Daily Dosage: All-Star Capper

Poor Dan Uggla. He makes three errors in the All-Star Game after making only three during the first half of the regular season. On top of that, Uggs went 0-for-4 with 3 whiffs while leaving a small village on the base paths.

Did nerves get the best of Mr. Uggla? Or was it the Yankee Stadium ghosts' revenge on the Marlins for clinching their 2003 title at The Stadium.

Maybe an evening with Miss Italy, Claudia Ferraris, would cheer him up. But, until that time comes, I hope this picture is sufficient enough.

Ciao, bella.

On with the Dosage.

Chi-Town Stand Up. The Cubs pitchers who played in the Midsummer Classic did their part to help the NL get the home-field advantage. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Marmol combined to strike out 6 batters in their four innings of work.

How about Dempster striking out the side in the bottom of the 9th? Wish that woulda happened more often in the past few years. How about Marmol punching out the Sox' Carlos Quentin? Here's hoping that Carlos shows up in the second half for the North Siders.

His Name Is (Now) Dan Uggly! I hate to rail on the kid, but I kinda feel bad. Especially after Ken Rosenthal said that it was his dream to play at Yankee Stadium in front of his pops. That dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

The Closer, Starring The AL Bullpen. Joe Nathan, Francisco Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria and George Sherrill combined to throw 5+ innings without allowing a stinkin' run. On the NL side, Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge combined for a 40.50 ERA.

Quality Linkage

• Fox Sports signs a mult-million dollar deal with the Florida Gators. (Jacksonville Business Journal) Relief for the budget cuts? Doubt it.
• Is Josh Hamilton The New Rick Ankiel? (The Big Lead) The answer is yes if we can go the rest of the year without The Great Hambino being linked to HGH!
• One of the more entertaining second half prediction blogs I've read. (Sparty & Friends)
• Barry Bonds Is Hated. Jason Giambi Is Loved. Both were BALCO'd Up. What's up with that? (New York Times)
  

How'd That What To Watch For Thing Work Out For Ya?

Edinson Volquez. 1.0 IP 2 H 2 ER 18.00 ERA (BS)

Brad Lidge. 0.2 IP 2 H 1 R 1 BB 13.50 ERA (L)

Jonathan Papelbon. 1.0 IP 1 H 1 R 55,632 Boos

It's 12:44 AM (Central Time) Do You Know Where Your All-Stars Are?

To be totally honest, they're probably saying f-you to the post game press conference and heading on their private jets back to their respective teams after the 15-inning marathon ended with the American League winning 4-3, giving the Boston Red Sox...er...AL representative home-field advantage in the World Series.

Rather than give you a detailed account of the game, I'll just tell you the difference in the game (other than Dan Uggla's boo-boos, of course). The difference lie (or is it lay?) in each team's respective bullpens.

The AL had the better arms and it showed with Joe Nathan, Francisco Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria and George Sherrill all pitched without giving up a run.

That's 141 saves coming at ya. Let's see Murderer's Row hit against that.

On the other hand, Edinson Volquez, Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge combined for an ERA of 58.50.

Ouch!

Too bad most of America was asleep for all of the goodness that was extra-inning baseball for the rights to have home-field advantage in the World Series.

Who Got Snubbed?

It's easy to point out who you should be watching for in The Midsummer Classic, but it's even easier to point out who you aren't watching because they're not there.

The nominees, please.

Ryan Howard. He leads the NL with 28 homers and 84 runs batted in despite a .234 batting average. Who cares what your BA is when your OPS is .832.

Johnny Damon. I was pretty sure this guy's career was over the day he signed with the Bronx Bombers. His .387 on-base percentage is quite impressive at the top of that Yankee line-up.

John Danks. Arguably, the biggest snub in baseball was the White Sox' other "JD." Danks has a nasty 2.67 ERA, a filthy 1.15 WHIP and only seven (7!!!) wins to show for it. That from a guy who went un-drafted in almost every fantasy baseball league.

Cole Hamels. King Cole is 9-6 on the season, but has 126 punch outs, a 1.02 WHIP, a 3.15 ERA and has limited batters to a minuscule .213 batting average.

