MLB All Star Game
I know everyone is all caught up with the coin flip Home Run Derby, but I will start exploring what to do for the All Star Game itself.
Anyone who has known me for the past 7 years knows that I always gravitate towards the under for this event, and with good reason. Nothing is going to change this year. Let's break it down. At glance, this looks like a game that quite favors the National League..especially in the pitching department. However, management will be very crucial in this game..and we have two of the best here in Terry Francona and Joe Maddon.
Terry Francona is a mastermind in terms of pitching matchups, and he knows that the NL boasts a more prominent lineup of pitching studs. Though it will be his assistant Brad Mills taking over, he will carry over the same philosophy. I've said before this in previous All Star Games, but an ideal pitching lineup for an All Star game should consist mainly of setup closers, closers, and other top end reliable relievers that have been programmed to pitch short sessions. Of course for ratings purposes, we will never see an entire All Star Pitching lineup that consists solely of relievers, but don't be surprised if Francona goes to the five relievers sooner than later. The American League consists of a lot of high strikeout starting pitchers, with knuckle curve and off speed mixes in guys such as Yu Darvish and Lance McCullers. If managed properly, this will be enough to throw NL hitters off their focus. While I do have my doubts about early season overachievers such as Jason Vargas, Luis Severino, and Ervin Santana, I don't think enough damage will be done to run up the score because of any of these guys. While the NL hitting lineup looks like a pretty typical representation of the best hitters in the NL, also keep in mind that a large chunk of them consists of Dodgers and Rockies hitters; two teams that are trained to perform under the unique features of their climates and ballparks. Hitting under controlled circumstances in an indoor park may influence their ability to perform on that same level.
The National League pitching staff looks a lot more standout in terms of reliability. Nobody really expects Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer to be the weak links, and they also have six relievers to fall back on..most of which are closers. This will be a ton to handle for opposing hitters.
Though we do not have the advantage of shadows like we have had in previous years in west coast parks, we have the advantage of a large indoor ballpark where the nasty Miami humidity will not be a factor. I expect this to be a Mills vs Maddon grind, and for the runs to come at a premium.
UNDER 9 -120
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