MLB All-Star Game Foreshadowing Things to Come?

After sitting around last Tuesday night watching the MLB All-Star Game from the comfort of my sofa I figured I would share a few thoughts I had from the game. These thoughts exclude the already overly discussed Pujols-La Russa drama. In addition, I will refrain from mentioning how instead of spending the evening in McCovey Cove, Eric Byrnes should have been playing in the dang game! Ok, I’m done now.

Now, while drawing conclusions from a glorified exhibition may not hold much weight, I believe there were some telling signs that need to be discussed. With that said, I decided to be lazy and make a list:

* How good is Chris Young really?

San Diego starter Chris Young is a nice player, but should he be leading the league with a 2.00 ERA? Prior to being trading to San Diego, Young made 38 starts for Texas where he had a 4.35 ERA. At age 28, maybe Young has simply become a better player with more games under his belt and that probably does have something to do with his improvement. The other reason for his success could be the deadly combination of that he now pitches in the National League in the most pitcher-friendly park in the history of baseball. Nobody hits in Petco Park where Young's ERA is a ridiculous 0.82 compared to 3.33 on the road. That should tell you something right there.

In fifth inning on Tuesday night, Young proceeded to walk the lead off hitter Brian Roberts before giving up Ichiro's inside the parker. Texas forever! With the Padres battling for a division title Young will be counted on to pitch big down the stretch and that will include getting the job done on the road. Young will have a chance to prove his mettle and show that the ERA isn't just an aberration.

* Can closers not named Rivera be counted on?

JJ Putz has had an excellent season for Seattle up to this point. His performance trying to close out the All-Star game for the American League in was the antithesis of excellent. Putz was able to put away the first two batters before completely imploding after Dmitri Young reached on an infield single that Baltimore’s Brian Roberts failed to glove. A two run homer by Soriano followed by a walk and Putz’s night was done. Even though it was the All-Star Game, the appearance was probably the most pressure packed situation the young closer has ever faced. With the surprising Mariners squarely in contention in the AL can Putz be counted on when the pressure mounts at the end of the season?

Aw, but the closer question don’t end there. Putz then gave way to Los Angeles/Anaheim closer Francisco Rodriguez who made things even more interesting by walking the first two hitters he faced and subsequently loading the bases. K-Rod must have forgotten that he was pitching in the All-Star Game and not a contest to see who can throw the hardest. There’s overthrowing and then there’s OVERTHROWING. It’s a shock that Rodriguez was able to even record an out. The way he was spinning and falling off the mound after he released the ball, it looked more likely that he was going to pirouette off the mound and stumble all the way into the dugout forcing Jim Leyland to go with option C. K-Rod is battle tested and has got big outs in his career, but the Angel’s may want to supply him with some Ritalin if they make it to the postseason. Just in case.

Trying to determine whether or not a player will succeed down the stretch based on an exhibition may seem like grasping for air. This may be the case, but if you see Chris Young or Mr. Putz costing their respective teams in September don't say I didn't warn you.