Representing

David Wright and Carlos Beltran were impressive in the All-Star game and watching Wright go deep on his first at-bat and Beltran steal third only to score on a wild pitch warmed my cockles. If fans around the league didn't believe the Mets were for real, they do now because of how the team was represented and they still missed Reyes. Last night's game was also one of the best pitched ones I've ever seen (or maybe worst offensive displays). There may be a lot of mediocrity in this league when it comes to pitching and not much in between the large group of mediocre pitchers and the small group of elite pitchers, but the good ones are just sick. Just think of the arms that did not get into the game on the American League side of things in Francisco Liriano and Jon Papelbon.

Wright and Beltran looked like they were going to control the game and power the National League to victory which would have been fitting since they will make it to the World Series, but Trevor Hoffman's blown save in the ninth was the final nail in the coffin. Homefield advantage goes to the American League again. Not much you can do about that I do not have a good suggestion of how they should actually determine homefield in the World Series, but it should not be decided on the All-Star game winner. The previous method of switching the homefield advantage from league to league every year was OK and simply choosing whomever has the best record to have homefield has it's flaws, but either one of those seems better than what is currently in place.

Joe Sheehan had some interesting observations in his All-Star Game Diary, but one was particularly interesting.

One last Ozzie note: he used two of his manager's selections on Mark Buehrle and Bobby Jenks, then didn't put either into the game, while at the same time using the best pitcher on a division rival who started and went seven on Sunday.

I'm just saying.

After all of that, he just wanted to make some of his players All-Stars just so they can say they were All-Stars and not because he was going to use them. Just really, really weird. The homefield advantage is a minor gripe compared to the manager getting to fill in the roster with players from his own team. Seeing the endless line of White Sox on the team was plain ridiculous. The sooner they figure out that this just does not work, the sooner the All-Star game will be slightly better.

* * *

One of the biggest Olympic flops is going to try his hand at baseball.

Miller has signed a one-game contract to play for the Nashua Pride of the independent CanAm League, ESPN reported on Monday.

I guess he's not so bad after all.

Looks like Ted Robinson had a new gig.

For two years, I watched, frequently in frustration, as Reyes swung wildly, and barely brushed the .300 on-base percentage mark.

Last year, a new hitting coach arrived. Rick Down told Reyes he had one responsibility: swing at strikes. Don't worry about walks, ignore on-base percentage, and forget about being another Rickey Henderson.

Now, Reyes is the National League's All-Star shortstop, leading the league in runs scored (still the essential number in the game), and stolen bases, and second in hits.

And, in one way, he has become the next Rickey Henderson. Once on base, he is the most disruptive force in baseball. And no one knows or should care about his OBP.

Well said.

What horrible parents.

Words not necessary.

I truly hate this argument.

In 462 at-bats in the postseason, Jeter has a .307 average. Reyes has no such experience. None.

The gap between A-Rod and Wright is just as telling. The Yankees third baseman has a .305 average over 118 at-bats in the postseason. Wright may have won the New York war in the All-Star Game, but he's still waiting to make his first plate appearance in October.

Big whoop. They have not had a chance to be there and do it. Jeter is otherworldly in terms of his clutch ability so will Reyes get there? Probably not. As for Wright vs. A-Rod, what has A-Rod done in the post-season? If you are actually talking about winning not just today and tomorrow, but long enough for a modern-day dynasty like Klapisch's original question, you go with Wright and Reyes. It's a no brainer.

Scott Kazmir certainly looked like baseball's elite yesterday and apparently Alex Rodriguez called him one of the top five pitchers in the league. When he hits free agency, you know the Yankees are going to be big players for him. If he lands there, I might go crazy.

Update:
Que?

Alex Rodriguez, wearing white shoes in tribute to his mid-'80s Mets heroes, went 0-for-2 and dribbled a ball on defense.

First, how do you dribble a ball on defense? I've heard of bobbling, but not dribbling.

Second, I had no idea that is the reason he wore those silly shoes. Did the mid-80's Mets wear white shoes or something? I'm missing how it shoes tribute to them. Does ugly shoes = the NY Mets? If that's the case, I see tons of people showing tribute to them daily. If someone can shed light on this, please do.