The All-Star Game from San Francisco – (8:00 PM ET – FOX)

While Tony Bennett has left his heart in San Francisco, and hundreds of thousands left something else during the hippie generation at Haight and Asbury Streets


2007-07-10

While Tony Bennett has left his heart in San Francisco, and hundreds of thousands left something else during the hippie generation at Haight and Asbury Streets, Major League Baseball is returning to celebrate with the Mid-Summer Classic. This is the first time since Ronald Reagan was about to be reelected later that summer in 1984 that the Bay Area city hosted this “treat”.

The American League has won 15 of the last 18 All-Star games, for a simple reason, talent. Looking at the starting players for each team only Jose Reyes at shortstop and Chase Utley at second base would seem to have much of an edge. This is not to say, National Leaguers have weak team on the field, rather just not the overall quality of putting an Alex Rodriguez and David Segui at the hot corners and finding three better outfielders this year than Magglio Ordondez, Ichiro Suzuki and Vlade Guerrero would be challenge for anyone.

The American League opens as a -128 MLB wagering favorite at Sportsbook.com, with the Total posted at U10, and those favoring the junior circuit on the run line having to give the 1.5 runs for a +130 payday.

The starting pitchers are veteran youngsters in Jake Peavy and Danny Haren of Oakland. The A’s ace is 10-3, with his team winning 13 of his 19 starts, collecting +5.3 units, to go along with his stellar 2.30 ERA. Peavy on the other hand is 9-3 (Padres 13-5 in his starts) with equally proficient 2.19 ERA. Oddsmakers figure Haren along with powerful line-up is reason enough to make the American League a -160 choice for the team to score first.

For the first time in five years the National League has pitchers that throw hard and have big game experience, which it has lacked in recent years. Brad Penny, Ben Sheets and Chris Young clear the way for the closers which include Billy Wagner, Trevor Hoffman and Francisco Cordero. The AL still has a full galaxy’s of stars in their own right, with John Lackey, Josh Beckett, Johan Santana and C.C. Sabathia. A great deal of comfort also is resting to finish off the NL with Frankie Rodriguez and J.J. Putz in the bullpen.

Picking a MVP winner is a crapshoot; however Barry Bonds in his home ballpark, and with Commish Bud Selig in attendance, is not the worst pick one could make.

For pure entertainment, this is the only All-Star game in which the players perform in a natural setting, pitching, catching and fielding like they always do. Fox Sports will carry all the festivities starting at 8 Eastern.

The All-Star Game from San Francisco – (8:00 PM ET – FOX) News

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