All-Star Game Live Blog - 7/14/15

5:11	Paul Swydan: i everybody! Tonight, the FanGraphs After Dark chat is hereby replaced by the All-Star Game Live Blog! My goal is to get started around 7:15 pm, so we have time to chat before first pitch.

5:12	Paul Swydan: So tune back in around that time. If I’m not here, know that it’s only because I’m trying to wrangle the children into their pajamas. Until then, I’ll get some polls going. See you soon!

5:14	Paul Swydan: American League

5:15	Paul Swydan: American League

5:16	Paul Swydan: All-Star Game

5:26	Paul Swydan: Mookie Betts

5:46	Paul Swydan: Manny Machado

5:46	Paul Swydan: Revised top five poll. Good comment by Pirates Hurdles.

5:54	Paul Swydan: Yes (say who in comments)

7:10	Paul Swydan: “Actually, Frank’s pretty big everywhere.” – Pete Rose on Frank Thomas

7:10	Paul Swydan: He’s not wrong. Frank Thomas still has the largest human head I’ve seen in person.

7:11	Paul Swydan: Still getting set up, but couldn’t let that one slide. Back in a few.

7:22	Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this.

7:23

Comment From disillusioned youth
I was at the infamous tie game. As the game ended and the roar of discontent grew louder, the PA announcer declared that the Ted Williams All-Star MVP Award would go to: The Pitchers. But MLB took back that decision, apparently realizing they couldn’t hand out 20 Corvettes, nor did they want to compound their terrible decision with an even more terrible one–that is, until the home field advantage idea won over a majority of the league’s marketing executives and approximately 0 fans.

7:24	Paul Swydan: This seems like a good place to start. I have to say though, I would have loved to see them give out 20 Corvettes. OR even better, just have a royal rumble for the one Corvette.

7:25	Paul Swydan: Looking back, Joe Torre only getting 0.1 IP from Zito was the death blow. http://www.baseball-referen…

7:25	Paul Swydan: Zito is always good for like 6 innings.

7:27	Comment From Zen Madman Or slice a Corvette like a cake into 20 pieces.

7:28	Comment From Da Bear 20 Hot Wheels Corvettes would be what, 40 bucks out of the marketing budget?

7:30	Paul Swydan: Oh man, I thought first pitch was 7:30. Ugh.

7:30	Paul Swydan: Let’s do some poll comments.

7:30	Comment From hscer I’m counting New Horizons pinging back earth as “some sort of alien invasion” which will postpone at least my attention to the game for a while.

7:30	Paul Swydan: As usual, hscer is over my head.

7:30	Comment From Paul Given the recent increase in severe weather due to global warming, I think postponement due to sharknado is the most likely outcome tonight.

7:30	Paul Swydan: Totally fair.

7:31	Comment From @OutfieldGrass24 Mr. Paul Goldschmidt is the man I’ll be watching. Hoping the NL goes 1-2-3 in the first so I get to watch him face King Felix, which is like some kind of personal fantasy.

7:31	Paul Swydan: I’m surprised they’ve never faced each other before.

7:31	Comment From Matt Machado would be top #3 if you aren’t aren’t hyper concerned about his injuries. He is in the Trout/Harper of silly young eliye player

7:31	Paul Swydan: I wouldn’t say I’m HYPER concerned about his injuries, but it’s definitely a looming red flag for me.

7:32	Comment From Guest Neutral Field for game 7 in a warm weather state makes the most sense.

7:32	Paul Swydan: I don’t think I can agree with that, to be honest. Sorry.

7:33	Paul Swydan: Sorry, I’m distracted by this Harold-Harper interview. Harold was a major league player, and Harper is like twice his size. Kind of crazy.

7:34	Comment From Old tex yeah i love the yankees and want to see them most i guess

7:34	Comment From Old tex but the player I most want to see is Alex Rodriguez, who should definitely be in this dumb game

7:34	Paul Swydan: I agree, Old tex! And I don’t even like the Yankees!

7:34	Comment From Dave Matthews Do you think it’s a forgone conclusion that Chap and Pap will be moved and Giles and Hoover will become stud closers?

7:35	Paul Swydan: Chap and Pap. Man, if that’s not the title of a buddy cop show, then I don’t know what is.

7:35	Paul Swydan: As for the foregone conclusions, I don’t think any of those conclusions are especially foregone, especially the part about JJ Hoover becoming a stud closer.

7:36	Comment From Joss Im emotionally invested in Keuchel’s performance.

7:36	Paul Swydan: Just as long as you’re not emotionally invested in his hideous beard.

7:36	Comment From Guest Benny Agbayani had a massive head.

7:37	Paul Swydan: He probably still does, but I have never seen it up close and personal.

7:37	Comment From Wraith Twenty pitchers enter, only one pitcher leaves.

7:37	Paul Swydan: That’s what I’m saying. I think I would have had my money on Halladay.

7:38	Comment From Pale Hose Hunger games for the Corvette?

7:38	Paul Swydan: What could go wrong???

7:38	Comment From hscer …wait, just how often am I “over [your] head”?

7:38	Paul Swydan: Frequently! I’m always Googling references you make so I can sound like I know what I’m talking about.

7:38	Comment From Art Vandelay Aside from the arbitrary nature of it, I don’t see what is so bad about alternating years.

7:39	Paul Swydan: I would be fine with this.

