Tiger Geist

I wasn’t planning on watching the all-star game last night, but I got home at 9:30 (12:30 EST) and for some reason the game was still on.  And i loved the three or so innings that I saw:

• At that point, the players and pitchers had settled down.  Great defense (minus Uggla, who seems to be the ‘Miguel Cabrera playing third base’ version of a second baseman), great sportsmanship, great strategy (sacrafices, intentional walks, etc).  Neither team wanted to lose the game.
• Love the slide by Morneau.  He runs like an elephant.  A very very slow elephant.
• Love the slide sign (down, to your right!) by Carlos Quinton, the on-deck batter.  Maybe its just the angle of the camera that showed it, but the little fundamentals that the great ones do make you really appreciate that game.  Again, maybe every player does that, but remembering the little things (even when you aren’t involved in the play or even on the field, like Quentin at the time), even in an all-star game, makes these guys all-stars.
• They said they would have gone with emergency pitchers;  I wonder if Francona had thought about just throwing the game.
• Loved the enthusiasm by the AL team after winning;  nice hugs for Leyland.
• Love the nonchalant manner of Michael Young, after hitting the winning sac fly.  In the Barry Sanders mold of “pretend you’ve been there before”… Young has been there before, winning the 2006 all-star game with a triple in the top of the ninth.
• Love the throw and attempted tag on Morneau… a tad late, but great attempt.
• Love the Umpire getting the call right
• Wonder if the Umpire would have called ’safe’ just to get everyone out of there.

Overally, I don’t think its fair that this decides home field advantage, but I do like how the game felt like it meant something to the players.  Unlike the NHL, NBA or the ghastly NFL pro bowl, the players had pride.