FanGraphs After Dark All-Star Game Live Blog - 7/11/17

11:24

Paul Swydan:

Do you root for a specific team during the All-Star Game?

Yes, always the AL (32.7% | 55 votes)

Yes, always the NL (27.9% | 47 votes)

Yes, but not always the same team (1.7% | 3 votes)

No, it’s an exhibition game (27.3% | 46 votes)

Sometimes, depends on the year (10.1% | 17 votes)

Total Votes: 168

11:24

Paul Swydan:

Who do you think will win tonight’s game?

American League (51.2% | 80 votes)

National League (37.1% | 58 votes)

I can’t choose! (11.5% | 18 votes)

Total Votes: 156

11:30

Paul Swydan:

Which starter making his first ASG appearance are you most excited to watch tonight?

Carlos Correa (11.5% | 19 votes)

Zack Cozart (3.0% | 5 votes)

Corey Dickerson (2.4% | 4 votes)

Aaron Judge (54.8% | 90 votes)

Jose Ramirez (16.4% | 27 votes)

Justin Smoak (3.0% | 5 votes)

George Springer (8.5% | 14 votes)

Total Votes: 164

7:51	Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

7:51	Jack: Ronald Acuna worth keeping over Ray at same price ($1)

7:52	Paul Swydan: Couple of non-ASG q’s before we get started.

7:52	Paul Swydan: If you mean Robbie Ray, then no, I’d keep Robbie Ray.

7:53

martin: Any reason why the AL outfield composition is Springer LF, Betts CF and Judge RF. I suppose there is a problem with having 3 RFs in the outfield. I remember faintly that John Farrell really doesn’t like using Betts at CF (instead using Beni when Bradley gets a day off). Springer is also a CFer at times. Why isn’t it Judge LF, Springer CF, Betts RF. I just suppose it’s weird that Mills is playing the MLB leader in DRS out of position. Also, who do you think will close the game if the AL/NL had the lead?

7:54	Paul Swydan: Farrell’s position is understandable, he doesn’t want to jerk around his best player, and he can do that because he has 4 center fielders on his roster in Benintendi, Betts, Bradley and Young.

7:54	Paul Swydan: At the same time, Betts is easily the best center fielder among the three, even if Springer does sometimes play there.

7:54	Paul Swydan: So, I think it makes sense.

7:55	Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Jose Ramirez and Aaron Judge have been en fuego all season. It is early…but would you keep either in an OBP league over this year’s trio, Josh Donaldson, Freddie Freeman, or Corey Seager?

7:55	Paul Swydan: I’d probably rank them as such. 1. Judge, 2. Seager, 3. Freeman, 4. Ramirez, 5. Donaldson

7:55	Paul Swydan: So, yes.

7:55	Hardcore Bourn: Please name the best starting pitcher you would trade for Ryan Zimmerman 1-for-1.

7:56	Paul Swydan: Jon Lester? It’d need to be someone like him – a star, but in his 30s and on his downside. Zimmerman’s Statcast magic might fade the second he doesn’t have Murphy in his ear.

7:56	Matt : PAUL. I’ve been waiting to mention this for a week cause I skipped the last chat. Have you made nearly as wrong as a call as the call you made in Freddie Freeman’s 2012 profile? I say that with no malice, just amazement.

7:56	Paul Swydan: Looking this up.

7:57	Paul Swydan: Here it is.

7:57

Paul Swydan: Profile: Freeman was slightly underrated in sabermetric circles last season thanks to the fact that his defense graded out poorly, but even just looking at offense alone he wasn’t anything special for his position. His .345 wOBA was just 18th among first basemen with at least 400 plate appearances, a mark that was bested by both Mark Reynolds and Daniel Murphy. Freeman struck out more frequently than he had during his tenure in the Minors, and his BB/K was slightly worse in the second half than it was in the first. At just 22 this season, Freeman should continue to improve, but he may not have the ceiling of his fellow 2011 rookie, Eric Hosmer. (Paul Swydan)

The Quick Opinion: Freeman is a decent value play, and he should get better as he matures, but his ceiling — which he may not reach in 2012 — is still likely to fall short of elite status for a first baseman.

7:58	Paul Swydan: I’ll stand by this – Don’t forget, expectations were SKY HIGH for Hosmer.

7:58	Paul Swydan: It’s definitely not the worst thing I’ve ever written.

7:58	Paul Swydan: I once wrote that Hunter Pence would absolutely lose in arbitration. He won five hours later.

7:58	Paul Swydan: I once wrote that Daniel Bard would be “just fine” as a starting pitcher. He made like 2 more starts.

7:59	Paul Swydan: So, yeah, not embarrassed by that Freeman profile.