7:39	Comment From LieutKaffee Machado is dope but he’s not Harper/Trout. And the tier right below them is crowded. He’s just one of those guys.

7:39	Comment From Zen Madman Now I’m picturing Harold Ramis interviewing Bryce Harper, which is slightly less amusing than the thought of Harold Ramis playing baseball.

7:40	Paul Swydan: Harper: “I’m always hitting. In the cage, off the tee, whatever. I love hitting.” Ramis: “My father always said, never hit anyone, unless you’re absolutely sure you’ll get away with it.”

7:40	Comment From Art Vandelay I wouldn’t sleep on Rob Nenn in a battle royale…

7:40	Paul Swydan: I was going to say Nenn!

7:40	Comment From John How much of a prize is a corvette? They can all afford one, and the winner will have to pay taxes on it.

7:42	Paul Swydan: You’d be surprised. These guys love their cars. The year Brad Hawpe made the All-Star team, he took his All-Star bonus and went out and bought a brand new Ford King Ranch pickup. It was obscene. You could hear that thing like a half mile away.

7:42	Comment From hscer “Over @Swydan’s head” is now part of my Twitter bio. The real question is: should it be my entire Twitter bio?

7:43	Paul Swydan: I mean, not unless you want to be over everyone else’s head.

7:43	Comment From Old tex does this game really just start at 8?

7:43	Paul Swydan: Apparently. And it obviously won’t start right at 8. Probably more like 8:15.

7:43	Paul Swydan: Hold on, explaining the All-Star Game to my son.

7:45	Paul Swydan: My son is upset that there is only one Red Sox player in the game.

7:46	Comment From Guest Brad Hawpe is driving his truck when he isn’t setting the pace for Hanley Ramirez and terrible defensive seasons ouweighing good offensive seasons.

7:47	Paul Swydan: Don’t forget about Dante Bichette! http://www.fangraphs.com/bl…

7:47	Comment From hscer Walter Johnson is not in the Minnesota “Franchise 4.” This had better means they let him on the Nats’

7:47	Comment From hscer Vizquel made Cleveland’s “Franchise 4.” That can’t be right.

7:47	Paul Swydan: Is that what they’re doing? I wasn’t paying attention.

7:47	Paul Swydan: Michael Young. The jokes, they write themselves.

7:48	Paul Swydan: Who was on the Red Sox?

7:48	Comment From hscer Williams, Yaz, Pedro, and I don’t remember the 4th

7:48	Paul Swydan: Well, that’s a start.

7:48	Comment From Adam Urgent fantasy question. Still searching for power after losing Miggy. Would you trade a $16 Betts for $34 abreu and $7 devon travis in ottoneu?

7:49	Paul Swydan: I think so, yeah. $34 is still keepable.

7:49	Paul Swydan: Galarraga over Holliday? Shameful.

7:50	Paul Swydan: Really though, what I really can’t believe is that we’re wasting so much time on this. I had completely forgotten it even existed. This is totally out of left field.

7:50	Comment From hscer Hey, gotta fill that extra hour before the game that’s there for no good reason!

7:51	Jeff Zimmerman: At least they are doing it during a meaningless game.

7:51	Paul Swydan: Well, it would be kind of rude to start the game at 4 pm on the west coast. But they could have at least been up front about what time first pitch is.

7:51	Paul Swydan: Hey guys, Jeff is here!

7:51	Paul Swydan: Now that Jeff is here, I need to get a new can of Summer Shandy.

7:52	Comment From hscer Can?

7:52	Jeff Zimmerman: We won’t tell Eno

7:52	Comment From old tex this list is pretty biased towards recent seasons

7:52	Jeff Zimmerman: Agree 100%

7:52	Comment From Jeff C No Bonds for the Pirates?

7:52	Paul Swydan: I can fit more cans in my fridge!

7:53	Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t think Bonds was an option to be voted for.

7:54	Comment From Pookie Otis Nixon is the greatest Atlanta Brave ever. It’s between him, Lonnie Smith and Leo Mazzone.

7:54	Paul Swydan: I think Bonds was probably only eligible to be voted for on the Giants.

7:54	Jeff Zimmerman: Can’t argue there.

7:54	Paul Swydan: What about Ronnie Belliard?

7:55	Comment From Jon Joe Morgan was the most consistent

7:55	Comment From Guest Red Sox Franchise Four needs to include Brock Holt in the future

7:55	Paul Swydan: Wait, Joe Morgan uses a cane now? I bet you all feel like dicks for making fun of him all these years.

7:56	Comment From old tex unclear if all the young players in the dugouts know any of these dudes

7:57	Comment From doug so can we begin reading way too much into Pete Rose’s appearance yet?

7:57	Paul Swydan: You’re just beginning now? We’ve been doing that for months.

7:59	Paul Swydan: Was explaining all of that to the boy. He was a little confused about why Pete Rose was a bad guy, but it’s OK.

7:59	Comment From Art Vandelay BJ Upton was an option for the Rays.

7:59	Comment From Art Vandelay I’ve never looked at these ballots until now. Some of them are a great source of comedy. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/even…

8:00	Paul Swydan: They weren’t optimal, is what I’ll say about them.

8:00	Jeff Zimmerman: Not enough Royals on the AL team

8:01	Paul Swydan: Ha, Brock Holt to Chris Sale. One of those things is not like the other.

