Thoughts on the All Star Game

It was a hell of a game last night, huh?

Seriously, help me out here guys... That's right, the Glass Man missed most of the action from San Francisco last night. I made it through the 5th inning or so before I had to call it a night. In my defense, I don't normally go to bed that early but consider the mitigating circumstances here:

1. I've been exercising the last two days for the first time in over a week. That week was a particularly destructive one, fitness-wise, as I consumed ribs, steaks, lobsters, hot dogs, beers (brah), etc. out on Martha's Vineyard. Hell of a time but I didnt' do my waistline any favors. My return to exercising/respectability has been particularly difficult for this reason.

2. Readjusting to my 6:15 a.m. wake-up has been a challenge.

Add it all up and I didn't have it in me to keep watching a close, 3-2 game. I understand Wags allowed a crucial dinger to somebody I'm not really familiar with, and that Tony La Russa allowed Aaron Rowand to hit with the bases loaded and two men down in the bottom of the ninth with Albert Pujols (him I am familiar with) still available on the bench.

La Russa's taking a beating over at ESPN and Deadspin (thanks for the link yesterday -- much appreciated) for this decision. Let me join the chorus. Words like "idiotic" and phrases such as "completely incomprehensible" or "we lost to a team this guy managed?" come to mind.

In any event, the highlight of the game for the Glass Man was watching my boy Mr. Glass do his thing on a national stage. You could tell how much he reveled in that leadoff hit, that stolen base, getting called out on to the field by the PA before the game.

Guy ate it all up, and good for him. People love watching him play because they can see how much he loves playing the game. The man should be the most popular player in baseball, hopefully displays like his last night will make that happen. And hopefully there won't be any All Star Game jinx for him.

Highlight of the game? Byrnesy's pre-game interview from a kayak in McCovey Cove with his dog, Bruin. He's Sip's roll dog, not mine, but watching that interview really made me understand how magnetic he must be when you first meet him.

And OK, the tribute to Willie Mays was pretty sweet as well. I didn't realize I cared about Mays until I got a freaking lump in my throat when he was introduced.

Him walking through the players reminded me of "Doc" aka Moonlight Graham walking through the ballplayers after healing Kevin Costner's kid in Field of Dreams. No matter how many times I see that movie I get choked up in that scene.

"Hey Doc?"

Doc turns around slowly.

"You were good."

Holy shit dude.

Anyway, that's all I got for today. Another off day today then back to business tomorrow. Thank god. Pour some out for Sip's World Series of Poker run -- tough break, pal.

- A.F.O.M.G.

(Images courtesy of images.usatoday.com, cache.deadspin.com and filmreference.com)