2008 MLB All-Star Game Liveblog

Pregame:
-- I thought being here in person would spare me the annoyance that is Joe Buck, but no, he's on the P.A. for the player introductions.
-- During the N.L. intros, there's no contest: Soriano received the grandest ovation and David Wright beat out Sweet Lou for biggest boo.
-- Obviously, we all know who was booed during the A.L. intros, but the ovation for Rivera was deafening. And, of course, the bleachers had to erupt into chants of "Mar-i-an-o."
-- What's with the satin curtain thing the HOFers came out of? It's like something out of a bad high school theater production.
-- So, is every single one of these pitchers really going to throw out a first pitch?
-- At this point, I'm estimating first pitch sometime around 9:20 ET. This all seems kinda silly, really.
-- Boggs' demand to be trotted from the outfield to third base on horseback was clearly denied.
-- The ovation for Derek Jeter during this whole legends ceremony, or whatever this is, was the loudest I've ever heard a baseball stadium. Granted, I'm use to attending games featuring losing ballclubs, but still.
-- BREAKING NEWS (I think): Hot from the hands of the MLB PR girl in our section, Tim Lincecum will not play tonight. He has a touch of the flu.
-- Proof that Yankees fans hate everything: They actually booed the Canadian national anthem.
-- Stealth bombers kick ass. That is all.
-- Whoever went to the party supply store and bought projective steamers instead of fireworks ought to be fired.

-- All right, it looks like we might be getting ready for actual baseball. And just a hair under 9 p.m.

First Inning

-- The Bleacher Bums put together a special All-Star edition of the roll call. Video to come shortly. In the meantime, Cliff Lee has a perfect game going.

-- UPDATE: And here's the video of the roll call:

-- Ichiro pops out in his first AB, but it's worth noting that the legend of his batting practice is true: He drops bombs. I saw him hit six out of 10 swings over the fence, including two into the upper deck and two deep into the bleachers.

-- Jeter hits a single, steals second, but once again, that worthless no-talent A-Rod can't drive him in. What a bum.

Second Inning

-- Chipper Jones breaks up the no-no and perfect game. While we're here, why are people still talking about him possibly hitting .400? Dude's batting .376.

-- And the racial slurs have already started being hurled from the bleachers in Ichiro's direction as he stands in right field.

-- Despite obviously wanting the A.L. to win (even though the whole home field ad. thing won't apply to Yankees fans this year), they still cheer a Manny strikeout.

-- And we're through two innings of scoreless baseball. Where are the 'roids when you need 'em?

Third Inning

-- Exit Cliff Lee, enter Joe Saunders. Lee gives up one hit, no runs. Lame.

-- Bringing Sarah Jessica Parker onto the field between innings was a great idea. The only thing sports fans love more than baseball is Sex and the City.

-- Exit Been Sheets, enter Big Z. Sheets also gives up one hit, no runs.

-- Jeter hits into a double play. I crack my first big smile of the evening.

-- Josh Hamilton goes from hitting balls 500+ feet last night to not getting them out of the infield tonight. It's scoreless after three. Uneventful, for sure, but maybe we'll get back to the hotel before midnight. So there's that.

Fourth Inning

-- I'm just now realizing why I always drink beer when I come to baseball games. Unfortunately, that sort of thing is frowned upon in the media section. Booze sure would make this slugfest more interesting.

-- Ichiro's cannon temporarily livens things up. The bleachers go from racial slurs to chants of "Ich-i-ro."

-- Jeter hit into a DP and now A-Rod strikes out. Way to put on a show, boys.

-- Milton Bradley reaches on an error and is subsequently picked off by Zambrano. This marks the most thrilling moments of the game thus far. I like pitching and all, but this is the All-Star game. Let's get some runs.

Fifth Inning

-- In case you were wondering, when you video tape the bleachers section from up here in the second level (Loge level), they encourage you to commit suicide by chanting "jump, jump, jump!"Two more scoreless innings, and I'm going to follow their orders.

-- YES! I don't have to kill myself! Matt Holliday goes yard, hitting a bomb right at us (but about 80 feet short of our seats). 1-0 National League, who I'm secretly rooting for because I can't stand to see Yankees fans happy.

-- A-Rod is pulled for a defensive replacement (Joe Crede) mid-inning. We assume this was to give the crowd a chance to applaud him. All seven people who did so seemed quite pleased with No. 13's showing tonight. If that was Jeter being replaced, this place would've gone crazy. They love overrated ballplayers.

-- Ichiro amazingly strikes out, but here comes Jeter to be the hero (or, at least, tie the game) with two on and two out ...

-- Jeter finally grounds out to end the inning after watching what appeared to be strike three go by ... twice. Or at least, it looked that way from where I'm sitting:

Sixth Inning

-- Just as predicted: Jeter is lifted for a defensive replacement mid-inning and the crowd goes nuts. Again, when this happened with A-Rod, I'm not sure anyone even noticed.

-- A.L. ineptitude continues. It's 2-0, N.L. after six.

Seventh Inning

-- First Sarah Jessica Parker, and now some Village People impersonators. Am I still at a ballgame or did I make a wrong turn somewhere?