8:01	Comment From John Rose wasn’t a bad guy

8:01	Paul Swydan: OK.

8:01	Comment From Petes Bookie Odds are 2-1 my boy Petey ends up in the Hall.

8:01	Comment From Chris Bermans hair I’m going to have to leave the chat for a minute. Party in the back. I’ll be right back.

8:01	Paul Swydan: He certainly should be.

8:01	Comment From Wraith Well of course, Chris Sale can’t play shortstop.

8:02	Paul Swydan: The boy on Teixeira – “Wow, his hair is all sweat.”

8:02	Paul Swydan: He thinks Felix Hernandez’s name is cool.

8:02	Comment From Guest Chris Sales throwing mechanics from SS would be fun.

8:02	Jeff Zimmerman: Insta Gif

8:02	Paul Swydan: Yes. Yes they would.

8:03	Comment From Lyle How is this the first time Yankee nation has gotten Brett Garnder into the all star game? The guy has been super legit for years

8:03	Paul Swydan: Yeah but Jeter.

8:03	Jeff Zimmerman: And it took an Alex Gordon injury to get it done

8:03	Jeff Zimmerman: BTW Paul, where is Jeter?

8:04	Paul Swydan: Hopefully on some private island that he owns.

8:04	Paul Swydan: LOL, Molina.

8:05	Comment From hscer Molina laughing his ass off at the boos.

8:05	Comment From Jeff C Is Ryan Braun now the most hated man in baseball?

8:05	Paul Swydan: I don’t think so.

8:05	Comment From k these hats are just the most hideous things

8:05	Paul Swydan: You know, some of them are not that bad.

8:05	Paul Swydan: But then some of them are the most hideous things.

8:05	Jeff Zimmerman: On the most hated player, did AJ Peirenski (sp?) retire?

8:05	Paul Swydan: My wife thinks Scherzer looks like a goofball. I’d argue with her if I could.

8:06	Comment From Matt Paul, it must be fought explaining to your son why Xander isn’t there and Esobar is.

8:06	Paul Swydan: I decided to only mention this if he did, and he hasn’t brought it up so far.

8:06	Comment From Jon Does “I need to watch baseball because it’s my job” always work?

8:07	Paul Swydan: Yes, but only because I trot it out very sparingly. I’m pretty good about helping with bath and bed time. So is Jeff!

8:07	Paul Swydan: “How big is he?” My wife on Altuve.

8:08	Paul Swydan: Just explained the Altuve unit of measurement to her. She shook her head.

8:08	Jeff Zimmerman: Yes, at least on Tuesday night and the playoffs. It worked better when I did player recaps for Royals Review.

8:08	Comment From Ryan Rumors of front-office changes in Cincinnati: think the shoe falls on Wednesday or Thursday, or do they wait until after the trade deadline?

8:08	Paul Swydan: If they’re going to do it, it should happen Wednesday or Thursday.

8:08	Jeff Zimmerman: Friday because they said it on Office Space to fire guys on Fridays.

8:09	Paul Swydan: Too true!

8:09	Paul Swydan: My wife on Joc Pederson – “I almost thought that was a woman.”

8:09	Comment From hscer Note to self: Office Space references to stay under Paul’s head.

8:10	Comment From Jeff C Wait, why doesn’t ‘Cutch get the NL central boos?

8:10	Paul Swydan: Because he’s unhateable!

8:10	Jeff Zimmerman: I am with Paul, just a straight likeable player.

8:10	Comment From Guest Pedroia is 1.1 Altuves.

8:11	Comment From Lyle Cutch comes off as far too charming to boo.

8:11	Paul Swydan: He really does. And gracious.

8:11	Paul Swydan: Wow, Rivera shilling for Skechers? Did he go broke already?

8:11	Comment From Eric Baseball is so much more fun when the fans are really excited about the baseball. The Royals last year. The crowd going bananas for Frazier. It is entertaining

8:11	Paul Swydan: Agreed.

8:12	Comment From Jon I am not in the least bit interested in what Chevy is up to

8:12	Paul Swydan: What if it’s a viral video of that awkward marketing guy?

8:12	Jeff Zimmerman: Probably …. “stuff”

8:12	Comment From Rick Should the Reds be interested if a team wants to give them a SS prospect for Cueto? Cozart was hitting well before he hit the DL, and Suarez has been more than competent as a replacement.

8:12	Jeff Zimmerman: I saw that jackass live, total CF

8:12	Paul Swydan: As Jeff will tell you from the debacle that was the Carlos Beltran trade, you don’t ask for specific players. You just get the best players possible.

8:13	Comment From hscer Skechers is what fogey-type athletes endorse. Joe Montana did them too

8:13	Paul Swydan: I remember. I couldn’t believe that either.

8:14	Comment From hscer Who needs backup singers for the national anthem???

8:14	Jeff Zimmerman: But I am fogey-type blogger

8:14	Paul Swydan: THIS TIME, IT COUNTS!

8:14	Comment From Jon Chevy guy: over it or nightmares every night

8:14	Paul Swydan: Nightmares only on nights when he watches baseball.

8:14	Jeff Zimmerman: Nightmares

8:15	Comment From hscer …Rivera is just everywhere tonight.

