And with that the 2015 All-Star Game was effectively over. The Nationals barely registered a pulse and, spoiler alert 7 months after the fact, Mike Trout was awarded ASG MVP honors. Trout has now blasted two ASG lead off home runs in his career and has also hit for the cycle (single-double-triple-home run) from the ASG lead off spot during his brief career. This just in; Mike Trout is pretty good!
Lou got much better photos of the action:
On deck was the eventual 2015 American League MVP, Toronto's Josh Donaldson:
Such as:
The National League dugout all jammed up with All-Stars. And is that Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich I see sporting a
Back to the action!
Of course, Josh Donaldson made it safely to first base where he was held on by a National League first baseman not named Joey Votto. After his near-MVP season, Votto expressed disappointment in himself for under performing during the first half and thus missing his opportunity to play - and perhaps - start for his home team. Votto recently said he put too much pressure on himself and if there is one thing we have learned about the 2010-2015 Reds, unfailingly they fail under pressure. Case in point:
Frazier batted with Bryce Harper on deck (above):
And grounded out. Evidently, winning the previous night's Home Run Derby sapped Todd of his energy. Albert Poleholtz [sic] squats at first.
Bryce ended the home half of the first inning on another weak grounder:
Between innings I captured some atmospheric selfies because, you know, vanity:
Fooling around with my Android I noticed, overhead, how light from the light tower in the humid evening air was being refracted into a vaporous fog. Note the top of the right field foul pole in the upper left corner of the photo above.
Who loves ya, baby?!
Is there a game going on?
Due to the possibility of inclement weather that evening I wore my old Reds cap (the one I refer to as my "rain cap" and wear on - you guessed it - rainy days) instead of my nice Reds cap with the proper white wishbone C logo. This rain cap rides around with me in the car, year after year, and while it remains structurally sound it is fading rather a lot.
Back to the action!
The biggest attraction of an All-Star Game, its very raison d'être, is for the opportunity to see in person all the best players in the game. Like Baltimore's Adam Jones (above) who must be in the conversation for best current outfielders. And like.....
..... Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez, maybe the best pitcher in the Major Leagues who.....
..... induced another weak ground out by Todd Frazier.
Perhaps the brightest young pitcher today is Tampa Bay's Chris Archer:
Archer is an easy kid to root for; good pitcher, great attitude. In the photo above he was loosening up in right field between innings.
Detroit's David Price is another easy guy to root for. He has fans everywhere, including Heavy Artillery sources deep inside the Reds organization.
Everywhere one looked that night, Mike Trout was hustlin'!
Show off!
Eventually, Chris Archer got into the game for the Americans:
Good for him! This is a kid you need to root for.
And what's this?!
Reds and Pirates exchanging a high-five!
Everybody is modestly respectful of Andrew McCutchen!
The Nationals gave Frazier one more at-bat:
From Home Run Derby champ to All-Star Game chump in less than 24 hours. Ouch, babe.
The Cubs' Kris Bryant would go on to be the 2015 N.L. Rookie of the Year.
Speaking of bears, coming out of a television commercial break in the later innings, some broadcast advertiser featuring a bear in their ad then had a bear (or maybe it was a guy in a bear suit although I remain unconvinced) in the ball park as part of the promotion and the bear was standing at the back of my section of seats waving to the camera!
See?! There at the left? That's a real live bear! Right? Right?!
Next up in ASG2015; the highlight for Reds fans!
Roll the credits!
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