I spent most of the night not paying attention to the All Star Game, but I made sure to record/watch Barack Obama's appearance in the booth, with Buck and McCarver. I honestly thought that the two Fox announcers would find a way to ruin it, but they and the Pres, actually made it enjoyable. The talk was loose and light, and focused on the game of Baseball, which is a welcome change from all the Politics that have crept into Sports as of late. Here's the appearance if you missed it....

Good stuff....now about that first pitch. Albert Pujols swears it didn't touch the ground, and there's talk of a Fox camera conspiracy, but I'm pretty sure he bounced it up there. The thing that everyone has to remember though, is that he threw it from the mound, which most people don't do. To throw it down the middle, and barely bounce it, is actually not THAT bad. In fact, I almost guarantee that half of the Nationals would have swung at that sinker.

As everyone knows by now, President Obama will be on hand to throw out the first pitch at the All Star Game tonight, and eventually make his way up to the Fox booth. USA Today talked with Joe Buck about what he plans to talk about, and here was the play-by-players response....

Joe Buck hopes the bottom of the second inning of Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game drags on. That's when President Obama is expected to drop by the Fox TV booth for a half-inning cameo with Buck and analyst Tim McCarver.

And if the three outs happen fast? "Maybe he'd stick around for more," says Buck. "But I don't know if I'd put him on the spot without clearing it."

Buck says "the last thing I'd ever do" is go into politics between calling balls and strikes. Instead, Buck might ask the First Fan — in banter he hopes will be "light and fun" and "respectful" — who he rooted for while growing up in Hawaii, or ask for his favorite sports memories.

Buck last month debuted his HBO show, and comedian Artie Lange got out of control and essentially hijacked the program. Buck chuckled when asked if he's afraid of the president asserting such unchecked power: "I'm confident that won't happen."

Whew! I was worried about that for a second there. Personally, I'm more worried about our President pulling a "Mayor of Cincinnati", and bouncing his opening pitch on the way to the plate. Hopefully they'll let him have a few warmup throws beforehand.

Fox All-Star Game booth readies for visit from South Sider Obama (USA Today)

Saturday, July 11th:

New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels (FOX, 4:10, 71%) - Dick Stockton & Eric Karros
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (FOX, 4:10, 29%) - Joe Buck & Tim McCarver

Sunday, July 12th:

Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (TBS, 2:00pm) - Chip Caray & Buck Martinez
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (ESPN, 8pm)- Jon Miller, Joe Morgan & Steve Phillips

Monday, July 13th:

Home Run Derby (ESPN, 8pm) - Chris Berman, Joe Morgan & Steve Phillips
2009 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (ESPN, 10pm)- Gary Thorne, Rick Sutcliffe & Erin Andrews

Tuesday, July 14th:

2009 MLB All Star Game (FOX, 9:05pm)- Joe Buck & Tim McCarver

Every year, Major League Baseball brings together a wide range of performers for the All Star Game Concert, and this year is no different. MLB will be taking you on a trip back into the mid 90s with such acts like Sheryl Crow and Ginuwine (who knew he was still alive?) throughout the week, and you'll also be getting a rockin' show by American Idol winner, David Cook, before the HR Derby! Via MLB PR....

Major League Baseball today announced the All-Star lineup of musicians that will perform during the MLB All-Star Game, the State Farm® Home Run Derby and other events during All-Star Week in St. Louis next week.

Nine-time Grammy award-winner and Missouri native Sheryl Crow, who will be fresh off headlining the free MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi under the Gateway Arch, will perform the U.S. National Anthem as part of the special pre-game ceremony prior to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14 at Busch Stadium, which will be broadcast on FOX beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. United States President Barack Obama along with former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will appear in an unprecedented video address as part of the special pre-game ceremony honoring the 30 “All-Stars Among Us,” men and women who are being recognized by Major League Baseball and PEOPLE magazine for their selfless acts of giving and service to their communities. Following the video, President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Later in the game, country music sensation Sara Evans -- also a Missouri native -- will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, with pre-game ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised in more than 200 countries and territories by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage.

