All-Star Pitching Fits in Just Right

In the middle of the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, my brother texted me to ask how a 1-0 All-Star game was exciting. I immediately responded: "Pitching duels are always exciting."

Tonight's game was a magnificent clash of that aspect of the game which has come to dominate the 2010 MLB season: pitching. In this way, the All-Star game was essentially a microcosm of what we've been seeing across baseball for the past three months.

Tonight, it was the National League that wielded the pitching weapon to end thirteen years of All-Star futility. The big guy, Jonathan Broxton, picked up the save, culminating nine innings of spectacular baseball. And it really was spectacular. Exciting even. For this writer, pitching duels are a thrill, a greater expression of the game than any 9-8 shootout, which made this All-Star game one of the best I've seen.

What was really amazing about the pitchers this year was how hard they could throw. I can't remember ever seeing so many guys that could hit 95+ on the radar gun on the same field. David Price reaching 100 mph in the first inning set the tone for the fireballers that were to come in the later innings.

And a stat offered by Joe Buck during the game puts pitching dominance even further in the spotlight. Jose Bautista leads all major leaguers with 24 home runs at the break, but that's the lowest total in baseball since 1993. This year, it's a pitchers game, whether fans like my brother like it or not.

After the game, once my boy Broxton saved it, my brother sent me another text: "Padres get home field advantage in the Series!"

See my second-half predictions tomorrow to find out if I agree with him.