Frontpage Features

BY SCREAMIN' BILL LEEMAN

Well, finally!   Finally it happened.  The National League won.  Hallelujah!   After 13 long years, and just as many tedious and boring games, the Nationals finally got back in the win column.

I was beginning to think it would never happen.  When Brian McCann hit that bases-loaded double in the seventh, scoring three runs, I stood up and cheered!  

Well, actually, I should say woke up and cheered.

You know, when we're right in the middle of baseball season, and all of a sudden there are no games, no daily scores to catch up on, no stats, no highlights, well, for us die-hards, it's kind of like going into withdrawals.   So by the time they get around to actually playing the game itself, we're all dying for a taste of baseball, no matter how lackluster the play.  As soon as the game begins to unfold, of course, you realize this isn't going to do it for you. Not really all that competitive.

Maybe the games have gotten so boring because I'm a National League fan.   No, that couldn't be it.  They are boring because they aren't really playing for anything.  It doesn't really matter who wins.  Even the home-field advantage in the World Series isn't enough of an incentive to make the game competitive.   It is just a big love-fest, where the players that were knocking each other down last week, are all high-fiving each other this week.

That's the way it should be, actually.   The best part of the All-Star Game has always been the introductions of the players.  This is their moment to be shine.  This is their time to be proud.  These are not only the most popular guys in the sport (so say the fans!) but they are also the guys that are having great years.  And even though the fans vote them in by stuffing the ballot boxes, the best players always get the most votes.

This years' introductions, with the added attraction of the community volunteers from around the nation, I must say, were certainly done up proper.  

After they introduced the players, which is always a touching moment for the true fan, they showed a snapshot and did a quick bio of each of about  twenty people from around the country who have excelled at community service.   Then, after the players introductions were over, they had all these wonderful folks standing out on the field, glowing, while 'Glee' star Amber Riley (what a voice!) serenaded them with the song "Beautiful." 

I'm telling you, it was very moving.  There wasn't a dry eye in my living room, and I was home alone.  About halfway through the song, the players all merged in with the volunteers, and began shaking their hands and hugging them.  What a scene.  Makes you proud to be a fan, and made me glad I was watching.  

Actually, there were some highlights in the game, besides the three run double by McCann.  One of them was the great diving catch by Ryan Braun of the Brew-Crew.   Another was the tag out of (was it Elvis Andrus?) at second after he had successfully stolen the base, thought the ball had gone into the outfield, and was caught flat footed off the other side of the bag.  

But the play of the night, in my opinion, was when unusually cheerful Cub right fielder Marlon Byrd threw out Boston's Big Papi Ortiz at second to end the American League threat, and basically dash the AL's chances of home-field-advantage against the rocks.   What a terrific, heads-ups, spot-on play!  

It was just one of those things.   David Ortiz was on first after hitting a single on the first pitch he saw in the ninth.   When the next batter, John Buck, hit a short fly to right, Big Papi was caught in No-Mans-Land.   Unsure whether or not the ball would be caught, he had to go at least part way toward second.   The fleet-footed Cub right-fielder came streaking in and pulled up just short of the catch,  grabbed it on one hop, spun around and threw a seed to second to force out Papi.   Brilliant play!  Now, instead of one out, two men on, it's two outs and a man on first.   And basically, the end for the American League All-Stars in 2010.  

That play was worth the price of admission, right there.  

In looking forward to the second half of the season, my only regret is that we have to wait another full day to resume the games that count.