AL DOMINATION
After Tuesday nights 4-2 win at Petco Park in San Diego, the American League is 22-6-1 in the last 29 All-Star Games. The National League leads the all-time series at 43-42-2.
YOUNG CUB CLUBBIN’
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant homered in the first inning off cross-town rival Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox to give the NL a 1-0 lead, becoming the eighth Cubs player to homer in the Midsummer Classic, joining Augie Galan (1936), Hank Sauer (1952), Hall of Famer Ernie Banks (1960), George Altman (1961), Hall of Famer Billy Williams (1964), HOF Andre Dawson (1991) and Alfonso Soriano (2007).
(Photo Credit: chicagosuntimes.com)
DREAM TEAMERS
Kansas City Royals teammates Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez each homered in the second inning. Hosmer, who was named MVP, hit a solo blast to tie the game at 1-1, while the two-run bomb by Perez put the AL ahead for good. The homers marked the fifth and sixth by a Royals player in All-star history, joining Cookie Rojas, HOF third baseman George Brett, Frank White and the incomparable Bo Jackson, who hit a moon shot in 1989.
SIKE !
Replay review was invoked for the first time in All-Star history when Washington Nationals baller Daniel Murphy was called out on a force play at first base in the top of the fifth inning. The call was overturned and turned out to be a momentum changer in the game.
SOUL BATTERS NO. 1
Baseballs annual batting championships have been named in honor of Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew, MLB announced during Tuesday nights pregame festivities. The players who sport the highest batting averages in each League will be known as the Tony Gwynn National League Batting Champion and the Rod Carew American League Batting Champion.
The award pays homage to two of the dopest hitters of baseballs modern era. As African-American participation at the major league level has dwindled over the last 20 years, the award is a reminder of how important, influential and dominating many of those players have been historically.
MIGGY MOVING ON COOPERSTOWN
Miguel Cabrera made his 11th All-Star appearance on Tuesday night. The prolific hitter, who is also baseballs last Triple Crown winner, has the most selections of any active MLB player. David Ortiz of the Red Sox and Ichiro Suzuki have 10.
WHERE ARE THE BROTHERS IN THE BOOTH?
On Tuesday, MLB Commissioner Ron Manfred had a Town Hall Chat with the media. The chat which began years ago with several e-mails answered casually in an office has grown into a world-wide phenomenon and highly anticipated event. Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Enberg helped to moderate the conversation as the Commish fielded a range of questions from a huge baseball audience at the 2016 MLB All-Star Fan Fest 2016.
While diversity on the baseball field has been an issue of concern for MLB and one in which they have made great strides in trying to improve with different programs and youth academies designed to inspire and identify minority talent, the issue of lack of diversity in baseball broadcasting is still troubling and unaddressed.
A fan named Jack M asked Manfred what the league can do to bring individuals from diverse backgrounds into the broadcasting booth, which has remained predominantly white.
We work hard on the issue of diversity in all of the significant — all positions not just the significant ones in baseball. said Commisioner Manfred. In fact, if you look across the broadcast booths we have great diversity, a lot of Spanish-speaking broadcasters, former players of color that are involved in the game. But the trick with these jobs just like any high-profile job in baseball is we work hard to develop a pipeline of qualified individuals that are available to the clubs when they go to fill these high-profile positions.
Added Enberg: I was privileged for a couple of years to have as my partner in the FOX broadcast booth Tony Gwynn and just rubbing shoulders with Tony was fabulous.
