The MLB Gold Glove Award Winners were unveiled this week. If you missed it, here is a quick recap of the winners.
National League P, Greg Maddux, LAD C, Yadier Molina, STL 1B, Adrian Gonzalez, SD 2B, Brandon Phillips, CIN 3B, David Wright, NYM SS, Jimmy Rollins, PHI OF, Carlos Beltran, NYM OF, Nate McLouth, PIT OF, Shane Victorino, PHI
Greg Maddux won a record 18th Gold Glove, and I was not expecting Adrian Gonzalez to be on the list. However, Adrian was one of the few bright spots the Padres had this season. Ditto with Nate McLouth on the Pirates.
And In The American League: American League P, Mike Mussina, NYY C, Joe Mauer, MIN 1B, Carlos Pena, TB 2B, Dustin Pedroia, BOS 3B, Adrian Beltre, SEA SS, Michael Young, TEX OF, Torii Hunter, LAA OF, Grady Sizemore, CLE OF, Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
It was good to see a Ray get on this list. All of Baseball knew about Carlos Pena's offense, but his defense is why he is one of the best first basemen in the American League. I was expecting to see Jacoby Ellsbury's name on the list.
What An Incredible All Star Game! The American League won for the eleventh year in a row, 4-3. Michael Young hit the game winning Sacrifice Fly, Scoring Justin Morneau as he just beat the tag from Brian McCann and the American League keeps their streak going.
I watched all 15 innings last night, and here's what I want to talk about in that game.
1.This Was, No Question, the greatest All Star Game ever. There's no doubt that Yankee Stadium put on a tremendous show over the last two days. That amazing Home Run Derby was just Icing on the cake for the All Star Game. You could tell before the game started that we were going to see something special. Boy, we did! The game went back and fourth and really could have gone either way. Who knows, they may have played for five hours if the throw home to McCann was a little more on line.
What a great All Star Game! Regardless of the league you were rooting for, there's no way you can't say that both leagues gave their all.
2.Thank God The NL Didn't play for a tie. If The National League had come through with Runners In Scoring Position, they could have won that game in nine innings. What a job by Clint Hurdle, as this was the Closest the National League had come in a while to actually have a shot at winning this thing.
3.Why Did Clint Hurdle put the injured Dan Uggla in last? Something I Will not understand. If Chase Utley had been in the game instead of the injured Dan Uggla, the winning run would not have been on first in the fifteenth inning. It's not Uggla's fault the NL lost, but Clint Hurdle definitely should have saved someone to play second if the game went into extras, knowing that Dan Uggla was not 100 percent.
4.Michael Young Is A National League Killer! Michael Young again leads to the winning run scoring. He had the game winning hit in 2006 in Pittsburgh, and at Yankee Stadium in 2008, Michael Young again hits the Game Winner, as he hit the Game Winning Sacrafice fly to give the American League Home Field Advantage again.
Michael Young should have won the All Star Game MVP Award instead of J.D. Drew.
5.Next Year, The Streak Will End. You read it here first. The National League will remember that they were so close to winning this year, in hostile territory. Next year, the All Star Game will be played in a National League Park,Busch Stadium, the home of the most passionate National League fans in Baseball, St Louis Cardinals fans.
I hope you enjoyed the All Star Game as much as I did, regardless of the result.
