VS. 
Counting down to the All-Star Game in which Anaheim is the host so I probably actually have to watch it this year.
National League @ American League
Starters: NL– Ubaldo Jimenez (15-1, 2.20 ERA) AL – David Price (12-4, 2.42 ERA)
Info: 5:00 PM PT TV-Fox; Radio-ESPN Radio, KLAA 830 AM, KWKW 1330 AM
5. Talk about starting off the festivities on a sour note with the news that George Steinbrenner passed away early this morning. Say what you want about George and the Yankees (and we could all say some less than flattering thing, but I at least will refrain for a short time out of respect for the dead), but tonight’s game will no doubt have a much more dour tone to it in light of this news. The Boss may have been a polarizing figure but it is hard to argue against the impact he had on the baseball landscape as he built the Yankees back into a perennial contender. RIP, George.
4. OK, on a happier note, I am now taking bets on who will get a louder pop from the crowd: Torii Hunter or Vladimir Guerrero? Vlad should get a decent cheer, but after his recent punishing of the Angels will probably keep it at a dull roar. As for Torii, he will no doubt get a huge ovation, but there is a chance that Joe Girardi could fail to put him in the game since apparently that is all the rage among AL managers in recent All-Star games.
3. Fortunately, even Joe Girardi isn’t dumb enough to not play the only Angel on the roster when the game is being played in Anaheim, so we are sure to see Hunter early and probably for several innings. I also think that this All-Star Weekend is going to be dominated by Angels. Hank Conger was already the MVP of the Futures Game and I am going to predict that Torii Hunter finds a way to become the MVP of the All-Star Game.
2. Obviously if Torii is winning the MVP, that means that the American League will continue their All-Star domination over the Senior Circuit who hasn’t won the Midsummer Classic since 1997. Hopefully that will turn out to be good news for the Halos and they will be the ones to enjoy homefield advantage during the World Series. Hmm, maybe they should just focus on winning the division first.
1. I’ll be honest, I don’t really like the All-Star Game. It is just a silly exhibition game to me. Having it count for homefield advantage in the World Series has made it much more competitive, which is a good thing, but normally I don’t watch (especially since it means subjecting myself to three-plus hours of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver). However, because the game is in Angel Stadium, I guess I don’t really have a choice do I? Even if they only have one player in the game, the Angels are still the host and that is just enough to pique my interest.
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