8:00	Paul Swydan: Good pull though!

8:00	Paul Swydan: Sorry, someone was at the door.

8:00	Justin: Why the hell is Felipe Rivero not in this game? He might be the best reliever in the game.

8:00	Paul Swydan: He might be, but he’s still a reliever on a team that didn’t merit two All-Stars, and Josh Harrison is having a pretty good season too.

8:00	Cam: I miss real baseball.

8:01	Paul Swydan: It’s weird, but it was nice to not have to set my lineup the last two days.

8:01	Matt : Bringing my question back to the Game, you think Freeman should be in the game? I’m thrown back to 2012 Kemp when he had a scorching April but idk if he got in the game

8:01	Paul Swydan: As I wrote in my All-Stars post, I’m fine with it. He missed a good chunk of the first half, and the NL has no shortage of good 1Bs.

8:02	Paul Swydan: Furiously googling “Bebe Rexha”

8:03	Paul Swydan: Well, good choice on the relevancy front. Not so much on the “from Miami” front. 1 out of 2 ain’t bad. Good anthem too.

8:03	HappyFunBall: I came here to make a joking comment on a blog post about why wasn’t there an ASG live blog. But. Um. Ok.

8:04	Paul Swydan: Ya buddy!

8:04	Paul Swydan: Settle in. I’ve got a Jack’s Abby tall boy, and I’m ready to roll.

8:04	ben: Was Jon Jay’s 46.5-mph curveball the slowest recorded pitch in MLB history?

8:05	Paul Swydan: That’s a marvelous question that I don’t know the answer to. There have been some pretty slow eephus pitches in the past decade though.

8:06	Paul Swydan: That reminds me to pimp one of the articles Jake Mintz of Cespedes BBQ wrote for us at THT on the Eephus pitch! http://www.hardballtimes.com/eephus-aint-nothin/

8:06	Matt : Pitbull for anthem: good idea or amazing idea?

8:06	Paul Swydan: Would have been magnificent.

8:07	Will: How much do you think team PR people work with players going onto the national stage for the first time?

8:07	Paul Swydan: Well, I know the teams usually send at least one PR person. How much hand holding they do probably depends on the player in question.

8:09	Paul Swydan: Oh, is Rod Carew there tonight? That’d be awesome.

8:09	Zane: So, are they just gonna play this montage of Latin American players the whole time?

8:09	Paul Swydan: I won’t complain. This is great.

8:11	Mattingly’s Sideburns: I could watch hours on hours of Latin baseball history

8:11	apples: Leaving Yadi off that current player montage !!

8:11	Paul Swydan: Are you sure? I thought I saw him on it. Maybe it was a live shot…

8:12	Paul Swydan: There’s Rod Carew! That’s awesome.

8:12	Zane: Ooh can we have Pedro throw out the first pitch to Pudge Rodriguez??

8:13	Paul Swydan: That’d be awesome.

8:13	Will: I miss Mariano.

8:13	Paul Swydan: Me too.

8:13	Matt : Luis Tiant not here despite being (one of) the best Cuban player ever? Okay MLB

8:14	Paul Swydan: It seems as though they kept it to Hall of Famers. Blame the idiot Veterans Committee voters.

8:14	Paul Swydan: Rodriguez does have the ball in his hand…

8:14	Paul Swydan: Oh, they all have balls.

8:15	Paul Swydan: OMG Alomar threw the ball to Lindor. My beating heart!

8:16	Will: Mariano is basically already a HOFer, wish they could’ve brought him down too.

8:16	Paul Swydan: It would have been great to see Rivera and Tiant, but I understand the decision to limit it to Hall of Famers. It looked crowded as is for that first pitch.

8:17	Oddball Herrera: Who will have the last laugh, the Scooter Bennett skeptics who scoff at his 4 hr outburst or the people who buy in because he’s now up to 15?

8:17	Paul Swydan: Neither – they’re both wrong.

8:17	Peter: So is the home run derby ‘back’ with the new format? Does the actual game need something different to make it more interesting, now that it doesn’t impact home field

8:18	Paul Swydan: It was much more entertaining last night, but that had to do with the participants as much as the format.

8:18	Paul Swydan: But it was certainly easier to follow if you were only half paying attention, and that was good and fun.

8:18	Paul Swydan: I would renew my calls for more skills events, but it’ll never happen.

8:19	Bour Hour: Was Jude sometimes going oppo in the hr derby just to show off or was he pretending it was BP?

8:19	Paul Swydan: If I had to guess, I’d say that those were mistakes that he is just strong enough to get out of the ballpark.

8:20	Mike: It’s up to the players to make it fun. John Kruk/Randy Johnson anyone?