8:15	Comment From hscer (except the Yankees franchise 4)

8:15	Paul Swydan: I wonder if this game is actually going to start now.

8:16	Comment From Nolan What should the White Sox do the rest of this year and next? Seems like they have great young pitching, but haven’t been able to get the position players to complement the rotation.

8:17	Paul Swydan: I’m willing to give them one more winter to put it all together. But if they can’t figure it out this winter, they need to tear it down at this time next year before Sale’s arm tears off his body.

8:18	Paul Swydan: Ha, nope. Game still isn’t starting.

8:18	Jeff Zimmerman: Probably sell where they can, but they just don’t have much talent. They have just not developed enough players.

8:18	Comment From Jon Do you guys have a formal statistics background or learned the concepts on the job?

8:19	Paul Swydan: The latter. I took statistics classes in college, but that doesn’t really count.

8:19	Comment From hscer Aaron and Mays, pretty obvious. Bench and Koufax? Great, great players obviously…but I demand a recount.

8:19	Jeff Zimmerman: I had some, but it was geography related in nature

8:19	Paul Swydan: Those two wouldn’t have been on my list, but whatever. I just want the game to start. Let’s go.

8:19	Jeff Zimmerman: Clemens and Bonds should be there

8:19	Comment From Ryan We’ve seen MLB do games overseas in australia and japan, but what about Europe? Surely the Brits would be up for a game or two– they could even introduce the players as Batsmen and Bowlers

8:19	Comment From Billy let’s play ball… except living legends are cool

8:20	Paul Swydan: They are! But they could have done this a half hour ago. The Harper-Harold interview was nice, but we could have been doing this stuff then.

8:20	Jeff Zimmerman: I think the issue is finding room for a full field or paying for a soccer field. Same issue with inner city baseball

8:21	Comment From Billy Koufax dominant six year stretch surpass other living pitchers?

8:21	Paul Swydan: The main problem with baseball is you need a big field AND you need a lot of equipment. And then, the positions aren’t fluid like they are in soccer, basketball and hockey.

8:21	Jeff Zimmerman: The Royals needed a player on the list to vote in.

8:22	Paul Swydan: No, Koufax is nowhere near as good as Pedro. In fact, Kershaw is only a few years away from being better than Koufax.

8:22	Comment From St. Paul New Internet Meme: (Over picture of MLB) Wants to make games shorter through pitch clocks –> Starts All-Star game after 40 minutes of pre-game festivities

8:22	Paul Swydan: DO IT.

8:22	Comment From Barry Zito I deserve the greatest curveball title

8:22	Jeff Zimmerman: 40, we are pushing 50

8:22	Paul Swydan: Go away, Barry.

8:23	Paul Swydan: That was pretty cool. OK, let’s play ball.

8:23	Comment From Jon I think you lean towards guys that might die sooner than later

8:23	Jeff Zimmerman: Paul and his crazy talk

8:23	Jeff Zimmerman: Beer run

8:24	Comment From Billy How does Seacrest have the money he does?

8:24	Paul Swydan: Let me know when you find out.

8:24	Comment From Ryan Instead of having the AS game determine home field advantage, how about going with a neutral site: I’m sure Montreal isn’t using their stadium for anything. . . .

8:24	Paul Swydan: I don’t like that idea for the World Series. Sorry.

8:24	Paul Swydan: Jeff, what do you think?

8:25	Comment From Art Vandelay Honest opinion: was Altuve’s selection fixed?

8:25	Paul Swydan: No, because if they were going to fix that one, why not fix Escobar too?

8:25	Comment From Jon I wish I could be as easily impressed as however old your kid is

8:26	Paul Swydan: Ha. Me too!

8:26	Jeff Zimmerman: I hate having the game matter. Just a dumb idea.

8:27	Comment From Wraith It’s also funny how they talk about trying to cater more to a younger audience while spending all this time focusing on the old.

8:27	Paul Swydan: I feel like Pete Rose repeats a lot of phrases, just like that guy on Goodfellas. Gotta get the papers, the papers.

8:27	Paul Swydan: Yup. I mean, it was cool to tell my kid about all the legends, but he didnt really care all that much. He just wanted to see Brock Holt.

8:28	Jeff Zimmerman: Doesn’t everyone want to see Holt

8:28	Comment From Lyle If some player career injured a player in this game like Pete Rose once did how badly would the reaction be with modern social media?

8:28	Paul Swydan: There would be howling. But then, that’s what the internet is for.

8:28	Jeff Zimmerman: Damn, Buck has a 6 head going

8:28	Paul Swydan: I don’t even know what that means, Jeff.

8:29	Comment From Billy look at the forehead lines Paul

8:29	Paul Swydan: Oh. I see.

8:29	Comment From hscer 6 head, like a 5 head but more recessed

8:29	Jeff Zimmerman: A five head is bigger than a fore head … Buck has moved onto the six head.

8:29	Comment From hscer and I know about recessed hair

8:30	Paul Swydan: Yeah, that’s a dumb joke that I would make, so now I feel even dumber for missing it.

8:30	Paul Swydan: OH, run predictions.

8:30	Comment From jjm987 The combination of Joe buck calling the all star game and Boomer (albeit in a more minor role this year) calling the derby almost ruins these couple days of baseball for me

8:30	Comment From Billy At least I like Harold

8:30	Comment From Billy < 3

8:31	Comment From hscer 15-7, NL

8:31	Paul Swydan: I just want to make the disclaimer that I’m going to shy away from taking shots at the broadcasters tonight.