On Monday, July 13, rock singer/songwriter and 2008 America Idol season winner David Cook will perform two songs with his band prior to the start of the State Farm® Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. Prior to Cook’s performance, Nikko Smith -- singer/songwriter and 2005 American Idol finalist, and son of St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith -- will perform the U.S. National Anthem. Smith performed the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game 4 of the 2006 World Series at Busch Stadium. The State Farm® Home Run Derby will be televised live on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.

On Sunday, July 11, multi-Platinum selling R&B Artist Ginuwine will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on XM 175 in addition to its other comprehensive live coverage from St. Louis.

I guess Sheryl Crow is as good as anyone else they could get, but Ginuwine?! The last time I saw him was on TRL back in 1996 singing that "Pony" song. Was Jodeci or Snow not available?

It's amazing to me that this is the case, but for some reason none of the homerun distances in past HR Derbys were reported as they happened. There was always a delay, and the Bermans of the world were left trying to juggle the footage of various bombs. Well ESPN will be adding new technology this year that utilizes Doppler Radar, and will have the distance as the shots land in outfield stands at Busch Stadium. Via USA Today....

ESPN, which will formally introduce its Ball Track coverage Wednesday, will use Doppler radar that's been used to track missile systems. Now, it will allow for superimposed ESPN onscreen comet tails behind balls that will turn green to projects flying balls as homers. Anthony Bailey, ESPN vice president for emerging technology, says Ball Track will also show live a running total of how many feet the still-flying balls have traveled. While ESPN used to take a tedious 30 seconds to figure out final home-run distances, viewers now will get them instantly — and calculations of how far homers would have gone if not inconveniently impeded by a stadium.

Bailey says the radar isn't complicated — setting up the necessary box behind home plate at press-box level takes 10 minutes — and ESPN is looking at using it in games. Tracking base-runners wouldn't work — players don't run fast enough for radar.

Bailey says ESPN will open an "Innovation Lab" at Disney World in September partly to let parkgoers become "instant focus groups" for its experiments. One idea in the works, he says, is having live postgame interviews with players who appear virtually in studios so they'd have "more intimate conversations" with anchors.

I still can't believe that ESPN hasn't utilized this technology before, but I guess its better late than never. Hopefully the graphic won't be too over-bearing, and that it will help the announcers stay on track during the broadcast.


ESPN adds new graphics for Home Run Derby coverage (USA Today)

Yesterday's post about Joe Morgan brought up a ton of questions but thanks to reader NS, we've now got a new wrinkle in the "Where Is Joe" saga (it's not really a saga, but it sounds better as one). Joe was actually on hand for the festivities early in the day....gasp! Here is your visual evidence....


There obviously has to be a simple answer to our...well my...question, but I'm still thinking it has something due to appearing with Sandberg. If anyone knows anything feel free to pass on an email, but I'm going to keep searching until I get to the bottom of this (pointless) issue!

(Another photo here)

I've been asking and being asked all day today where Dr. Joe Morgan was during the opening HOF introductions during last night's All Star Game and for the life of I me I can't find any answers. Well HR Derby has a thought and it's as good as any....

Did Morgan develop another flareup of Ryne-itis, also known as Sandberg Syndrome, wherein those afflicted can’t be anywhere near the man who broke Morgan’s record for Second Basemen? As you’ll recall, Joe Morgan was conspiculously absent at Sandberg’s Hall of Fame induction in 2005.

It’s not like Joe didn’t know how to get to Yankee Stadium … he was in the building the night before when he announced the 2008 Home Run Derby.

No, I think this is just another case of Joe Morgan not wanting to share ANY stage with Ryne Sandberg.

I can't believe that Morgan is still peeved about Sandberg coming out of retirement to beat is 2nd Basemen HR record, but then again this is Joe were talking about. He also had one of those stellar ESPN chats where he answered about four questions, but still didn't address it....

chris (NJ): Hi Joe, How great was last night? What was your Fav part of last night?