Jose Reyes. Whoudathunkit? The New York Metropolitans were saved by the quota rule (holla back, Billy Wagner). Somehow a .302 batting average, an .854 OPS and 32 swipes aren't better than Miguel Tejada's .275/.316/.423 line.

What To Watch For In Tonight's All-Star Game

Intern Bill over at The Big Lead put together a nice lil' piece breaking down the NL and AL rosters. I'll pick a few guys I'll be watching for.

Chipper Jones. Even though Larry Wayne Jones is no longer hitting .400, he's the best at the hot corner and could possibly hit a homer from each side of the plate if he gets enough ABs in the game.

Edinson Volquez. Finally, Volquez has managers that understand the definition of "pitch count." Clint Hurdle ignores Dusty Bakers advice, limiting his pitches as Volquez lives to pitch another game.

Aramis Ramirez. A-Ram loves the spot light. Whether it's making a Gold-Glove caliber play (yeah, he's a pretty damn good defender these days) or it's standing at the plate admiring a game-winning home run, The Ram might have one of each tonight.

Brad Lidge. If your name is Brad Lidge, you're thankful that Albert Pujols is on your team. If the NL has the lead going into the bottom of the ninth, I'm giving him the ball. No homo. (Did I do that right?)

Manny Ramirez. The king of admiring home runs is still admiring the walk-off shot from last year's ALDS against the Angels. I can see him doing it again at Yankee Stadium.

Mariano Rivera. The G.O.A.T. will be the guy closing it out in the top of the ninth if the AL has the lead unless....

....Jonathan Papelbon gets the nod from Tito Francona. How odd would it be to see a Red Sock picking up a save, walking off a winner at Yankee Stadium and getting a rousing ovation? Just wondering.

Milton Bradley. I can see him grabbing two hits tonight. One, a double to right-center and the other comes at the expense of a New Yorker's chin.

All-Star Game Line-Ups and Starters

Get your pencils and scorecards ready.

AL Line-Up

1: Ichiro Suzuki, RF, Mariners
2: Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
3: Josh Hamilton, CF, Rangers
4: Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees
5: Manny Ramirez, LF, Red Sox
6: Milton Bradley, DH, Rangers
7: Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox
8: Joe Mauer, C, Twins
9: Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox

Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee

NL Line-Up

1: Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
2: Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
3: Lance Berkman, 1B, Astros
4: Albert Pujols, DH, Cardinals
5: Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
6: Matt Holliday, RF, Rockies
7: Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers
8: Kosuke Fukudome, CF, Cubs
9: Geovany Soto, C, Cubs

Starting Pitcher: Ben Sheets

OK, so sometimes predictions do not go as followed. But I wasn't too far off.

I nailed Ichiro, Jeter, Youkilis, Mauer and Pedroia on the AL side. And you can flip-flop Fuku and Soto on the NL side. And I wasn't too far off on Braun or HanRam.

And I was on it with Lee and Sheets as the top candidates.

Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

With a .288 batting average 16 home runs and 56 RBIs at the All-Star Break, is Geovany Soto the best ninth hitter ever?

BREAKING: Carlos Marmol Is An All-Star!

Really. I'm not joking. No link yet, but I did hear it from George Offman and David Schuster from WSCR 670 AM moments ago.

That gives the Cubs eight (8!!!) All-Stars. That's ridiculous, but I guess deserving of the team with the best record in baseball.

The basics: Cubs closer Kerry Wood can't pitch because of a blister so Carlos Marmol will replace him.

The 70 strikeouts and 1.03 WHIP are All-Star Game worthy. The 4.13 ERA, the fact that he allowed five hits, five runs (four earned) and cost Rich Harden his first win as a Cub in Saturday's win are not All-Star worthy.

It looks like Clint Hurdle will be cheering for the AL in the World Series because it's apparent that he doesn't care if the NL gets home-field advantage.

So You Wanna Manage An All-Star Game?

Terry Francona has a pretty easy job when it comes to penciling in the Boston Red Sox' everyday line-up. But what should he do for the All-Star Game as he attempts to land home-field advantage in the World Series for his Red Sox or whoever represents the American League?

Here's what I think.