8:20	Paul Swydan: Agree. Kruk/Randy, Bonds/Hunter, A-Rod/Ripken. BO. These are the things people remember. It’s what I remember, anyway.

8:20	steve: Quick thoughts on Danny Salazar ROS. Even off his game his K% was very inticing….Should I hold in 12 team mixed?

8:21	Paul Swydan: If you’re in on Salazar for this long, then yes, you have to hold.

8:21	Paul Swydan: Bryce Harper with the buttons undone. Rowrrr.

8:22	Will: Crazy to think that this is all the living latin-born HOFers. In 20 years, it’ll be like 4 times this many, easily. Rivera, Ortiz, Pujos, Cano, Miggy, A-rod (tbd), Vlad, and Manny (tbd) are all players who should more than double the total within the next 5-10 years.

8:22	Paul Swydan: Yup, it just doesn’t seem right. Soon, we won’t have to think about it. Don’t forget about Beltre and Beltran (tbd).

8:22	Mike: John smoltz doesn’t know Cody Bellinger is left handed.

8:22	Mattingly’s Sideburns: Did John Smoltz just say Bellinger is right handed?

8:22	Paul Swydan: Off to a great start!

8:22	apples: That speed Atuve interview was top tier content

8:23	Paul Swydan: The natural inclination is to criticize FOX for doing stupid things. But they are trying things, so let’s celebrate that. If some of them don’t work, that’s fine. They did eventually retire Scooter the Baseball, after all.

8:25	Paul Swydan: Reminder that there are custom ASG leaderboards at the bottom of this post. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/this-is-the-post-about-the-all-star-ros…

8:25	Bour Hour: Skills idea: outfielders throw at targets at 2nd 3rd and home, scored on accuracy with ties broken by speed on throws that hit the target

8:26	Paul Swydan: Yup, that was one of the ideas I had proposed in the past. Specifically just center field to home plate (to keep it simple) but yes, this would be awesome.

8:26	Chuck Knoblauch: Let us take a moment to appreciate the almost perfectly straight camera angle to appreciate Scherzer and Sale.

8:26	Paul Swydan: Indeed.

8:26	Paul Swydan: That Scherzer pitch moved so much.

8:26	Murdoc: Damn I forgot you live blog this. I should leave work

8:27	Paul Swydan: Yeah you should!

8:27	Paul Swydan: Just kidding, don’t get fired for me.

8:27	Will: I know average isn’t the most important stat, but kinda cool to see the top 3 for BA be the top 3 in the lineup, in order.

8:27	Paul Swydan: I hadn’t noticed that. That is kinda cool.

8:27	Mike: And appreciate max grunting

8:28	Paul Swydan: You can appreciate it until Joe Buck makes a dumb joke about it.

8:28	Travis: Has Freeman moved above Goldy on the “most underrated” list? I feel like Goldy is on top of so many “most underrated” lists that he’s no longer underrated. And who would you rather have for the next five years?

8:28	Paul Swydan: No Goldy is still at the top of that list. It’s ridiculous how underrated he is.

8:29	Paul Swydan: Tough with Freeman being 2 years younger, but I’ll take Goldy.

8:30	Paul Swydan: Also, I hope Scherzer’s night isn’t over. Did they say up top Scherzer would only pitch 1 inning?

8:30	Mike: He said 1 inning after the first out, sounds like it was preplannes.

8:30	Mike: Planned

8:30	Paul Swydan: Boo.

8:30	Ryan: You know who looks like Scherzer stuff wise? One Aaron Nola

8:31	Paul Swydan: Bold take, Ryan. We’ll see. I do like Nola a lot.

8:32	Paul Swydan: Feel like they should have let Ozuna hit third, just for the hometown fun. 🙂

8:33	Murdoc: You remember that one all-star game where Jeter told Joe Buck to get lost? Good times

8:33	Paul Swydan: NO! Clip? I’ll settle for a GIF.

8:33	Mike: I wish Blackmon had been like “dude, he can hear me”

8:34	Paul Swydan: Well, he did hit it.

8:34	Paul Swydan: Joe Buck cited RBI, drink!

8:34	Paul Swydan: Sale is not screwing around.

8:35	Matt : Who edits Fangraphs articles? You mention Ozuna and it brought me back to Dave saying Ozuna had already matched his career war at the break when that was just blatantly false

8:35	Paul Swydan: Which article was this?

8:35	Morris Buttermaker: I always drink while listening to joe buck

8:35	Mattingly’s Sideburns: Aaron Judge drops the ball on purpose to make Chris Sale throw more pitches

8:36	Chuck Knoblauch: So is Stanton doomed to never be mentioned without a Judge comp again?

8:36	Paul Swydan: Not by Joe Buck, anyway.

