Sure it’s a week early but I can’t help myself. I can’t wait!

Before I continue, I just have to say how proud I really am to have the Big A host this year’s All Star Game. It’s truly an honor and a thrill as well! I’m very excited to invite everyone into what I consider my second home. The crew and the organization have been working endlessly to make improvements to the stadium. Anything to make one’s all star experience that much better. Everyone is excited!

The All Star game is meaningful in many ways because it has so much history tied into it. In fact 80 years of history. I’m watching ESPN’s Always All Star show as I’m typing this and getting informed (by Angel’s own four time all star Torii Hunter as host) on great all star and home run derby moments from the past. It’s amazing to watch clips of Babe Ruth, Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente, etc. I don’t know any other sport that honestly cherishes its tradition and former players as much as baseball does. All Star games in the past consisted of the nation’s best players and it was probably a sight to see. Even the Home Run Derby puts on a show each and every year! Bobby Abreu? Josh Hamilton? Ken Griffey Jr? Vladimir Guerrero? It goes on and on!

Not only is the ASG a place where the nation’s best come to play on one field it is also a fierce rivalry between the two leagues. Though lately, AL has been dominating you never really know who’s going to win the game for sure. NL is very talented this year as well. I love the AL v NL rivalry which is probably why I do enjoy Interleague play. 

ASG is something I look forward to each year but lately it seems as if people are losing interest which is so unfortunate. The ratings haven’t been pretty high which puzzles me. I also think the selection of players upsets people year after year because you usually find a lot of the same players going in every year despite their stats resulting in many snubs. Speaking of snubs….. there are a lot of players that were snubbed this year which baffled me beyond belief.

Jered Weaver deserved to be an All star and for him to be snubbed twice in a row upsets me. Especially as an Angel fan and as someone who saw him grow as a rookie to the ace that he is now. Although I now understand that he is ineligible to pitch because he is scheduled to pitch the preceding Sunday. That is a new rule that was added this year which also puzzles me. I don’t think a person should be denied just because he happened to pitch the day preceding the all star game. In fact CC Sabathia is pitching prior to the All Star game and he got chosen despite the fact that he was going to be replaced? That confuses me…. **WHOH ladies and gents! I just got info that Jered Weaver may possibly be an all star! Joe Girardi chose Jered Weaver to replace CC Sabathia! BUT Jered can’t pitch because he is pitching prior to the all star game. So Girardi would have to choose another pitcher to replace him?**

Anyways, the Padres’ pitching is what is keeping them alive and strong and for them to get snubbed is completely ridiculous. Same with Paul Konerko (who will probably lose to the leading Youkilis or Swisher depending on what is going on as of right now with the Final vote) and Jayson Werth and Brennen Boesch. And the list goes on and on and on. Maybe the rosters have something to do with the fact that all teams must be represented? Maybe it has to do with the fact that managers must make strategical moves to actually win the game, which could explain why Mr. Charlie Manuel chose Omar Infante, a utility player of the Braves. I’m still confused. Omar Infante is pretty confused himself probably! When he got a call, he thought he was going to be traded! Imagine wondering if you’re going to be traded to finding out you’re going to Anaheim!

It angers me to see so many deserving players not enjoy the All Star festivities they worked hard for. Being an All Star is not only an honor but it’s also national recognition. I know players act like it doesn’t bother them but I’m sure it does. We are all human beings. We all have feelings. 

Perhaps maybe there needs to be a change. I understand the argument that the fans choose who the fans want to see regardless of ones’ stats but I feel one’s stats is worth looking at when deciding who to choose. It doesn’t take that much time to actually see who deserves a spot or how well one person is doing compared to another. One shouldn’t be denied a spot just because he isn’t as popular as the next guy. You can only control so many things and I understand that as well. 

Maybe it’s what makes the ASG what it is. The complaints and the debates about who should have made it and who shouldn’t have. It’s just an observation and my opinion about the all star game that I’ve wanted to say for quite a long time. I’m quite open to change if it is for the better. 

With that said, I offer my congratulations to this year’s all stars! Especially to the first year all stars! I’m SUPER excited to see David Price and Ubaldo JImenez (starters anyone?) for they are two of my favorite young pitchers! All star for the first time must be an absolute thrill!

I continue to enjoy the all star festivities! It’s exciting and you never know what may happen. I just wish I could go It’s disappointing to have it be held so close and to not go.&nbsp
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I hope you all enjoy it as well! A lot of Angel fans are proud to host the ASG for the 3rd time. It’s going to be a good one. I can feel it! One for the history books!

~mimi

p.s. OH MY! Did you all see the Mickey Mouse statues?!?! Those things are incredibly cute i love em! What a creative way to celebrate the all star game! Here’s the Angels’ Mickey!