Wednesday, July 14, 2010

2009 Topps Heritage #222 Charlie Manuel MG

NL All-Stars 3, AL All-Stars 1
All-Star Game - Tuesday Night, July 13th in Anaheim

Charlie Manuel's National League All-Star squad won for the first time since 1996, ensuring home field advantage in the World Series for the senior circuit. It was a pitcher's dual for most of the night, as both teams were held at bay by the Majors' most dominant pitchers. The big blow was Brian McCann's 3-run double in the 7th, scoring Matt Holliday and former Phillies Scott Rolen and Marlon Byrd. Byrd also made one of the defensive plays of the games, throwing out David Ortiz at 2nd for the key 2nd out in the bottom of the 9th.

The Phillies' All-Stars had a quiet night. I thought Chase Utley, voted to start at 2nd for the NL All-Stars, would have made an appearance in Anaheim, but he was no where to be found during the pre-game introductions. Ryan Howard, the starting DH for the NL, went 0 for 2. He struck out swinging in the 1st against the Rays' David Price.

New Ranger Cliff Lee entered to pitch in the 4th, and Tim McCarver, for some reason while interviewing AL manager Joe Girardi, felt the need to discuss the fact that Lee had rented Jamie Moyer's house in Seattle. Lee got Howard to ground to second to end the 4th, and the slugger's night was over. (He was on-deck in the 6th when Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to end the inning.)

Roy Halladay faced three batters and threw 17 pitches in the 6th. He allowed a single to Derek Jeter, struck out Paul Konerko swinging and allowed a single to Josh Hamilton before being lifted for Matt Capps.

2010 All-Star Game JimFest: Jenna outdid herself this year, bringing home BJ Roasters' wings (South Jersey's best, in my humble opinion) for our All-Star Game feast. For the 10th year in a row, I kept score during the All-Star Game. I don't get a chance to keep score at Phillies games much any more (given the current toddler challenges), so it was nice to break out the old score book for a night.

2010 Chachi Set: I'll be adding All-Star cards for Manuel, Utley, Howard and Halladay to this year's Chachi set. The 1974 Topps All-Star cards feature both AL and NL counterparts at each position on the same card. I'm going to combine the four Phillies on two cards, since I'm not about to put stinkin' Joe Girardi in my baseball card set.

Go National League!

4 comments:

deal said...

kudos for scoring the All-Star Game - I think I would try and find any other game to score. all those substitutions!!!

Good W - The last time the NL won I was at the gaem and in my 20s. now I am on the edge of my mid-40s.

Jim said...

The subs are tough, but it's worse when they play at an NL park and the pitcher bats. I usually run out of lines on the scorecard and need to go up the side.

I was at the '96 All-Star Game too. I hope it gets back to Philly one of these years!

Section 36 said...

Very impressive scoring the all-star game. I didn't even dare do it when I was at the one in Fenway. Nicely done.

I loved Girardi's reaction to McCarver's Moyer question. Like, what am I supposed to do with that Tim?

I guess it's a good thing the Red Sox keep sweeping the World Series. Home field doesn't come in to play.

Jim said...

At this point, I just hope the Phils make the Postseason!