8:36	Stove: This straight-on camera…can’t get enough. That Sale slider is obscene

8:36	Mike: Did anyone see that photo of Bellinger talking to Stanton and Judge? He’s 6’4 and he looked like a 15 year old next to them.

8:36	Paul Swydan: Well, he does sort of look like a 15-year-old in general.

8:36	Paul Swydan: Wow, Harper.

8:38

Murdoc:

8:38	Paul Swydan: That’s fantastic.

8:38	Stove: Sale triple digits alert

8:38	Zane: So, uh, when are they gonna ban Sale’s slider for witchcraft?

8:38	Paul Swydan: I hope not.

8:38	Bour Hour: Just an FYI, If fg were to hire an editor, I would apply and work by the article or hour

8:38	Paul Swydan: We edit every article, but thank you.

8:39	Paul Swydan: It’s not often that Dave makes a factual mistake like that. I think we can grant him a mulligan.

8:39	Chuck Knoblauch: Oh my, that slow mo bat shot of Harper.

8:39	Matt : I apologize Paul I’m spreading disinformation. Dave said that Ozuna had matched his career high in war, not his career

8:39	Matt : http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/picking-the-2017-national-league-all-st…

8:39	Paul Swydan: C’mon Matt, get it together!

8:40	Paul Swydan: I ALREADY WANT TO SEE DUNKIRK I DON’T NEED TO SEE MORE FOOTAGE OF IT.

8:41	apples: Are the trainers voted on by the players too? That would be amazing to figure out who the best are and why

8:41	Paul Swydan: I don’t think they’re voted on by the players, no.

8:42	Paul Swydan: Arenado shouting out the side-arm throw. Classic.

8:43	Stove: Speaking of Dunkirk, Chris Nolan has to be on my all-star team for film directors.

8:43	Paul Swydan: Eh, maybe. How big is the roster?

8:44	Morris Buttermaker: Did A Rod sound a little bitter about moving to 3rd for Jeter?

8:44	Paul Swydan: That’s not how I heard it, no. It’s stupid how good A-Rod is at broadcasting after seeming so awkward his entire career.

8:44	Zane: Wut. Why is AROD walking around interviewing players literally on the infield dirt before the inning?

8:45	Paul Swydan: They’re trying stuff, Zane. It’s an exhibition game. I’m fine with it.

8:45	Paul Swydan: Thanks to Joe Buck for telling us all that Tito is Francona’s nickname.

8:45	apples: Neshek! this is what the people at home want to see

8:45	Paul Swydan: This is … interesting.

8:46	Matt : If smoak becomes Joey Bats/ E5 2.0 does Cameron get I told you so rights against the entire Fangraphs staff?

8:46	Paul Swydan: What? Dave has been telling us all that Smoak is the worst for like, ever.

8:47	Mattingly’s Sideburns: I get that Neshek has been good but I feel like the all-star game should be lined up with the best pitchers for at least the first few innings.

8:47	Paul Swydan: Well, if it means that the best pitchers are pitching later, I’ll let it slide. If it means we’re in for 8 innings of the worst pitchers on the roster, then I’ll be upset.

8:47	Will: How much would ingratiating himself as a friendly and self-deprecating broadcaster over the next 5 years help A-Rod getting into the HOF?

8:47	Paul Swydan: You’re joking, right?

8:47	Paul Swydan: THE FLOW.

8:48	Paul Swydan: THE SHOES.

8:48	Paul Swydan: It’s all happening.

8:48	Matt : God it was Sullivan who wrote that article wasn’t it

8:48	Matt : what the heck is wrong with me

8:48	Paul Swydan: Matt, sit down. Have a beer. Everyone has off-days.

8:48	Paul Swydan: It’ll be OK.

8:49	Chuck Knoblauch: How do you go to commercial before a replay of the flip.

8:49	Paul Swydan: Oh god, FOX does this all the time.

8:49	Paul Swydan: At least they showed a replay of the play.

8:49	Paul Swydan: They often go to break without showing any replay at all.

8:49	Stove: Harper planking hair flip. 8/10 would steal yo girl

8:50	Paul Swydan: Just 8/10 ? You’re a tough critic, Stove!

8:50	Mike: Maddon is just letting pitchers play with their teammates. Scherzer and the inevitably traded Neshek with the Nats starters, then wood and Jensen when he puts all the dodgers in

8:50	Paul Swydan: Good ole Joe Maddon, that’s why the players love him!

8:51	Paul Swydan: Would have been great to see that hit.

8:51	Paul Swydan: There we go.

8:51	Zane: Can Harper be awarded the official title of “coolest player ever?” Or at least institute an annual “coolest player” award?

8:51	Paul Swydan: Pretty sure that would be the Pedro Martinez Award.