8:32	Comment From jjm987 were playing at GABP – were here for the dingers we want runs

8:32	Jeff Zimmerman: I probably won’t and I have some Jello shot settling in the fidge.

8:32	Comment From Billy Odds that a sensible teammate cuts Greinke’s hair midgame… 4:1

8:33	Comment From Jon this is a really great camera view

8:33	Paul Swydan: Really, really great. Is this the normal view from Reds’ games?

8:33	Paul Swydan: I feel like it isn’t, but I almost never watch the Reds feed.

8:33	Comment From joshC What’s with the ugly hats?

8:33	Paul Swydan: Oh, JoshC, we already talked about the hats. You should have been here. It was marvelous.

8:34	Paul Swydan: TRIKE MOUT!!!!!

8:34	Jeff Zimmerman: They are playing in Cincy, may be a 5-3 game.

8:34	Paul Swydan: And he’s mic’d up. So we’ll get to hear that one a few more times.

8:34	Comment From Jeff C And there’s the asterisk for Hershiser if Greinke breaks the streak!

8:34	Paul Swydan: Oh man, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.

8:35	Comment From old tex old mike trout

8:35	Comment From Nick We should switch the AS voting procedures to have players and coaches vote on the teams, and to have fans vote on the broadcasters.

8:35	Paul Swydan: Compromise – Jeff and I pick the broadcasters.

8:35	Jeff Zimmerman: Donaldson got some good distance on the bat throw

8:36	Comment From Jon Vin Scully and Hawk Harrelson

8:36	Paul Swydan: One of those things is true.

8:36	Comment From Guest No Compromise: Vin Scully solos the broadcast

8:36	Comment From Guest No Compromise: Vin Scully solos the broadcast

8:36	Paul Swydan: WOW. Jeff and I pubbed that at the same time, so it double pubbed. That never happens, but a fitting comment for it!

8:37	Comment From Miles Can’t wait for DJ LeMahieu to bat, so much more exciting than this Trout guy

8:37	Paul Swydan: How amazing is it that he’s starting though?

8:37	Comment From Appelman Live win probability is up! http://www.fangraphs.com/li…

8:37	Paul Swydan: Oh man, if that is really Appelman, we’re probably fired tomorrow.

8:37	Comment From Matt Scully and Pedro in the booth.

8:38	Paul Swydan: Ohhh, that may be the winner.

8:38	Comment From hscer hey NASA, learn to buffer

8:39	Paul Swydan: Oh is that what you meant? Gotcha.

8:39	Comment From Billy How do the umps get chosen?

8:39	Comment From Miles I once purchased Pedro Martinez brand salsa at a sketchy discount store. It was right next to the damaged and expired cereal boxes.

8:39	Paul Swydan: Not sure. Probably some combination of perk and guys who didn’t ump the game last year and seniority.

8:39	Comment From Nick Over/under 1 more AS game for Albert after this one?

8:40	Paul Swydan: I’ll say over.

8:40	Comment From Billy I take over

8:40	Jeff Zimmerman: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G…

8:41	Paul Swydan: I don’t think I ever ate that.

8:41	Comment From Lyle under

8:41	Comment From Billy What one prospect would seem most at home if they did that old Team USA basketball and put one college player? In this case each all star team gets on prospect

8:41	Paul Swydan: Oh that’s a fantastic question.

8:42	Paul Swydan: I honestly can’t say because I don’t the temperment/personality of these guys until they graduate to the majors, and then only barely. But I’m open to suggestions!

8:42	Comment From Jeff C Umps chosen by whomever isn’t Joe West and Angel Hernandez who want another week away from their families.

8:43	Comment From Lyle Harper must now hit a homer in his first at bat to keep the debate going

8:44	Paul Swydan: Wow that Nike ad was awesome.

8:44	Paul Swydan: “Let him try!”

8:45	Paul Swydan: The Posey one was awesome too.

8:45	Comment From Jon Unclutch doctors

8:45	Comment From Billy Feel like Schwarber would just show up and hit… Giolito would pitch like a bad ass… my sleeper pick would be tony kemp AL, orlando hudson type, no backing down

8:45	Paul Swydan: Alright, alright. I like it.

8:46	Jeff Zimmerman: Dallas does have a plus beard.

8:46	Paul Swydan: No way, his beard is terrible!

8:46	Comment From Billy plus-plus

8:47	Comment From Billy MVP Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks… either Goldy or Pollack in late game

8:47	Paul Swydan: It’s PollOck.

8:47	Jeff Zimmerman: If you weren’t in charge of this chat, I would kick you out for that comment.

8:47	Paul Swydan: Whatever, Keuchel’s beard is trash.

8:47	Paul Swydan: Also, I am going to keep pronouncing it Koo-Chill, I don’t care what anyone says.

8:48	Comment From hscer koy-cull

8:48	Comment From Billy K-oooo-cal

8:48

Comment From Miles
In all the interviews I’ve read on fangraphs, Dallas Keuchel is the first pitcher I remember saying, “Yes, I pitch to contact.” He even said (paraphrasing), “I’ll sometimes throw a 2-seam right down the middle so they hit it.” Most other pitchers say soft contact is a product of trying to make the hitter miss.

