American League All-Stars celebrate after a 4-3 victory over their opposing National League in the 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis. ( John Rieger/US Presswire) The American League All-Stars haven't lost a game since 1996 and continued their reign of dominance of the National League last night in St. Louis with a 4-3 victory. There are many theories as to why, but the obvious reason for the American League's thrashing of the National League is their unbelievable pitching depth.
Based on stats, the National League should have had an advantage at bat last night with a team batting average of .316 with a total of 120 homeruns and 443 RBI's when the AL starters average .304 with 109 homeruns and 368 RBI's. But last night, it seemed fairly even. The NL All-Star's and St. Louis Cardinals starting first baseman Albert Puhols has a .332 batting average, a league high 32 home runs, and another league high 87 RBI's this year. Mark Teixeira, the starting first baseman for the AL All-Stars and the New York Yankees, is batting a .275 with 21 homeruns and 63 RBI’s. Last night, they both went 0-3 with Teixeira grounding into into fielder's choice in the 1st inning.
Then there is pitching. Amazingly, Tim Lincecum, the 2008 National League Cy-Young award winner and the starting pitcher for the San Fransisco Giants, out-dueled Roy Holliday, the veteran and future Hall of Fame pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. Lincecum had a game ERA of 4.50 allowing 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 ER and 1 strikeout. Holliday on the other hand had an ERA of 9.00 allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 ER and no strikeouts. But the deciding factors in the game were the relievers and the closers. The American League pitcher's only gave up 5 hits when the National league gave up 8 hits. Roy Hollidaygave up 4 hits out the team's 5 for the American league in only two innings pitched. Joe Nathan was the other pitcher giving up a hit for the AL. That leaves 6 pitchers not giving up a single hit for the AL in 6 innings of play. Only 3 pitchers on the NL roster gave up no hits.
The AL's bullpen last night was simply remarkable. Giving up only 1 hit in 7 innings of play, striking out 5 , led by Zack Greinke with 2, no walks, no runs and no earned runs. As for the National League, they were good, just not even close to the American League. Allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, a walk and only 2 strikeouts isn't exactly what Rich Dubee and Charlie Manuel had in mind.
These wins by the AL pitching staff aren't a rare occurrence. These wins that the AL have gathered up since 1996 were not pulled out of the hat. Every year it has been a pitching show put on by the AL pen. But there is still questions left unanswered. Is the AL overall a more equipped league than the NL, or do they just have better pitchers? Is the DH taking effect on pitchers versus batting? Are the AL pitchers that much better than the NL's pitchers? Does this game just not matter to to some players? Or does it just prove the statement "Batters Sell Tickets, Pitchers Win All-Star Games"? You decide.
-Kyle Aceto
Info from espn.com and mlb.com
Picture from espn.com