8:52	apples: You think if Huston Street was an all star he’d refuse to come in the 2nd inning

8:52	Paul Swydan: Probably. He’d want to close, haha.

8:53	Zane: You know, I initially intended that as a joke, but now I think the Pedro Martinez Award would actually be good for baseball. People like watching flashy players, so introduce an award for flashy, cool players!

8:53	Paul Swydan: I don’t disagree.

8:54	Mike: Did correa miss the bag?

8:54	Paul Swydan: Thought he had it.

8:54	Will: We need a baseball version of Silicon Valley, where Jeter’s other investors fall through and he is forced to partner with A-Rod to buy the Marlins, with the showing following them trying to co-run a baseball team.

8:55	Paul Swydan: I like how Perez stared at the runner coming home before he fired to first.

8:57	Mike: Any Yankee who wins proposed Pedro award is cut.

8:57	Paul Swydan:

8:58	Rated Rookie: Care to interrupt the live blogging to comment on the present ability and upside of Luis Castillo?

8:58	Paul Swydan: No because we already had a Luis Castillo and this new Luis Castillo is confusing me!

8:59	Paul Swydan: Kidding. He seems pretty good, but let’s talk when his HR/9 isn’t close to 2.

8:59	Zane: OMG The Freeze is there!!! Check MLB’s twitter!!!

8:59	asg fan: APPARENTLY THE FREEZE IS COMING OUT

9:00	Paul Swydan: (whispers) I think The Freeze is stupid.

9:00	Stove: CMart triple digit alert

9:00	Zane: 101 mph alert

9:00	My Baby Won’t Fall Asleep: I loved the original Luis Castillo. I’ll watch the reboot for suresies

9:00	Stove: CMart triple digit alert x2

9:00	hscer: I’m participating in a Fangraphs chat. AMA

9:00	Paul Swydan: Were you excited to see future Nat Pat Neshek on the mound?

9:00	asg fan: apparently the freeze lost 🙁

9:00	Paul Swydan: hahahahahahaha

9:00	Will: Neshek and Martinez? really?

9:01	Paul Swydan: What’s wrong with Carlos Martinez?

9:01	Paul Swydan: He’s the fifth-best NL pitcher. 4th-best who’s playing (stupid Dodgers). http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&…

9:02	hscer: wherever Neshek goes I hope it’s to close; I’ve got him in a league

9:02	Paul Swydan: lol

9:02	Stove: CMart triple digit alert x3

9:02	Paul Swydan: Jose Ramirez early frontrunner for MVP?

9:02	Stove: CMart triple digit alert x4

9:03	Mike: 5th, alex wood not on that list, thanks Dodgers

9:03	Paul Swydan: Yeah I didn’t update it after the article ran.

9:03	Paul Swydan: http://imgur.com/6IGDHJo

9:04	Paul Swydan:

9:04	Will: I was just expecting Greinke and Strasburg in the early going, but also I didn’t realize quite how good Martinez has been.

9:04	Paul Swydan: Fair. I’d like to see Strasburg too.

9:05

Scruffy-Lookin’ Nerf Hurler: Have you ever rejected a trade from a rival/top team because you don’t want him/her getting anymore top players? Also have you ever rejected a deal/refused to trade with someone because you didn’t trust them to not just hand over (notorious for ‘bad deals’) a top traded player to another top team? Also go ASG! #idratherwatchaskillscompetition

9:05	Paul Swydan: Yes, to both.

9:06	Paul Swydan: Haha, Altuve ad.

9:06	hscer: Did you know Carlos Martinez throws fast?

9:06	Paul Swydan: I did, yes.

9:06	Coldbottom: the gun seems a little hot tonight …Since when have CMart and Sale repeatedly hit 100 in a game?

9:06	Paul Swydan: DON’T RUIN OUR FUN NEVILLE COLDBOTTOM.

9:07	hscer: since they only had to throw 1-2 innings at a time?

9:07	Zane: Martinez all the time–he’s hit 101 in the 7th inning up around 100 pitches before, and he only has to throw one inning today

9:07	Will: Someone is gonna shell out the money for an Altuve/Judge ad campaign and it’s gonna be awesome.

9:07	Jay: Jose Ramirez early MVP pick?

9:08	Paul Swydan: I said that last inning Jay, try to keep up! (Yes, I think so.)

9:08	Paul Swydan: Is it me or the Astros not wearing their normal hats?

9:08	Paul Swydan: “You better back up.” This is why people hate Joe Buck. Shut up, Joe.

9:09	Mike: All teams wear gold cap logos in the asg.

9:09	Paul Swydan: That’s stupid.

9:09	Paul Swydan: Filthy from Betances.

