Usually, I am writing from the All-Star festivities, but not this year. For a lot of reasons, I am watching the events unfold through the magic of television, just like everyone else.  While it means I am not immersed in all the fan activities that go along around the All-Star game that fans at home don’t know about,  it also means I am seeing what everyone else is seeing, and that is a good thing.

Especially last night.  The Home Run Derby is actually more fun if you are at home, unless you have a seat in the outfield.  In the stadium, the distances are announced, and it can be fun if you have a connection to the player that is hitting, but really, its just a 4 hour batting practice with an announcer.  And while I found Chris Berman to be trying to hard, and Bobby Valentine’s and Joe Morgan’s competition to get the last word to be annoying, I did enjoy watching the players and how much fun they were having.

One thing I have found interesting over the years is how rarely the favorite wins the home run derby.  I actually expected Nick Swisher to have a chance, just because he was such a dark horse in the whole thing. But last night, the guy who’s entire career has been hitting home runs was the guy that became victorious.  And, honestly, I was very happy.  Forget that he is a Boston Red Sox player.  Remember who he is off the field.  And if you don’t know, then check out this very flattering Nick Cafardo piece with great quotes from players from around the league.

And what a show!  Even Corey Hart, the player with the least name recognition put up a good showing in the first round.  But having Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez last until the end was also exciting- with the young versus old, the AL versus the NL and the best power hitter versus best overall hitter storylines. Experience counts in this one. And so we tip out cap to David Ortiz.

Tonight should be interesting as well.  Why? Because the line-ups seems to be backwards.  A quick look at the American League line-up and we see speed and singles hitters all through it, what was once called a National league type of team.  The National League line-up has just the opposite, with home run hitters sprinkled throughout.   Boy how the game has changed.

Ubaldo Jimenez and David Price, some very young pitchers will start the game for their prospective teams.  The torch clearly has been passed.

So I will watch the game on TV tonight.  I may pop on throughout the game to comment on either the game, the broadcast or the players themselves.  Its been a long time since I have sat and watched- hopefully, I will be glad to see the whole thing from the fan’s real perspective.  If not, you will all know very soon.