people have to register their watercrafts. I love the hype and I can’t get enough of the pre-derby drama that takes place each year. For example, you can count on ESPN2 running a full day of past derbies, beginning with the epic battle that took place at Veteran’s Stadium in 1996.

There have been talks of Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds entering this year’s competition as well. If that occurs, we could very well see the most epic battle in derby competition. In my opinion it could be the derbies to end all derbies. Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, and reigning A.L. MVP Justin Morneau have all confirmed their participation

Even though the US Coast Guard and SFPD have stated that watercrafts will be admitted on a first come first basis service, I encourage anyone who has a flotation device to make their way out onto San Francisco Bay. If you can be part of this event, make it happen. Boats can also be present in McCovey Cove during All-Star Game and Sunday Festivities. Registration details are available here. Check back soon for a breakdown of the competitors in this year’s event.

Hosts: Ryan, Rich, and Sonny: This episode discussed the American League All Star team that will take the field in San Francisco next week. The staff talks about who will close out the game for the American League, as well as predicting the game’s MVP.

You can find Episode 25 here.

Hosts: Ryan, Rich, and Sonny: This episode discussed the National League All Star team that will take the field in San Francisco next week. The staff talks about the snubbing of Chris Young and breaks down the entire roster. Why wasn’t Jimmy Rollins elected? And why the hell is Freddy Sanchez allowed on that roster?

You can find Episode 24 here.