Maggs loses HR derby, wins Tigers fans’ hearts
posted in 2007 season, All-Star Game |and other All-Star notes… and I swear I didn’t steal Ian’s headline! Great minds think alike!
If you read the blog comments or forums, the scare associated with the home run derby is that it messes up swings. Whether it really does or not — evidence both ways — nobody wanted to see Maggs come in with the best average in the majors and come out a hacking mess.
He obliged Tigers fans by showing off how well he can line drive the ball to the outfield. That’s a bit short for the home run derby, of course. He finished with two homers and 10 outs. He was eliminated first.
But the swing is fine.
I didn’t actually watch the home run derby. I didn’t watch after his two home runs. I didn’t watch before. I lucked into the timing of seeing him walk up to the plate, so I actually did catch his few minutes on screen. Of course, it was a split screen with Barry Bonds, so ESPN hardly acknowledged Maggs while they nattered on, bothering Bonds about one thing or another. I wonder if his passive-aggressive act draws it out of the media. In any case, the obsession is old and shouldn’t have been allowed to take away from Tigers fans enjoying our guy in the HR derby.
Leyland announces lineup
Jim Leyland started Dan Haren of Justin Verlander, a move I think makes good sense. Haren is having a heck of a season and had a pretty good one last year too. More run support, he’d easily match the best in the AL for record, which means nothing. So Leyland picked the right guy. He also put the Tigers batters at the bottom of the order. Apparently he doesn’t want to appear to be playing favorites. Well, “half jokingly” as the term used. I think maybe he thinks of himself as host of the AL and is letting other players get the first thrills. Really, who knows.
Maggs deserved to be higher. Still, I don’t think it’s a big deal or anything. It’s just the All-Star game, even if we like to pretend “it counts.”
From Who? to All-Star
Admit it. When the Tigers traded for Placido Polanco, you said “Who?” I think baseball fans were still saying that long after we learned just who is he and how good he is. The PA Sportsticker baseball writer follows the “Polly” storyline from Philly to Detroit to San Francisco.
It appears Polanco will play in the game after being injured Saturday. That’s a good sign. Not just for Polly or for our viewing habits, but especially for when the Tigers take on Seattle after the break.