SportsNation Joe Morgan: We talked about Uggla making mistakes, but some guys made great plays under pressure. Cristian Guzman made a few plays with two outs and the winning run at third, and they were not easy plays. The throw McLouth made to home plate when Navarro was trying to score was great. Some of the defensive plays under pressure impressed me. I was also impressed with some of the pitchers on both sides, who struck out pretty good hitters in pressure situations.

SportsNation Joe Morgan: I also liked the aggressiveness the AL showed in stealing bases.

Very very interesting. It's a shame too because as a player he deserves to be there. It's time to stop being selfish and petty but that might be too much to ask of the good doctor.

Why wasn’t Joe Morgan at the All-Star Game last night? Oh right, Ryne Sandberg was there. (HR Derby)

Josh Hamilton's barrage of dingers the other night was so exciting that more people watched his show than the Democratic Debates. The total number of viewers actually turned out to be ESPN's most viewed non-NFL program of the year so far.

Last night’s ESPN telecast of the 2008 State Farm Home Run Derby – held at Yankee Stadium in its final season – averaged a 6.4 rating and 6,184,000 household impressions to become the most-viewed Home Run Derby ever among households (5,718,000 households in 1999 was the previous record). The Derby led ESPN to win the night – cable and broadcast – among viewers, Men 18-34, Men 18-49, Men 25-54, Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.

Additionally, the Derby is the highest-rated and most-viewed ad-supported cable program in 2008 to date. This year’s Home Run Derby is up 35 percent over last year in viewers (6,778,000), 29 percent in households (4,778,000 in 2007), and 25 percent in rating (5.1 last year).

Almost 7 million people seems like a heck of a lot of people to me and I didn't know that many people were interested in the contest. No wonder ESPN decides to send 20 people to the event ever year. Wait, that still doesn't make sense.

(Via ESPN PR)

This was just about the only exciting moment from last night's All Star Game. Yogi Berra was a guest in the booth in the 3rd inning and Joe Buck decided to chat him up about Sex and The City's Carrie for some reason....

Too funny. Enh....she ain't bad. On another note, good lord that game was long wasn't it? It was borderline torture and for once it wasn't because of the announcers. While they had a few hiccups here and there, and seemed ready to fall asleep at any moment, they weren't all that bad. Fifteen innings is enough to make anyone go insane and they should be happy they just made it through.

Hot Clicks features a look inside Erin Andrews' time at Fan Fest today and it's equally interesting and creepy. Apparently High Pitch Erik from the Howard Stern Show was on hand and not only did he ask for EA's phone number but he invited her on the show....

We watched her interact with fans of all ages, including a baby who didn't want to be held by Andrews (he'll regret that later in life) and a middle-aged man who just stood about a foot away from Andrews and stared at her for about a full minute while shaking his head in disbelief and commenting over and over about how much prettier she is in person (which is true, but the scene was still creepy). But the highlight (or maybe, lowlight) was when Howard Stern wack packer High Pitch Erik stepped up. The longtime Stern character didn't get a picture taken with Andrews. He just asked her who she was and if she wanted to go on Stern's show. When Andrews told him that the show should go through ESPN to book her as a guest, he then asked her for her phone number. Seriously.

If ESPN approves Andrews' appearance on Howard Stern, I will lose my s**t. You know what though? Stern is probably the only person that wouldn't get the same rehearsed answers from her. Let's make this happen.

Hangin' With Erin Andrews (Hot Clicks)

I guess we're in emptying the video box mode, but this one is still worth a spot this morning. Here's Chase Utley being introduced by Chris Berman to a chorus of boos. Watch the reaction....

There must have been a lot of Mets fans on hand last night. The even funnier thing is that ESPN bleeped curses out the whole rest of the night when batters miss hit balls. I guess the first one always gets by.

Chase Utley Doesn't Appreciate Being Booed (The 700 Level)

I didn't think it was possible for someone not named Chris Berman to annoy when watching the Home Run Derby but he's been officially replaced. Rick Reilly on-air is about the worst thing you can add to a broadcast, and it's not even close. Here he is waxing exstatic about how there are too many "white" competitors in the Derby....

