As I've mentioned before, predicting a single game--especially a baseball game, which has so much built-in parity--is a fool's errand, but I should nevertheless put one out there. 

 I think the NL did a better job of vetting the eligibles, but the AL had a superior talent pool from which to choose. Consequently, I see this one as a close call. The advantage for the NL is that they have a wealth of right-handed bats on the roster, and for the senior circuit that dovetails nicely with Ozzie Guillen's pitching staff, which has a whopping seven lefties on it.  If AL starter Kenny Rogers makes it through the entire NL starting lineup, he'll face only one left-handed hitter. That's the kind of stacking Randy Johnson would see in his prime.

In the later innings, NL manager Phil Garner can counter the AL gang of port-siders with right-handed bench bats like Andruw Jones, Miguel Cabrera, Scott Rolen, Carlos Lee and Nomar Garciaparra. That's going to be key.

 I think the AL is the better league, but this particular game doesn't afford the junior circuit many accommodating match-ups. That's why I'm going to amend an earlier prediction and say the NL takes this one, 8-5.

I also promise not to come back and edit this post later tonight if I turn out to be ridiculously off base. Maybe ....

 

Forgive the following bit of self-congratulation, but I did predict Ryan Howard to take the HR Derby. (Scroll down; it's there.) 

Also, lots of rain in the Pittsburgh forecast tonight. If weather snuffs out the Mid-Summer Classic or makes it a five-hour affair, don't be surprised if Bud Selig, who has a long-standing history of overreacting to things beyond his control, confines the game to retractable-roof stadia in the future (it'll be in San Francisco next year, but beyond 2007 the venues have yet to be determined).
 

Okay, so I'm finally ready to get this thing rolling on a regular basis. Check back tomorrow night (Tuesday), and you'll find me live-blogging the All-Star Game. 

Howdy, peeps-

 Welcome to my inaugural blog post. I'll be blogging regularly here, mostly about baseball but also about sports in general and the modern condition (whatever that last part means). At this moment in time, I'm upset by the fear that MLB will, one day soon, expand the playoffs even further, and I'm also pissed about the apparent cancellation of Arrested Development. Those things make me growl.

Quote for the week: "The men that American people admire the most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest the most violently are those who try to tell them the truth."  - H.L. Mencken.

 More to come soon ...

dp