9:10	Zane: The colors on the ‘stros hats are different. Also, I like the whole “talk to the player literally during the game” thing. Thoughts?

9:10	Paul Swydan: I would have liked it better if it was Ken or John doing it, but yes, I liked it.

9:10	Morris Buttermaker: Its another hat to sell though!

9:11	Paul Swydan: I feel like MLB has saturated the market past the point of usefulness, but that’s just a feeling. Maybe people like them.

9:11	Stove: oh my. looks like someone invited Betances’ uncle charlie to the party and he came without showering

9:11	Zock Jr.: Wait. Are they interviewing Springer WHILE he’s playijg left field? That feels absurd

9:11	Peter: So could Fox mute Smoltz andBuck and just let the players mic audio go through for the game? An inning at least?

9:12	Paul Swydan: Would be cool to listen to the catcher or the infielders. Not sure an inning of Springer just standing there would be fun though.

9:12	Paul Swydan: First baseman would prob be the best.

9:12	Mike: The talk to a player thing way better than the on deck interview

9:12	Mike: See betances gold NY there

9:12	Paul Swydan: Yeah I see it now.

9:12	Matt : I assume you’re a booky person Paul, any books you’d recommend similar to Ball Four? Baseball and otherwise.

9:12	Paul Swydan: Shockingly, I’ve never read Ball Four.

9:13	Paul Swydan: Baseball books I’d instantly recommend – Travis’ “Big Data Baseball,” Jonah’s Expos’ book, Crasnick’s book, Passan’s book, “The Teammates” by Halberstam, “We Could’ve Finished Last Without You” by Bob Hope (not THAT Bob Hope).

9:13	Paul Swydan: So many others.

9:14	Morris Buttermaker: Love how we had a 30 minute ceremony to honer latin players and joe buck is butchering Betances’ name.

9:14	Da Bum: Thoughts on Harper draft teams idea? I love it.

9:14	Paul Swydan: Oh it’d be amazing. Let’s do it already.

9:15	Paul Swydan: Keep the one player per team rule, and keep the fan vote for starters, but then mix it up and let the captains pick. Who wouldn’t want to see this?

9:15	Paul Swydan: They already tried it a few years ago with the HR Derby.

9:15	Mattingly’s Sideburns: Betances is awesome but I feel like he could go full Daniel Bard at any moment.

9:15	Paul Swydan: Hope not. Bard’s downfall was sad to watch.

9:16	ChatzMcGee: Bryce Harper knew the strikes weren’t coming, that was actually a neat insight. “I feel like he’s guy you just take”

9:16	CW: I have always like the idea of putting microphones on players, with the down time in between pitches and pitching changes I think it would be interesting to hear what players say to each other.

9:16	Da Bum: The Clemente biography I’m reading is great. Clemente Baseballs Last Hero

9:17	Paul Swydan: I read the Dave Maraniss one. That one was great. Probably any book about Clemente is great.

9:17	Chuck Knoblauch: I’ve wanted a draft for a long time. I would watch the heck out of the draft special. Put them all in a room and do it playground style, have a good laugh at the undeserving fan vote recipient picked last.

9:17	hscer: of course, Bryce did swing twice first lol…neither of those caught plate either…maybe that’s actually when he made the adjustment/observation though

9:17	hscer: that was some variety of a show that Betances put on

9:17	Paul Swydan: Fun game so far, we just need some runs!

9:19	Paul Swydan: Kipnis has to be cringing watching that ad right now. I’d love to know why they picked him for it.

9:19	Paul Swydan: Oh I see, the Cardinals pitcher gets a second inning. Nothing fishy there!

9:20	Jaime: When will we see the first position player subs

9:20	Paul Swydan: Probably next inning.

9:20	fresh basil: Boring prediction: Josh Harrison hits a leadoff 8th inning homer for a 1-0 NL win

9:20	Paul Swydan: Heard it here first!

9:21	Paul Swydan: He asked him about his undershirt.

9:21	Paul Swydan: Harper almost swore!

9:21	Mike: There had better be some stupid Dodger fan service in the late innings

9:21	Paul Swydan: Maybe he’s waiting for all the west coast people to get home from work. That Joe Maddon, what a guy!

9:21	Stove: re: Cardinals pitcher pitching two. Sale got 2 innings as well

9:22	Paul Swydan: Yes, but Joe Maddon isn’t in charge of him.

9:22	Jaime: Not boring prediction: Trout swoops in in the ninth inning to hit a go ahead grand slam

9:22	hscer: Michael Jordan is apparently now a part of Jeter’s Miami bid.

9:23	Paul Swydan: I saw that. If his old boss Jerry Reinsdorf could do both NBA and MLB, and his old rival Magic Johnson can do both, then why not His Airness, right?