Let's forget for a second that all defending champions denied a chance to defend, and I'll even look past the fact that he didn't know that non-All Star Game participants aren't invited. He seriously decided to drop nonsense like this throughout the broadcast. I don't know how many times he said the word heroin in regards to Josh Hamilton, and while it's the truth, it just begs of a desperate man searching for an angle on-air. Just a bad decision to have him on the broadcast....send him to England for the British Open now please.

Also, the Karl Ravech "Interesting Concept" line is just about the funniest thing I've heard in awhile.

The two ESPN Radio personalities are in the midst of some Pentathalon thing where they are trying to find out who is the most athletic or something. After this clip it's apparently neither of them...

I've never seen two guys trying so hard to sprint but not really going anywhere. Greenie's arms make it look like he's flying, but he's really going nowhere. In the end though the times aren't all that bad and for Golic to almost beat the about 200 less pound Greenberg is rather impressive.

I'm all for celebrating someone's accomplishments. Well except when someone has their infant daughter in his hands at a press conference and the rest of the team runs in the room and sprays him (and the baby) with beer....

Yeah that probably seemed like a good idea at the time. I'm going to guess that they're going to take some heat for that one. That kid is sure going to be traumatized later in life and you can definitely add her to the Erin Andrews' "List of females not to approach with a beer without clearing it with them first". Keep that in mind all you three year olds (attending the University of Wisconsin in 15 years) reading the site.

Many thanks to reader Lee for finding the video below and the hilarity that lies within it. We all know by know that Dickie V loves the Rays but this video of him pleading for people to vote for Evan Longoria on MLB.com is a tad over-the-top. Oh and make sure you watch the whole thing because the background song gets awesome at the end....

FEEEEL....THE HEAT! FEEEEL....THE HEAT! FEEL THA POWAH!!!

Obviously the voting is over, and that song will be stuck in your head all day long, but enough with the Dickie V-Rays stuff. If it weren't for my hatred of the Red Sox and Yankees, I'd be rooting against them at this point.

I already told you about Jon Bon Jovi's free concert in Central Park the week of the All Star Game but MLB has announced the other musical acts performing next week. Baseball is in accordance with the law that all ASG or Super Bowl acts must have started making music in the 80s or 90s, and just like the Counting Crows last year....it will rock!

The three musical artists who will perform during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game and State Farm Home Run Derby next week at Yankee Stadium have been announced, and they make up quite an All-Star team among themselves.

Nine-time Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to the start of the 79th All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15 at Yankee Stadium, and pop superstar Josh Groban will perform "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch. The game will be shown live on FOX beginning at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).

The day before the Midsummer Classic, multi-platinum rock band 3 Doors Down will perform a two-song set prior to the start of the State Farm® Home Run Derby, which will be televised live on July 14th on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).

I don't expect them to pick the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cirus but someone currently relevant would be a welcome change. Actually I take that back....they tried that with Puddle of Mudd a few years ago and look where they are now.

Also, I think I speak for everyone when I say, "ENOUGH F'ING THREE DOORS DOWN!!!" I don't care if you love the band or not, they are just in overkill mode right now.

All-Star Game ups its star power (MLB.com)

I really have no idea why I watch the nonsense that is the Homerun Derby every single year, but it's almost become a rite of passage for me. Every year Chris Berman gets more and more ridiculous and the recent of Joe Morgan has made the broadcast borderline unbearable, but for some reason I watch every minute.

Well there's good news for those of you who like train wrecks! The duo of Berman and Morgan are back, but they've brought along a few friends. Everyone welcome to the broadcast, Steve Phillips and Rick Reilly!!!

Chris Berman will host the Derby (also available in high definition on ESPN HD), joined on the field by Hall of Famer Joe Morgan and analyst Steve Phillips. Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech will also provide commentary with analysts Peter Gammons and John Kruk and ESPN The Magazine’s Rick Reilly. Erin Andrews will report and provide interviews on the field. ESPN will utilize 20 cameras to capture the excitement of the Derby, including the use of “Ultra Mo,” a replay device recapping action at 1,000 frames per second.