8:48	Comment From Denji I pronounce it “Kugel” like the noodle dish

8:49	Paul Swydan: Let’s all agree that our individual pronunciations of his name are the correct one.

8:49	Comment From Rack Em Willie I pronounce it “kegel” like the exercise

8:51	Comment From Billy Could just call him Dallas

8:51	Paul Swydan: Yeah but that’s confusing since he pitches for Houston. Maybe if he got traded to the Rangers…

8:51	Comment From I dont mind the All-Star game deciding home field for WS but the ASG should be a 3game series w/ 40 man rosters kee-gl

8:52	Comment From old tex COOCH – el

8:52	Comment From Swydan Can I give a big shoutout to my partner stationed overseas and a big baseball fan thanks.

8:52	Paul Swydan: I can’t tell if this is serious or not, but sure?

8:53	Comment From Aunt Jessie Go al? out and add the extra letter: Koop-chill

8:53	Jeff Zimmerman: finally Jones chased

8:53	Comment From Billy What if the All Star Game did an Old Timers game

8:54	Paul Swydan: A lot of old men would get hurt on national TV?

8:54	Paul Swydan: I still love Adam Jones’ cleats.

8:54	Paul Swydan: Creamsicle cleats.

8:54	Comment From Lyle Can catchers have fancy designs on their masks like hockey goaltenders?

8:54	Paul Swydan: I think so.

8:54	Comment From Billy Ok limit it to like retired to 55 years old. 7 innings

8:54	Comment From Jon what’s the best kind of bear?

8:54	Paul Swydan: Fozzie Bear.

8:54	Jeff Zimmerman: Sal with 2 balls, I would not have predicted that

8:55	Comment From old tex 2nd pitch not a ball

8:56	Comment From Hank Does Grienke always grunt after pitches?

8:56	Paul Swydan: Jeff?

8:56	Jeff Zimmerman: BTW, Sal is on pace to be the first player to have less than 10 walks and sit less than 10 games.

8:56	Paul Swydan: That would be something.

8:57	Jeff Zimmerman: He did all kinds of weird things when he was with the Royals

8:57	Comment From JZ You know the all star Russian Hockey game where Putin scored like 10 goals? The MLB should do that. Sub Putin for Bush or something.

8:57	Paul Swydan: Wait, no, what? Is there video footage of this?

8:57	Comment From Pedant Jeff is on pace to use the word “fewer” ten fewer times than he should in this chat.

8:58	Paul Swydan: Leave Jeff alone, he just got back from vacation.

8:58	Comment From Jon Does Greinke blink?

8:58	Comment From Lyle only when he dreams

8:59	Paul Swydan: Greinke vs Cameron – BLINKATHON 2015

8:59	Comment From themarksman13 Actually, Putin scored 8. Alongside Kamanev and Pavel Bure. So it was kinda easy for him to score lol

8:59	Comment From Ryan He certainly blinked when he stared down Mike Trout

8:59	Comment From themarksman13 http://www.independent.co.u…

9:00	Paul Swydan: Wow, wow, wow, this really happened.

9:01	Comment From Dave Cameron Not blinking is my thing

9:01	Paul Swydan: Oh man, no Felix for Goldschmidt.

9:01	Comment From Billy So Freddy Adu just signed in the NASL… wow

9:01	Paul Swydan: what’s the NASL?

9:02	Comment From Billy North American Soccer League… either the second or third best league in soccer obsessed America.

9:02	Paul Swydan: Wow what was that throw?

9:03	Comment From Jeff C The jets on Goldy!

9:03	Paul Swydan: Pujols did seem to freeze him.

9:04	Jeff Zimmerman: Posey with some Polk points

9:04	Comment From Dingers, yall Why no live blog for the HR Derby? Would have been bananas

9:04	Paul Swydan: Meh.

9:05	Comment From Billy Polk points?

9:05	Comment From Jon wow, did not realize goldschmidt was a good runner

9:05	Paul Swydan: Yup, pretty fast/fly for a first baseman/white guy.

9:06	Jeff Zimmerman: Ron Polk had them made up and the KC media is all over them. It values advancing a runner the same as double. Finding the link now.

9:06	Comment From Dingers, yall Think they use the juiced balls for the All Star game, too?

9:06	Paul Swydan: I hope so.

9:06	Paul Swydan: Pitchers have enough advantages.

9:07	Comment From JZ What does “juiced balls” mean?

9:07	Paul Swydan: That they alter it in some way to make the ball travel further when it is hit.

9:08	Comment From Miles Has Rizzo ever been hit by a pitch that was called a strike?

9:08	Paul Swydan: I’m going to say no.

9:08	Comment From Nolan Who would be on your AS team of underrated utility/4th OFer types? I’ve got Holt, Turner, Van Slyke, and Dyson so far…

9:08	Paul Swydan: Ryan Spilborghs?

9:09	Paul Swydan: The guy who made the catch for the Mets….

9:10	Comment From 804NatsFan AS team of underrated utility infielders: Espinosa (this year at least)

9:10	Paul Swydan: Brock Holt could also be on that team.

9:10	Comment From Dingers, yall Steve Pearce

9:10	Paul Swydan: Eh, not yet.

9:11	Comment From hscer why is LeMahieu starting, let alone on the team ahead of Wong or Espinosa. besides the .406 average in April, and defense.

