All-Star Send-off

Yankee Stadium, the House That Ruth Built, got a proper send-off.  Some of Baseball's all-time greats were honored in the pre-game festivities as was George Steinbrenner III who took the Yankees from corporate afterthought and made them great again.  Steinbrenner, in failing health, was moved to tears during his ride around the park as he delivered the cermonial first pitch baseballs.  It was a very classy ceremony and baseball and the New York Yankees should be proud of themselves.

One thing baseball should not be proud of is the late start time of the game.  Starting the festivities at 8 PM EST eliminated the young fans from seeing the completion of the game.  If I remember correctly the game itself didn't start until 8:47 PM.  Do you know any young kids who could watch more than a couple of innings?  Is it so awful to start the game at 7 PM like a normal baseball game?  Does Major League Baseball have to sell its soul to television?  Does FOX (and ESPN and Sunday nights) have to stick it to the fans who are paying for it?  Something needs to be done.  Granted, the game went 15 innings.  But it could have ended an hour earlier had the game started an hour earlier.  One day fans will feel the discomfort of being screwed so often.

Kudos to Terry Francona for replacing Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter in the middle of an inning so they could get their ovations from the home crowd.  He also brought Mariano Rivera in in the middle of an inning.  Mr. Francona deserves a standing ovation next time the Red Sox come to town.  It would only be fair and right.

Poor Dan Uggla.  This guy had the worst All-Star game ever.  He struck out three times, committed three errors and grounded into an inning ending double play.  How can you not feel sorry for this guy?

How typical is it that a Red Sox wins the MVP award in Yankee Stadium?  

In Other News:

Anyone notice that the Yankees signed Eric Milton on July 11th?  That would be the same Eric Milton that was the Yankees first round draft pick years back.  The same one that was the center-piece to bring Chuck Knoblauch over from the Twins.  According to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees official website he is now on their roster.  This is what is known as Ponson backup insurance.

It looks like the Yankees might be without Hideki Matsui for the remainder of the year.  This is very bad news for a team whose offense has been struggling all year.  Matsui was one of the few Yankees who was hitting with runners in scoring position.  With Johnny Damon out as well, the Yankees offense has really sputtered.  Two of three .300 hitters gone.  Damon is expected back soon but Matsui was on pace for a career year this year.  He will be hard to replace.  

Yankee fans can forget about Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, and even Xavier Nady.  If they didn't give up their young pitching for Johan Santana or C.C. Sabathia what makes you think their going to give them up for a bat?  Jason Bay would be a nice fit but the Pirates are asking for too much for him.  

Richie Sexson has been mentioned as a possible addition to bolster the Yankee offense.  I have to ask what is being pumped through the air conditioning at the Yankee offices.  Sexson, who was released by the dreadful Seattle Mariners, was hitting around .212 .  Just what the Yankee offense needs.  Oh, and even during Sexson's best days he struck out about 150 times a year.  Great addition.  Jeez, might as well see what Don Mattingly and Wade Boggs are up to.  I bet they can hit at least .250-60.  Why not bring up Juan Miranda who is hitting over .300 at AAA.  I'm sure he can hit at least .230.  The other question I have is where would Sexson play?  DH?  1B?  I guess Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon (when healthy) Jason Giambi, and Wilson Betemit aren't good enough.  Strange.  I really hope Brian Cashman has a plan.