9:24	Mike: I meant with the awful astros ads re: fanservice

9:24	Paul Swydan: Oh. Yeah, well I expect we’ll see a Nats one this inning because they are interviewing Harper. Dodgers later.

9:24	Will: They should keep Judge and Harper in the whole game right?

9:24	Paul Swydan: They should, but they won’t.

9:24	Travis: John Helyar’s “Lords of the Realm” is a top baseball book of all time. Covers the structural development of the player’s union & how the owners are basically little children.

9:25	Paul Swydan: That’s another one that I have shockingly not read.

9:25	Zane: I really, really want a ball to be hit to Harper right now (or just whoever is mic’d up at some point later in the game).

9:25

Kevin: Construct the best possible starting lineup where all players are from different countries. Here’s the best I could come up with:
C- Yasmani Grandal – Cuba
1B- Joey Votto – Canada
2B- Jonathan Schoop – Curacao
3B- Carlos Correa – Puerto Rico (this may be cheating)
SS- Xander Bogaerts – Aruba
CF- Ender Inciarte – Venezuela
OF- Mike Trout – USA
OF- Marcel Ozuna – Dominican

SP- Yu Darvish – Japan

9:25	Paul Swydan: Will give you PR. That’s not cheating.

9:25	Paul Swydan: That’s a pretty good team.

9:26	Paul Swydan: WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NFL. COME ON GUYS.

9:26	NihilistDuda: Great baseball book “Have Glove Will Travel” by Bill “Spaceman” Lee

9:27	Stove: Pretty sure Harper snuck a “he’s pretty f*ing good” in at the end.

9:27	Paul Swydan: Ha.

9:27	Paul Swydan: BRB.

9:30	Paul Swydan: Taking the orange out of the Astros’ and Orioles’ hats looks really bad, I’m sorry.

9:30	Chuck Knoblauch: Paul’s gone, let’s evaluate players based on RBI totals!

9:30	Cam: Jason Vargas – this is who we are all here to see.

9:31	Paul Swydan: 8th by WAR.

9:31	Paul Swydan: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&…

9:31	Paul Swydan: We’ll see some runs this inning I think.

9:31	Zane: Jason Vargas just threw an 85 mph fastball high above the zone

9:32	Paul Swydan: FEATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9:32	I love: Mookie Betts

9:32	Mike: Wtf arenado

9:32	Jaime: Arenado looked kinda slow

9:32	Stove: Betts may have just cancelled your in play, (runs) prediction

9:32	hscer: “We’ll see some runs this inning I think.” Not if Nolan Arenado has anything to say about it

9:32	Zane: And the award for dumbest double play goes to…

9:33	Paul Swydan: I don’t think Arenado expected to be challenged. That was awesome.

9:33	ChatzMcGee: Votto and Goldschmidt>>>Zimmerman.

9:33	fresh basil: Brad Mills looks like a shop teacher

9:34	Paul Swydan: Now that’s a burn. I’d say drill sergeant. He looks like a young Sgt. Hulka.

9:34	Paul Swydan: LOOK IT UP.

9:34	ChatzMcGee: Nolan Arenado runs funny, also slow.

9:34	Mike: No one told Arenado that betts leads mlb in Arm runs.

9:34	Zane: Like…I know Vargas induces a lot of double plays, but really? That’s how it happened? Great play by the cutoff man to let that go through tho

9:34	Paul Swydan: That was cool to see on the replay. Also, how nonchalant Schoop was laying the tag down. Awesome stuff.

9:35	Mike: Predictions. Turner at 3B. Goldy at 1b.

9:35	iamyourlager: Who are some players who stopped played before 2015 that you’d like to see their Statcast pages for?

9:36	Paul Swydan: Manny and Pedro, obviously. Rivera. Rickey. Bonds.

9:36	Paul Swydan: The biggest help would be with older generations.

9:36	Paul Swydan: It would be great to see who really had the athletic ability that would translate to today.

9:37	Stove: Sgt. Hulka ^^^ (not spam link)

9:37	Paul Swydan: See, now put glasses on him and make him ~15 years younger. Boom, Brad Mills.

9:37	Murdoc : Commercial question- Archer Dreamland thoughts? I wanted one or two more episodes

9:37	Paul Swydan: Me too, but it was still fun. They need to tell us if Archer is dead or not next season though. Quit jerking us around.

9:37	Paul Swydan: The show CAN still be funny without him.

9:38	Nic: You think they keep judge in to get a 3rd at bat?

9:38	Paul Swydan: If it’s this inning, maybe.

9:38	Will: Was there a Jose Fernandez tribute at the start of the game? I missed part of the pregame.