9:11	Paul Swydan: Didn’t Wong back out due to injury?

9:12	Comment From Zen Madman “The guy who made the catch for the Mets….” Endy Chavez?

9:12	Paul Swydan: Yes. Thank you, it was right on the tip of my tongue!

9:12	Paul Swydan: Jeff will be back in a bit.

9:12	Comment From Miles LeMahieu is batting .311, but has a 95 OPS+

9:12	Paul Swydan: Coors Field.

9:13	Paul Swydan: Wait, why are they shoehorning in the Negro Leagues franchise four into the middle of the game? That seems pretty disrespectful.

9:13	Comment From Jeff C via Twitter: @gregrakestraw After conditioning players to speed up all season, first batter of each inning standing and waiting for commercials to end. 3:15 breaks.

9:14	Paul Swydan: Yes. Commercial breaks are the real reason that playoff games take so long, not the players. 3:15 is literally more than DOUBLE what the breaks are supposed to be (90 seconds).

9:15	Comment From hscer small sample caveats, but check out Espinosa on this leaderboard http://www.fangraphs.com/le…

9:15	Paul Swydan: Yup, Espinosa is having a good year.

9:15	Comment From hscer a non-sarcastic well-done to Reynolds for bringing up Oscar Charleston

9:17	Jeff Zimmerman: Joe Rogan should get some love. Was borderline the top pitcher and hitter in the league a few years.

9:18	Paul Swydan: Sorry, my computer died midsentence! I was going to say, Oscar is one of my most lasting memories from Bill James’ Abstract.

9:19	Comment From Pookie I actually like the Houston hat.

9:19	Paul Swydan: Yeah some of the gray ones are cool.

9:19	Comment From Jeff C Gerrit Cole’s not exactly Maddux out there. Missing a lot of spots BAD in that last AB.

9:19	Comment From old tex throws 10 mph fasters

9:20	Paul Swydan: And a loud out to end the inning. But he got the job done.

9:20	Comment From hscer what day of the week does UZR update? I honestly haven’t been able to tell if it’s Monday or Tuesday morning

9:20	Paul Swydan: Oh, I forget. Jeff?

9:20	Jeff Zimmerman: I think Mondays

9:21	Comment From Jack Elliott Gerrit Cole doesn’t have Cervelli framing for him. Still more wild than usual.

9:22	Comment From Hank Vacation remake/spoof movie? Next thing you know they’ll be making a movie about arcade games!

9:22	Paul Swydan: Burn. Both movies look awful, and I say that as the person who is the precise target market for both.

9:23	Comment From Jeff C Paul, you’re a 16 year old boy in urban China?

9:23	Paul Swydan: You didn’t know?

9:23	Comment From Jeff C Mondays is correct.

9:23	Comment From skipper Can you guys rank these Tigers contracts starting with the worst..Verlander, Cabrera, VMart, Sanchez..their window is barely ajar, no?

9:24	Paul Swydan: Verlander, VMart, Sanchez, Miggy. And I think their window is already closed shut. Not unless they fire Ausmus tomorrow.

9:25	Jeff Zimmerman: Verlander, VMart, Sanchez and Cabrera. They may be done unless they sell some more pizzas to buy another player.

9:25	Paul Swydan: Pizza pizza!

9:25	Comment From Dingers, yall Felix’s best pitch is his “Power Change”. That’s also his campaign slogan when he runs for public office.

9:26	Paul Swydan: Here or in Venezuela?

9:26	Comment From Jack Elliott God bless the Todd Father!

9:26	Paul Swydan: That’s Todd Helton’s nickname.

9:27	Comment From Krhyme1 Fun Fact: Tonight is the first time Brett Gardner in his professional career has ever worn a jersey with his name on it.

9:27	Jeff Zimmerman: I wonder if Helton still has his horse he was given as a gift.

9:27	Paul Swydan: That IS a fun fact! And Jeff, I bet you he does.

9:27	Comment From Phoenix With these commercial breaks, this game will go past midnight.

9:29	Comment From Pookie Price/Lucroy/Ramos for Sale/Grandal…who be winning, yo?

9:29	Paul Swydan: Wow that’s interesting. I’ll defer to Jeff on thoughts about Lucroy.

9:30	Jeff Zimmerman: Sale side, I would put Lucroy and Grandal even, don’t care about Ramos and Sale > Price

9:30	Paul Swydan: Yeah, I have to agree.

9:30	Paul Swydan: I’m loving me some Grandal right now.

9:31	Paul Swydan: Can’t wait til Mattingly admits he needs to be in the lineup more often.

9:31	Comment From Krhyme1 Is it just me or does Bumgarner look like he dipped his face in baby oil tonight? His face is silly shiny.

9:32	Jeff Zimmerman: Mattingly can’t get out of his own way.

9:32	Paul Swydan: Actually I think it was in Jesus’ tears.

9:32	Comment From Miles Dodgers have at least 10 players who could play everyday

9:32	Paul Swydan: Ya but A.J. Ellis is not one of them.

9:33	Comment From Chuck N Chino Late to the chat… Trout HR means he hit for the cyle in his past 4 ASG. Guy is amazing

9:33	Paul Swydan: That’s pretty good, eh?

9:34	Comment From Coach If Montero does indeed land on the DL do you think Schwarber will come back up?

