MLB.COM ST. LOUIS — It was an All-Star Game full of fresh faces until the very end. And that meant a very familiar result on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.  The American League extended its unbeaten streak in the Midsummer Classic to 13 years with a 4-3 win over the National League in front of 46,860. First-time All-Stars Adam Jones and Curtis Granderson teamed up to deliver the winning run for the Junior Circuit, which will have home-field advantage in this year’s World Series, but All-Star veterans Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera brought the game home in relief.  “That’s what we came here to do,” said Rivera, who set a record with the fourth All-Star save of his magnificent career. “We came here with a mission and our mission was accomplished”.  Jones’ sacrifice fly with one out in the top of the eighth inning scored Granderson, who had tripled, for the winning run. That made a winner of Red Sox closer Papelbon, who pitched a perfect seventh despite a couple of very loud outs. The NL led early and for much of the game, but it couldn’t bring home the victory in the late innings.

How the hell can u fail to win the all-star game 13 years in a row?  I mean thats just flat out embarrassing! Is it just luck or has the American League just been that much better over past 13 seasons.  I can’t see where the A.L. could have any significant advantage over the N.L. They both have their best players from their respected leagues playing against each other it seems pretty even to me.  Maybe the A.L. takes the game more serious and personal , whereas maybe the N.L. just don’t give a shit and they look at it like if we win we win if we lose we lose.  All in all it was a pretty uneventful All-Star game where I caught myself actually fliping back and forth between the All-Star game and Deadliest Catch.  Compared to other years All-Star games I’d give it a 6 out of 10 on a rating scale.  Even though last years extra inning 10 hour all-star game fealt like it would never end it was definitely better than this years.  Maybe next year will be the year the N.L. finally gets one.  Its crazy to think the last time I saw an NL team win an All-Star game I was in 5th grade lol Better luck next year fellas.  ENJOY IT!

-ITALIAN STALLION

MLB.COM - Twenty-five minutes before his first pitch, the United States of America’s No. 1 left-hander tapped Albert Pujols on the shoulder and the two retreated to the catacombs of Busch Stadium to work on the pitcher’s fastball. “Keep it high,” Pujols offered.  Confident he was ready after a few warmpups, the president of the U.S. walked through the National League dugout, onto the field and was poised to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the 80th All-Star Game on Tuesday night.  President Barack Obama was handed the ball by Hall of Famer Stan Musial, waiting in a golf cart after a warm reception from a sellout crowd, and then it was up to the left-hander.  President Obama jogged to the pitcher’s mound wearing a Chicago White Sox warmup jacket, blue jeans and white basketball shoes — but no glove.   He looked like just another fan. I guess the leader of the free world can dress like that when his “day job” is finished for a few precious hours.

Obama’s probably going to get ripped by baseball fans around the league, because he wore the White Sox jacket to the mound on Tuesday.  Hey I don’t have a problem with it as a matter a fact I would have worn a Phillies jacket if I was in his position.  I think the message hes trying to get across is stand by what you believe in and what you care about nomatter what, he talks enough about how big of a White Soxs fan he is what better way to show it.  Hey it wasn’t game 3 of the 2001 world series first pitch ceremony, but it was still a damm good first pitch ceremony.  Good job Barack. ENJOY IT!

-ITALIAN STALLION