American League

1. Ichiro (.302 AVG, .360 OBP, 34 SB)
   
2. Derek Jeter (.284, 4 HR, 37 RBI)
   
3. Manny Ramirez (.278, 16, 53)
   
4. Josh Hamilton (.309, 19, 84)
   
5. Alex Rodriguez (.323, 18, 50)
   
6. Joe Mauer (.325, .415, .869 OPS)
   
7. Kevin Youkilis (.311, 13, 53)
   
8. Milton Bradley (.320, 17, 54)
   
9. Dustin Pedroia (.312, 9, 41)
   

Starting Pitcher Candidates: Cliff Lee (11-2, 99 K, 2.43 ERA), Scott Kazmir (7-3, 2.63, 75 K in 72 IP), Roy Halladay (10-6, 2.88 ERA, 113 K)

"Now pitching the top of the ninth inning..." Mariano Rivera (DUH!)

Comments: If you look at this line-up, it looks unfair. If you look at this line-up through the eyes of a stat guy, it still looks unfair. It's got power, speed and everything else you need. Manager Terry Francona has got it easy as he looks to manage the AL to another All-Star Game win.

National League

1. Alfonso Soriano (.283, 15, 40)
   
2. Hanley Ramirez (.304, 21, 43, 21 SB)
   
3. Chipper Jones (.388, 18, 50)
   
4. Albert Pujols* (.350, 18, 48)
   
5. Chase Utley (.294, 24, 67)
   
6. Ryan Braun (.284, 21, 59)
   
7. Lance Berkman (.349, 22, 69)
   
8. Geovany Soto (.289, 15, 52)
   
9. Kosuke Fukudome (.287, 7, .391 OBP)
   

Starting Pitcher Candidates: Tim Lincecum (10-1, 2.49 ERA, 122 K), Brandon Webb (12-4, 3.43 ERA, 100 K), Ben Sheets (10-2, 2.77 ERA, 97 K)

"Now pitching the bottom of the ninth inning..." Kerry Wood (22 SV, 54 K in 43.1 IP), Billy Wagner (19 SV, 2.31 ERA), Brad Lidge (19 SV/0 BLSV), 1.00 ERA)

Comments: In what will be the juiciest (on-field) storyline in the All-Star Game, Soriano will demand that he hits in the lead-off spot in the All-Star Game. Manager Clint Hurdle makes a no-brainer decision starting Pujols but putting him at first base, moving Berkman to the outfield and allowing the recuperating Soriano to be the designated hitter.

Let the debate begin!

Hey Now, You're (Not) An All-Star!

Having baseball's best record apparently doesn't get you as many All-Stars as you would think.

Baseball's All-Star teams were announced Sunday and the best team in the NL will be well represented.

Not so much for the AL's best who happen to own baseball's best record.

Lost in the news between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox' domination of the rosters and the news that C.C. Sabathia will be landing in Milwaukee very soon is the fact that the Tampa Bay Rays are sending only two All-Stars to the Midsummer Classic despite having the best record in the bigs at 55-32.

That means no Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Akinori Iwamura, Andy Sonnanstine or Troy Percival unless an injury replacement is necessary.

And that's a shame, especially if you take into consideration that the Texas Rangers are sending four players (Milton Bradley, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler and Michael Young) to the All-Star game even though they are in fourth place in the AL West with a 46-43 record.

The Chicago Cubs (53-36) will send a team-record seven players to the Bronx, including catcher Geovany Soto and outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome who were voted in by the fans to be starters.

The Boston Red Sox (52-39) also are sending seven stars to the Bronx including starters Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez. Designated Hitter David Ortiz was also voted in, but will be replaced by Milton Bradley because of injury.

But here's a question for you Rays fans, assuming that you're all not ninetysomething Floridians who fear the Internet. Are you really that disappointed?

Nowadays, the winner of the All-Star game gets home field advantage in the World Series and that might be motivation enough to hold off on stuffing the ballot box, allow yourself to think with a level head and put the best player on that team.

If you're a fan of the Rays or the White Sox (who will only send third baseman Joe Crede and outfielder Carlos Quentin), aren't you happy that home field advantage lies in the hands of A-Rod, Manny and Derek Jeter?

What if your favorite team resides in the National League? Wouldn't you rather have Lance Berkman, Chase Utley and Hanley Ramirez fighting your battle for home field for your favorite squad?

Just sayin'.