Re-cap of Weekend; Mid-Summer Classic

Today marks a great day for me. It’s the first time I’m going to watch an MLB All-Star Game. I know, it sounds silly, being ridiculously excited to watch a game on television that’s more for show than anything else. But to me, it’s a day in my baseball-loving history. Whatever happens tonight, I’ll take with me through the years to come when I watch future All-Star Games.

Leading up to this day has been a very eventful weekend. Last Friday night, the San Francisco Giant’s Jonathan Sanchez pitched the team’s first no-hitter since 1976. Watching him put his hands up in triumph after the last strikeout was amazing. Watching him hug his father immediately afterwards was incredibly touching. Yes, I am a true-Blue Dodger fan, but ultimately I am a true Baseball fan, and watching history unfold in front of my eyes is something I’ll always keep close to heart.

Also over the weekend, the Angels were able to sweep the red hot New York Yankees, quietly showing the world that the Halos are going to make the entire AL fight for October.

I saw that a 38 year old, 3 time Cy Young Award winner and an 8 time selected All Star Game player who quietly exited the world of baseball in 2008 was not ready to leave it for good. Although analysts and scouts understand that this is not the same Pedro Martinez who consistently threw high-90 fastballs who won the AL Triple Crown in 1999, there’s still something in this old dog that even the defending World Champions need.

I watched the Dodgers continue to lead the league in wins. They’ve consistently struggled with pitching and manufacturing runs, but they’ve consistently compensated. After fighting through inter-league play and losing back to back series against the White Sox and Mariners, I said that the Dodgers had to win in July to prove they can make it to October. In July they were to face the red hot Rockies, the Mets who were behind the Phillies in the NL East, the Brewers who were right behind the Cards in the NL Central. So far, they’ve taken 2 out of 3 of each series they’ve faced.

It was great to see the Dodgers win over the Brewers, who have been playing very well and are playing tug-of-war with the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. Clayton Kershaw got his groove in the rubber match, going scoreless until the 7th. Brad Ausmus, the back up catcher, in the same game going yard to help with the win. Orlando Hudson, slumping in the month of June and into July with a less than stellar batting average, hitting the ball out of the park twice.

Another great highlight of the weekend was Matt Kemp’s grand slam in the 10th inning against the Brewers to take the W in extra innings. Equally impressive was Pablo Sandoval’s 3-run homerun against the Padres (the same night Sanchez got the nono). Both plays were on the same day Jayson Werth was chosen to replace Carlos Beltran in the All-Star Game, when both players were rumored to take Beltran’s place. I wasn’t upset about it, as my brothers were (who are big fans of Panda). I knew that sometime in the future, both Matt Kemp and Pablo Sandoval would make it to an All-Star Game on their own merits, not as substitutions. Both are so young (Kemp, 24 and Sandoval, 22) and if they stay healthy, will undoubtedly make it on their own.

So the talk all of yesterday was the Home Run Derby. I was at the gym catching some of the highlights in between sets. I thought it was amazing how it definitely was Pujol’s stadium. Everyone wearing a Cardinals shirt was there for him. My favorite quote of the night:

“And Albert Pujols hits it into the St. Louis night.”

Moments like that are the reason I’m in love with baseball. It’s more than a hobby, it’s more than obsession, it’s love. I still tear up when I’m listening to XM Radio and they have a clip of Harry Kalas calling the World Series. It’s got to be love, I’m a Dodger fan willing to root for Tim Lincecum, killer of Dodgers (next to Cole Hamels) so that the NL (who ever it may be) secures home field advantage because since 1997, they just haven’t been able to do it.

And so it’s 2 hours until my first All Star Game. I’m as giddy as a little kid waiting for their favorite afternoon television show. So here’s the end of my rant, I apologize for the lack of any kind of structure in this entry. But that’s the nice thing about blogs, it’s whatever you want it to be.