2009 All Star Game St Louis tonight

[Barry Izbak]

With Five TV sadly not showing baseball anymore, the mid summer classic will have far fewer following the game tonight in St Louis.

I'm going to have to make the effort (on mlbtv) even if I end up feeling like sh1t tomorrow, because this could be the year that the National League actually win. They haven't managed that since 1996, which - in a two horse race - is a bit like Oxford losing the boat race 12 years on the trot - albeit with one tie.

The reason for my confidence this year is Albert Pujols. The best player in baseball this year is taking part on his home ground and this bloke writes his own script so look out for him to win it for the NL.

 

[Johnny Crumplin Football]

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is on a bit of a hot streak so will be interesting to see how he does. Come on AL!

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Never understood the appeal of American Allstar games, sure there's the cream of the crop on show, but the result is surely an irrrelevance. Would anyone over here pay to watch a match between the best players from, say, the northern Premier League teams against a team of players drawn from Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs etc.?

 

[Munkfish]

Is there anywhere to get the Baseball on British Tv now? i bloody loved baseball on 5! i see it on ESPN but im not subscribed to that.

 

[Herm]

I'm still going to have to go with the AL. As a Red Sox fan I can't see the NL getting near Pedroia, Beckett, Youkilis or Bay not to mention the other huge talent in the AL squad.

 

[Herm]

Just looking through starting line-up, and as much as I HATE him Derek Jeter is always a threat. Teixeira and Suzuki are very dangerous too. Best of luck to the NL though.

 

[itszamora]

Never understood the appeal of American Allstar games, sure there's the cream of the crop on show, but the result is surely an irrrelevance. Would anyone over here pay to watch a match between the best players from, say, the northern Premier League teams against a team of players drawn from Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs etc.?

I agree with your point about football here, but it's a bit different in America. Because of the rules on salaries and the draft etc all the teams are reasonably evenly matched, and usually no one team is dominant for a great length of time. It also means that every team has one or two great players, and other role players who support them. That's quite different to football here, where the top sides are all packed with world-class players. Hence in America the only time they get to see all the best players on show (and they have different conferences/leagues to conveniently form two sides) is at an All-Star game.

 

[Simster]

I agree with your point about football here, but it's a bit different in America. Because of the rules on salaries and the draft etc all the teams are reasonably evenly matched, and usually no one team is dominant for a great length of time. It also means that every team has one or two great players, and other role players who support them. That's quite different to football here, where the top sides are all packed with world-class players. Hence in America the only time they get to see all the best players on show (and they have different conferences/leagues to conveniently form two sides) is at an All-Star game.

It's still meaningless, ultimately. No one really cares what the result is.

 

[B45YUN1]

there is a bit of a significance as the winning division of the all star game gets home advantage in the world series.

As a cardinals fan im so glad its at busch stadium and pujols can get the reception he deserve, as well as yady ofcoure, but as a player of baseball myself some of the stuff that pujols does is just unbelievable...

 

[Igor Gurinovich?]

It's still meaningless, ultimately. No one really cares what the result is.

even the yanks are questioning it themselves, there was a front page article on SportsIllustrated yesterday questioning the level of interest..

 

[Lethargic]

Went to Fenway Park last week for the Sunday game against Seattle on Independence weekend and have to say I was pleasantly surprised how enjoyable it was. The commercialisation of the whole affair was an eye opener and a bit overboard but didnt stop my enjoyment. Boston have 5/6 players in the All stars game and even they did not seem too bothered so I guess its one for the arm chair fan.

ps Worn my Albion polo shirt to the event to spread the word!

 

[Seagulltonian]

Never understood the appeal of American Allstar games, sure there's the cream of the crop on show, but the result is surely an irrrelevance. Would anyone over here pay to watch a match between the best players from, say, the northern Premier League teams against a team of players drawn from Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs etc.?

It's like the Community Shield, only much more massive!!

I think a North Allstar game vs. South Allstar game could be a laugh. Have 5 players for each team from the Prem, 2 from the champ, 2 from the 1st, 2 from the 2nd. Could be interesting

 

[Pavilionaire]

The AL appear to have the better starting line-up and they shade the pitching but there will be so many changes it is a lottery.

 

[Turkey]

I'll have to watch this online tonight. Looking forward to it

 

[B45YUN1]

its on espn america which i think is now free after the setanta collapse... Channel 417 on sky