• The Detroit Tigers have been a disappointment so far this season and arguably their best player didn't do them or the rest of the American League any favors in the all star game, giving up 5 first inning runs as the National League routed the American League 8-0 for their third straight win.
• Unlike the other sports' all star games, the MLB midseason classic has some actual meaning, as the team who wins the All-Star game automatically gets home field advantage in the World Series (every other sport does it by Winning %).
• The N.L. scored all of their runs off of Verlander and Texas Ranger Matt Harrison. They also got 2 hits off of the White Sox starter Chris Sale but didn't record a single hit off of 6 of the 9 other pitchers for the A.L. They hit an unusually high number of triples (3) but only one home run, by game MVP Melky Cabrera of the San Francisco Giants. Matt Cain, also of the Giants, was the official winning pitcher.
• On Monday night, Prince Fielder won the home run derby, defeating Jose Bautista in the finale.
Wednesday Spotlight: Chipper Jones
• In last night’s All-Star game, Larry "Chipper" Jones got a hit in the 6th inning making him the first player 40 years or older to get a hit in the All-Star game since Cal Ripken Jr. did it in 2001. This All-Star game will be the last in a 19 year career that Jones has said will end after this season.
• Jones, who has played for the Atlanta Braves his entire career, has been an eight time All-Star, a key contributor for 12 straight division titles from 1993-2005 (there was no official season in 1994 due to a strike), 3 National League championship teams, was the National League MVP in 1999 and a member of the 1995 World Series Championship team.
• Chipper was the first overall pick in the 1990 draft and went on to win Rookie of the Year in 1995. Drafted as a shortstop, Jones played a majority of his career at third base.
• Jones, who will finish his career as third all time in Home Runs by a switch hitter (a player who can bat both left handed and right handed), is considered one of the best hitters in the history of the game and definitely of his era. He was the NL batting champ in 2008, and is a 2-time Silver Slugger award winner (for the best offensive player at his position).
• Jones is currently 33rd all-time with 460 home runs, and only needs 5 more to reach 31st or 15 more to reach 28th. Also, he is currently 67th on the all-time hits list with 2,670 hits.
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