by
Greek Giant
I really love this list of Giants in the All Star Game over on Baseball Reference. It’s a great read. Today is the day of the 2022 Mid-Summer Classic, to be played in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. Growing up I used to love the All Star Game. We had a family tradition: I would order Sicilian pizza and my parents and I would watch the game, hoping always the National League would win. Back in those days, the 1970s and 1980s, when I was still a boy with Big League Dreams and Little League talents I used to hang on every pitch. I remember vividly Dave Parker’s throw and Gary Carter’s tag in 1979.
Look how deep Parker was playing!!!
I remember too the 2012 game where Melky was the MVP, Pablo had a big hit and Matt Cain got the win. It was a fabulous night for our beloved Giants.
Here is a list of ten great All Star Games MLB put together.
Today the All Star Game has devolved into a display of vanity, showmanship, humor and frolics. In other words: It’s a joke.
Somehow we went from Pete Rose taking out Ray Fosse
to players taking selfies at the plate with the umps.
It’s a disgrace to the game. The All Star Game used to be a competitive game and one with intensity where every player played for the pride of his League. No more.
Alas, if I were Commissioner this is what I would do:
- Make every player watch the Fosse-Rose Collision and the 1979 game.
- Make the game count financially so the winners get big bucks and the losers do not.
- Make it so the players understand the history.
- Stop the cel phone and posing nonsense.
- Take and Manage the games seriously.
- Get rid of the idea that every player has to play.
- Manage the pitching staff like the 7th game of the World Series.
- Provide an All Star Game championship trophy to the winner and make it big and make it impressive, like the Stanley Cup. Let each player on the winning team take it home for a few days and fondle it, instagram it to death and selfie it til the cows come home.
I don’t mind the Home Run Derby however. It’s fun. Juan Soto won the 2022 edition last night.
Ok, Now I feel better.
Giants In the 2022 Game
Joc Pederson is a starter. Carlos Rodon is sitting out the game due to a blister issue, that sounds like he cares F-ck all about the game and just wants to rest. I don’t blame him. I respect that decision if that’s what it comes down to.
Game time is 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern.
Here are the rosters:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Elected starters
C: Alejandro Kirk (TOR)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Jose Altuve (HOU)*
3B: Rafael Devers (BOS)
SS: Tim Anderson (CWS)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)*
OF: Giancarlo Stanton (NYY)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Legacy selection
DH: Miguel Cabrera (DET)
Reserves
C: Jose Trevino (NYY)
1B: Luis Arraez (MIN)
1B: Ty France (SEA)+
2B: Andrés Giménez (CLE) — will start with Altuve sidelined
2B: Santiago Espinal (TOR)+
3B: José Ramírez (CLE)
SS: Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
SS: Corey Seager (TEX)+
OF: Byron Buxton (MIN) — will start with Trout sidelined
OF: Kyle Tucker (HOU)
OF: George Springer (TOR)*
OF: Andrew Benintendi (KC)
OF: Julio Rodríguez (SEA)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)*
DH: J.D. Martinez (BOS)+
Starting pitchers
LHP: Shane McClanahan (TB)
RHP: Justin Verlander (HOU)*
RHP: Alek Manoah (TOR)
LHP: Nestor Cortes (NYY)
RHP: Gerrit Cole (NYY)*
RHP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
RHP: Paul Blackburn (OAK)
LHP: Martín Pérez (TEX)
LHP: Framber Valdez (HOU)
Relievers
RHP: Clay Holmes (NYY)
RHP: Emmanuel Clase (CLE)
RHP: Jorge López (BAL)
LHP: Gregory Soto (DET)
RHP: Liam Hendriks (CWS)+
RHP: Jordan Romano (TOR)+
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Elected starters
C: Willson Contreras (CHC)
1B: Paul Goldschmidt (STL)
2B: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA)*
3B: Manny Machado (SD)
SS: Trea Turner (LAD)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Joc Pederson (SF)
OF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
DH: Bryce Harper (PHI)*
Legacy selection
1B: Albert Pujols (STL)
Reserves
C: Travis d’Arnaud (ATL)
1B: Pete Alonso (NYM)
1B: C.J. Cron (COL)
1B: Freddie Freeman (LAD)+
2B: Jeff McNeil (NYM) — will start with Chisholm sidelined
2B: Jake Cronenworth (SD)+
3B: Nolan Arenado (STL)*
3B: Austin Riley (ATL)+
SS: Dansby Swanson (ATL)
OF: Kyle Schwarber (PHI)
OF: Starling Marte (NYM)*
OF: Ian Happ (CHC)
OF: Juan Soto (WSH)
DH: William Contreras (ATL) — will start with Harper sidelined
DH: Garrett Cooper (MIA)+
Starting pitchers
RHP: Sandy Alcantara (MIA)
RHP: Corbin Burnes (MIL)*
RHP: Joe Musgrove (SD)
LHP: Max Fried (ATL)*
RHP: Tony Gonsolin (LAD)
RHP: Luis Castillo (CIN)
LHP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
LHP: Carlos Rodón (SF)*
LHP: Tyler Anderson (LAD)+
RHP: Miles Mikolas (STL)+
Relievers
LHP: Josh Hader (MIL)*
RHP: Edwin Díaz (NYM)
RHP: Ryan Helsley (STL)
RHP: David Bednar (PIT)
LHP: Joe Mantiply (ARI)
RHP: Devin Williams (MIL)+
Go National League!