9:35	Paul Swydan: Not unless Montero is out for awhile. I think they’ll probably want to avoid using him again on a temporary basis and then sending him back down. That’d be kind of cruel, no?

9:36	Comment From Hank If Sal Perez doesn’t swing, isn’t the pitch by defintion not close?

9:37	Paul Swydan: Someone should make a heat map overlaying the pitches that Salvy and Sandoval don’t swing at, to see if there is a type of pitch that is just un-swing-at-able.

9:37	Jeff Zimmerman: Awesome

9:38	Comment From Miles Quality AB, there. Way to reach base, Salvy.

9:38	Paul Swydan: That was hilarious.

9:38	Comment From BellinghamBeerQuokka way to get on, Sal

9:38	Comment From Krhyme1 Trivia question: NO LOOKING UP. Who are the two players that were All-Stars for five different teams?

9:39	Paul Swydan: Oh, snap. Rickey Henderson and Nolan Ryan?

9:39	Comment From BellinghamBeerQuokka Gaylord

9:39	Comment From Krhyme1 Gary Sheffield and Moises Alou

9:39	Paul Swydan: Seriously? Moises Alou was an All-Star five times?

9:39	Comment From BellinghamBeerQuokka _______ Niekro

9:40	Comment From Justin Sandoval, Salvy, Vlad heatmap. There will be no white on it.

9:40	Paul Swydan: “You’re embarrassing me in front of Buster Posey.”

9:41

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Hope this Baseball player followed suit and hit as many “Home Runs” as “The” Engelbert Humperdinck, the King OF Romance, still singing strong with 47 years in the Music Industry under his belt. Go see a show..go buy his new Duet CD “Engelbert Calling” being released in March, with Legends such as Elton John, Gene Simmons, Willie Nelson, Cliff Richards, Olivia Newton John etc. etc. singing along with him! Now that is what you call Magic!

9:41	Paul Swydan: Uh, definitely.

9:42	Comment From BellinghamBeerQuokka I’m going to see Primus at a brewery. Slightly better than Engelbert

9:42	Paul Swydan: Is it?

9:43	Paul Swydan: OK, quiet, Harper is up.

9:44	Comment From BellinghamBeerQuokka that was quick

9:44	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Harper is down

9:44	Paul Swydan: Sigh.

9:45	Comment From hscer good job, NL, going 1-2-3 so Harper couldn’t face the right hander

9:45	Paul Swydan: But we do get Goldy vs a lefty. Call it even?

9:45	Comment From hscer …apparently not ;p

9:45	Paul Swydan: Bah!

9:46	Paul Swydan: Well, if you like pitchers duels…

9:47	Paul Swydan: The bad part about this being close is that the managers are going to be tempted to manage it like a real game.

9:47	Jeff Zimmerman: But it counts Paul !!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111111

9:48	Comment From Chuck N Chino Good grief, if the mgrs. bunt with any of these guys, I will scream. No small ball in the freakin ASG

9:49	Jeff Zimmerman: Yost is managing one team

9:49	Paul Swydan: So, yeah, get those pipes ready.

9:49	Comment From Haastile Chapman a lock for closing in front of the home crowd?

9:49	Paul Swydan: Seemingly, yes. That’s why they refrained from trading him until now…

9:50	Paul Swydan: Of course Escobar gets a hit.

9:50	Comment From JZ Why the eff does Escobar get two AB’s? Cleveland has one All Star.

9:50	Jeff Zimmerman: Last 3 Royals have reached base safely.

9:50	Paul Swydan: Because they only have one backup SS and he doesnt play for the team of the guy managing the game.

9:51	Paul Swydan: I was about to say, how unfair for the AL to get into the middle innings and THEN have to face Kershaw. But then Escobar got a hit.

9:51	Comment From hscer Kershaw-Trout!

9:51	Paul Swydan: Kershaw wins that round.

9:51	Comment From BellinghamBeerQuokka at least KC has BBQ, what does Cleveland have…

9:51	Paul Swydan: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

9:52	Jeff Zimmerman: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

9:52	Paul Swydan: All cheesiness aside, you do have to love Trout busting down the line.

9:53	Paul Swydan: Both of our buildings. Hahahaha.

9:53	Jeff Zimmerman: At least they aren’t Detroit

9:54	Paul Swydan: First sub into the game almost homers. More subs should follow soon.

9:54	Comment From BurningRiverIPA I just KNEW that “hastily made tourism video” would make its appearance. Find new ways of making fun of Cleveland!!!

9:55	Paul Swydan: The old ways are still good though: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

9:56	Paul Swydan: Kershaw wanted that one.

9:57	Comment From Guest How is there not a lefty in the AL starting lineup? Terrible terrible job by Yost. Throw three straight closers like Chapman and Rosenthal to start the game.

9:58	Paul Swydan: This was submitted before the game. Now the NL has a lefty in the game, and Yost starts inserting his left-handed hitters. NED YOST, ladies and gentlemen!

9:58	Jeff Zimmerman: Donaldson got the vote of Moustakas.

9:58	Comment From Miles Historical comps for Mike Trout?

9:59	Jeff Zimmerman: Mantle

9:59	Paul Swydan: And of course Fielder gets a hit. What do I know?

9:59	Paul Swydan:

9:59	Paul Swydan: Comps for Trout? That guy.