9:38	Paul Swydan: I didn’t see one, no.

9:39	Jim: Is Ian Kinsler a Hall of Famer?

9:39	Paul Swydan: Not for me, no.

9:39	NihilistDuda: Love to see Ruth & Aarons statcast

9:39	dan: Drink every time someone says “For Me…..” when discussing an obvious/universally believed opinion about a player

9:39	Paul Swydan: Ha.

9:39	Julio Pepper: If a team is 41-39, are they 1 game over .500, or 2 games over .500? I think of 41-40 as “1/2 over .500.”

9:39	Paul Swydan: That’s not how I think of it, Julio Pepper.

9:39	Chuck Knoblauch: Aw man, we Netflix people are a season behind on Archer.

9:40	Paul Swydan: Sorry dude. At least it’s still on Netflix?

9:40	Stove: Arenado couldn’t scoop Schoop’s scorcher

9:40	Paul Swydan: Stove is hot tonight, you guys.

9:40	Big Joey: Pick 2 out of these 3 for the ROS: Thames, Alonso, Lonnie

9:40	Paul Swydan: first 2

9:41	Paul Swydan: Baseball is fun when people hit the ball.

9:42	HappyFunBall: RUNZ!

9:42	Jaime: Sano CRUSHES a double

9:42	Chuck Knoblauch: Boy, the NL is so uncoordinated out there. You would think it’s their first time playing together, but here we are at the All Star break and this still happens.

9:43	dan: what can explain a spike in giving up HR for a pitcher while other things like k/9, bb/9 and BAA remain the same?

9:43	Paul Swydan: The ball.

9:44	Bruce: Judge 0 for 3. BUST. send him down to the minors.

9:44	Carlos: That ball fell between 3 Nats

9:44	Paul Swydan: I think that was the joke, Carlos. 🙂

9:44	hscer: agree on Archer needing to tell us what’s really happening, but it sounds like Reed is happy to just do the same thing for two more seasons and be done

9:45	Paul Swydan: It does, but I’m hoping he’s just trying to not tell the truth about it.

9:45	Paul Swydan: Hey did you know that Aaron Judge is good?

9:46	Mike: http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/07/11/241763402/manny-machado-visits-all…

9:46	Mike: That’s Manny Machado sneaking into the ASG as family to Yonder Alonso

9:47	Paul Swydan: Should have worn a less conspicuous hat.

9:48	Ryan: So where does Cozart get traded?

9:48	Paul Swydan: Not sure he does.

9:49	Paul Swydan: Kintzler, huh? OK.

9:49	Roger: Which 2017 all star is least likely to be back in 2018?

9:49	Paul Swydan: Kintzler is a good choice. 🙂

9:50	Paul Swydan: Relief pitchers are usually the best choice to that question, unless there is someone you know is retiring.

9:50	Jaime: Who do people wanna see? Lance McCullers? Luis Severino? No. We want Brandon Kintzler

9:51	Rick: Agreed on relievers, but counterpoint: Jason Vargas

9:51	Paul Swydan: That’s a good one too.

9:52	Paul Swydan: I stand up for my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Both gone too soon.

9:53	Stove: Wait, Lexus is branding imaginary futuristic vehicles in a sci-fi flick? Is that what I’m seeing now? Man, I thought branding in video games was reaching a bit. New frontiers, folks

9:53	Will: Oh my god. Did someone in the booth think Adam Scott the actor was also Adam Scott one of the world’s best golfers?

9:54	Paul Swydan: No, Joe Buck just sucks at making jokes.

9:54	Tor: More future All Star appearances: Judge or Trout?

9:54	Paul Swydan: Trout

9:54	Paul Swydan: I like that MLB thinks Rizzo is important enough to represent them in a national ad campaign, but not important enough to grease him into the ASG.

9:55	Paul Swydan: Good job, MLB.

9:55	Zane: I like the Chad Bettis signs from the Rockies though.

9:56	apples: more future all star appearances: Judge or Betts !

9:56	Paul Swydan: Betts

9:56	Mike: Lots of players with family members too. Connie Moustakas, Megan Lamb.

9:56	Paul Swydan: I’m sure. We really all do have someone to stand up for. Cancer sucks.

9:57	hscer: I’ve been thinking about telling 3 minutes worth of jokes in front of people for a couple years now. Maybe Joe Buck is why I haven’t just taken the plunge yet. I think I have that much material–just not that much good material ; p

9:57	Paul Swydan: Only way you’ll know is just to do it. I believe in you.

9:58	Travis: I miss watching Chipper Jones hit and Greg Maddux pitch and Andruw Jones defend. Those were fun times.

9:58	Paul Swydan: That they were. Maddux would be a great Statcast guy.