Hopefully they can keep the broadcast under 8 hours this year and just for the fun of it let's relive some of the Best of the 2007 Derby....
_______________________

“It could be a national “Holiday” by the time we’re done here”- Chris Berman on Matt Holliday

“I walked up to him in the batting cage today and I was speaking to most of the players and I said….Who is that?”- Joe Morgan on Alex Rios

“Albert Winnie the Pujols”- Chris Berman

“We have many dollars invested in this project….I just hope someone hits one over the wall”- Kenny Mayne on his kayak project (no balls were hit in the Cove)

“I think that one landed on Treasure Island”- Chris Berman

“I saw you jamming out there with the Crows”- Dusty Baker
“It was the Counting Crows!”- Chris Berman
“You were counting em’ too!”- Dusty Baker

“It’s off the platform in right centerfield….how interesting is that”- Chris Berman
“There’s a rainbow!”- Dusty Baker

Yes! I love when information surrounding "celebrity" games comes out. It's such a random collection of people and you can almost make out the bad jokes and terrible interactions ahead of time. Well lucky for us this year is no different. I give you the 2008 Taco Bell Legends and Celebrity Softball Game participants....

Celebrities scheduled to participate include Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Spike Lee, Andy Roddick, George Lopez and James Denton; legends include Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Goose Gossage, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield and more, along with Yankees legends Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill. Kenny Mayne (miked during the game) will participate as a player/manager, with Gary Thorne (play-by-play), analyst Rick Sutcliffe and reporter Erin Andrews.

You know what? That's not a half bad group of people. Well, if you get rid of Billy Crystal. Also, it'll be interesting to see if Rick Sutcliffe keeps his eyes on the action as opposed to EA's dress choice. Good times! The action gets underway after the Home Run Derby (more info coming on this in the next post) next Monday.

(Via ESPN PR)

There's been a lot of this going around on networks lately. You take a Hall of Famer/Former Champion, throw him into the coverage and turn the segment into a brief interview. ESPN's Friday Night Fights has done it, Baseball Tonight has done it and now FOX is looking to do it for the All Star Game. With just one small difference, they're going to bring multiple HOF guest analysts....

In its most-lavish hype and coverage for baseball's All-Star Game, Fox's coverage might bring in six or seven Hall of Famers to each call an inning with announcers Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. Said Fox spokesman Dan Bell Sunday: "That's something we're considering."

For the final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, Fox also plans to ask each player, manager and coach to wear a microphone — they can decline — and plans a midtown Manhattan parade passing by NBC and CBS. Taped coverage will air on Fox's lead-in to the game. Fox also plans to use new Diamond Cams offering high-def and wider views. But those tiny cameras, placed in the field itself, so far haven't been able to pan or tilt. That would be fun. "We think that's a cool idea," says Bell. "That might not be too far away."

This would probably be extremely annoying if not for the fact that the more random people talk the less we have to hear from Buck and McCarver. I salute you FOX in you mission to completely drown those to out!

Fox mulls big MLB All-Star game plan (USA Today)

Yes my New York friend it is. In an extremely interesting promotion MLB and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation are going to begin placing replica Statue of Libertys throughout the city. Even more interesting is MLB's press release surrounding the idea....

An open letter to the people of France:

Bonjour! We in America are still very thankful for the Statue of Liberty.

She is a fine lady. She still stands for freedom and huddled masses and all of that.

But let's face it, she needed to dress for a baseball game like everyone else here.

So we thought you should know that we have taken a few, um, liberties.

Major League Baseball announced more details Thursday about the "Statues on Parade" that will have everyone talking. It is going to be the most amazing celebration of the Statue of Liberty since the 1986 centennial celebration in the New York Harbor.

There will be 42 Statues of Liberty, each standing 8 1/2-feet tall, stationed around New York leading up to the July 15 All-Star Game there. These will start showing up on Friday at popular locations around the Big Apple, including Times Square, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Stock Exchange and, yes, the Statue of Liberty.

Every Major League team will be featured and there will even be two extra statues for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. Seems pretty cool if you ask me, but I don't know how well an eight foot tall Red Sox statue is going to go over in Times Square. They might want to throw that one way out on Staten Island.


Statue of Liberty gets MLB makeover (MLB.com)