— American League 4, National League 0
American League scored three runs in the top of the first inning.
Miguel Vargas homered in the top of the 8th.
American League used 11 pitchers for the combined shutout.
Justin Wrobleski struck out five guys, the most of any pitcher since Pedro Martinez, in 1999.
— There were 36 first-time All-Stars on the field Tuesday; must be pretty freakin’ exciting to get introduced before the game, on national TV, as an All-Star for the first time
— Players who won Home Run Derby, then hit a HR in the All-Star Game the next day:
1991- Cal Ripken Jr
1995- Frank Thomas
2003- Garret Anderson
— Pirates are tied with Washington for the most runs scored so far this season, but none of their hitters made the All-Star Game. Go figure.
— College/high school players taken in last weekend’s baseball draft:
474- four-year college players
127- high school players
12- junior college players
— Schools with the most players drafted:
13- Georgia
12- Arkansas
10- Arizona State, UCLA
8- Georgia Tech, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas A&M
— Positions with the most players drafted:
276- right-handed pitchers
99- outfielders
70- left-handed pitchers
70- shortstops
43- catchers
23- third basemen
14- first basemen
11- second basemen
— Famous birthdays, July 15th:
John Stallworth, 74
Sammy Winder, 67
Lolita Davidovich, 65
Forest Whitaker, 65
Pisa Tinoisamoa, 45
Damian Lillard, 36
Tobias Harris, 34
Masataka Yoshida, 33
Ramon Laureano, 32
— Red Sox were 10-17 when they fired their manager; they’re 36-31 under their interim manager. At one point do they make him the full-time skipper?
— Most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback:
1,206- Lamar Jackson
1,143- Justin Fields
1,039- Michael Vick
1,005- Lamar Jackson
968- Bobby Douglass
In a perfect world, where I made all the decisions:
— I’d get rid of the Electoral College in our presidential election; whoever gets the most votes wins, just like in all the other elections.
— This one seems simple; convicted felons shouldn’t be allowed to run for office; why should a criminal be the leader of anything in this country?
We need smart, decent people running things, not cruddy people.
— I’d eliminate the American/National Leagues and go to geographic realignment, which would reduce travel costs and invigorate regional rivalries. Going to 32 teams (which will happen soon) will make scheduling a lot easier.
— NFL should add the UFL’s onside kick rule, when instead of an onside kick, the kicking team gets the ball on their own 35-yard line, 4th-and-15. They get the first down the keep the ball; the onside kick rule they use now isn’t good. Too hard for a recovery by the kicking team.
