The Home Run Derby has come and gone, with its own set of strange circumstances and poorly handled situations (I mean, come on, there wasn't anyone other than Ozuna that they could've picked?), and now, we're looking at the main event, the big ticket show.
Ah, the All-Star game. An exhibition that has lost a lot of meaning and charm over the years, with the league adopting universal uniforms for each league instead of letting players wear their personal team's respective jerseys (a necessary evil because interleague is fun), and World Series home field advantage not being in play anymore (it was silly but at least it gave the game some meaning).
That said, here are some out-of-left-field (yikes, sorry) predictions for the Midsummer Classic.
No. 1) The National Anthem won't be as bad as the Home Run Derby's
It's a lukewarm prediction to lead us off, but good gracious. I thought people were harsh before listening, but I tried and failed to get through the whole thing.
Reminiscent of Fergie's strange performance in the NBA All-Star game a few years ago (what is it with All-Star game anthems?), country artist Ingrid Andress delivered a stirring rendition of our nation's anthem that left a lasting impression.
That's as nice as I can be. I'll give her a break, because she's getting roasted enough, I'm sure she doesn't need another random blogger taking a shot at her. Go listen and read between the lines.
No. 2) The All-Star Game Will End in a Tie
Hey, I know this one's super unlikely, but that's showbiz, baby, gotta come up with something hot-takey to say about this otherwise dull event.
Everyone in America dreads the tie because of America's frustrating unwillingness to declare a winner and because other countries hold it over our heads with stupid soccer results. (I actually have really gotten into soccer recently but still can't quite grasp the concept of not having a team come out on top.)
But the All-Star game has a precedent for it, and I don't doubt that managers of both teams would be excited to exercise that right to avoid using pitchers other teams have asked to be left alone.
No. 3) Willi Castro will win All-Star Game MVP
Am I grasping at straws here, hoping he'll win so I can get another switch-hitter for my MLB The Show Diamond Dynasty lineup? Perhaps. [Editors Note: this is 100% the reason you cheer for this outcome]
But these types of predictions could not be more of a crap shoot; last year's winner was Rockies catcher Elias Diaz who, no disrespect to a quality backstop, was not likely the first name that came to mind when people thought of potential winners, even though with his late-game big fly he was clearly deserving.
Castro has a few things going for him: he's elite defensively anywhere you put him, he's a decent baserunner, and he can hit for a bit of pop as well as hit for some decent average (because no one's going to win this award if they walk a couple of times).
So he has a chance to either get the Diaz version by going yard, getting a big hit, or going the Carl Crawford route by winning via a spectacular defensive play. I will say it's the latter because if the game ends in a tie like I think it will, there's probably not a big hit that would clinch this award for anyone.
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