-- I guess that Josh Groban guy has a good voice, I mean, he'd totally win American Idol, but what happened to the NYC cop guy that used to always do it? He was much better, and kept it short and to the point.

-- I was waiting all night to see how to crowd would react to a Red Sox player doing good. The result: They went crazy for J.D. Drew's two-run bomb. But shortly after, let him know that he still sucks (see video below). These Yanks fans are so confused as to what to do here, I'm afraid their little heads are gonna explode. After seven innings, we're tied at 2.

Eighth Innning

-- And here comes Papelbon to a chorus of boos. Looks like he won't be closing, as if that was ever even in question.

-- Now, they're taunting their "own player" (Papelbon) with chants of "Mar-i-ano" and "over-rated." Again: These are some very confused people here.

-- N.L. takes the lead on an error and a sac fly. So, right now, Papelbon is the losing pitcher of record. I think the fans here would be more pleased with that than a win.

-- Longoria ties it with a double and we're bound for extra innings. If that is indeed the case, I'll be finishing this liveblog from a bar across the street.

Ninth Inning

-- K-Rod walks the lead-off batter. Mariano is still warming up in the pen. If the N.L. takes the lead here, there's a good chance Rivera isn't getting in this game. And I don't feel like being in the middle of a riot, so, um, I hope the N.L. doesn't score right now.

-- And 10 seconds after I typed that, they've put him in the game.

-- After that strike 'em out/throw 'em out, the entire stadium is chanting Mariano's name while FOX is in a commercial break. (I know this because the media gets TVs in front of them.)

-- Alright, the only fitting ending here is a walk-off from Drew, giving Mariano the win. ...

-- Or not. And we're set for free baseball. I didn't sign up for this much liveblogging.

Tenth Inning

-- Okay, an even better scenario for Yankee haters such as myself: Mariano gets the loss. All we need is a sac fly and it could come true.

-- And a double play gets them out of it. I think that's about the fifth prediction/scenario I've completely whiffed on. At least things are interesting now, though.

-- Bases loaded, no outs, Sizemore up. Hopefully we're going home soon, folks. It's past our bed time.

-- I'm wrong again. Three groundballs right at people with the bases loaded and no outs against Aaron Freakin' Cook. Some All-Stars we got here.

Eleventh Inning

-- In hindsight, liveblogging was a bad choice.

-- Oh, I almost forgot: Happy Humpday, everyone. 

-- We're in the bottom of the 11th and people are starting to clear out. Well, in every section except the bleachers. I think this is mostly due to the fact that they don't have jobs. We're stuck here for the long haul, however:

After that amazing play at the play it is official: This game is never ending. (We call this the reverse jinx. By having said that, it will indeed end at some point this week.)

Twelfth Inning

It's well past midnight, the stadium is clearing out, but this is still the scene in the bleachers:

-- As much as I'd love for this to end at some point, I'm also an O's fan, so watching Sherrill K Gonzalez on three pitches with the bases loaded was my personal highlight. Thought you'd like to know that. Sorry, little loopy, brahs.

-- Wow, Carlos Guillen hits it high off the wall. This game can't stop, won't stop.

Thirteenth Inning

-- So, are they showing Bud Selig on the television crapping his pants? Cause I can't see him from my seat.

-- I'd like to formally submit my endorsement of the blimp operator as the hardest working person at the game this evening. That thing has been circling the stadium since around 6PM.

-- After Uggla's thrid(!) error of the night, the crowd is going with a "hit the ball to Uggla" chant. Not their best work, but it is one in the morning.

-- It's late and we're trying to stay entertained, so let us start considering possible MVPs. As it stands, I think you have to go Aaron Cook in the N.L. (3 IPs, 4 hits, 0 runs) and J.D. Drew in the A.L. for his two-run, game-tying homer. Anyone care to chime in, assuming someone else is still awake and reading this.

-- This is officially the longest All-Star game (time, not innings) ever. God hates me.

Fourteenth Inning

-- They're playing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame again." I am so taking Friday off this week.

Fifteenth Inning

-- Alright, the A.L's last pitcher, Scott Kazmir, is in the game. I say he has about four innings in him before they go to a position player.

-- The man in the PA system that only us special media types can hear has informed us of another new record: 33 strikeouts in one All-Star game.

-- The N.L. has just brought in their last pitcher, Brad Lidge. As much as I'd love to get some sleep tonight, it would be awesome to see them go to position players.

-- Also, McCaan is pinch hitting now. He is the last available player for either team.

-- The bleacher fans seem to be as delirious as the rest of us. They're chanting "let's go Yankees" just for S's and giggles.

-- 2,000 words, 15 and a half innings and 5 and a half hours later, it's over! Thank you, Michael Young. Your 2008 All-Star Game winner is the American League, 4-3 over the N.L.

Post-Game

-- It's 1:45AM, which can only mean one thing: It's time for the presentation of the Ted Williams MVP award, or whatever it's called. That fans booed the trophy as it was brought out, I assume because of its name.

-- As predicted by your truely (no big deal), your MVP is J.D. Drew. BOOOOOOOOO!

-- Okay, it's been fun (really, it was, despite any of my bitching), but we are outta here. Good night morning.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.