Well, I had the score right. The 2014 MLB All-Star game was one of the better Mid-Summer classics in recent history. The night was known for Jeter. But one player rose above. Mike Trout. Trout's name always seems to pop-up and it is fitting that he accomplished what he did on the night of Jeter's last All-Star game. There was also a bit of controversy surrounding Adam Wainwright, and it didn't involve Clayton Kershaw.
Jeter did not disappoint. Before his first at-bat, the entire stadium and both teams gave him a moment of appreciation for all he has done for baseball. Wainwright set his glove down on the mound and joined in the applause. It was clear Jeter appreciated it, but it was also clear he wanted to play. Still, this was one of those moments that gives a baseball fan chills. Jeter knocked the second pitch to RF for a double. Mike Trout (Angels) smacked a double that brought Jeter around to score. Cabrera came up a few batters after and knocked one out of the park. The AL was leading 3-0.
In the top of the second, the NL got two runs back. One on a double by Chase Utley (Phillies), and the other on a double by Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers). Both came off Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester. Jeter came back up to bat in the 3rd and knocked another hit out to RF. When the top of the 4th came around, Jeter was back on the field. But not for long, when Alexei Ramirez (White Sox) came out to replace him. Again the crowd erupt into applause. Jeter nodded to the crowd, went into the dugout and shook everyone's hand, and came out for a curtain call. This was another one of those great baseball moments.
The NL scored another run in the top of the 4th, when Dee Gordon (Dodgers) scored off another Jonathan Lucroy double. The AL took the final lead in the fifth. After a couple singles, Mike Trout knocked Oakland catcher Derek Norris in for a run. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve hit a sac fly that scored Alexei Ramirez. The game was over from that point on.
There was a brief moment of controversy when Adam Wainwright said he gave Jeter a couple meatballs. The media really ran with this. Wainwright was joking. It was clear he wasn't serving anything up to Jeter, especially when his first pitch was a knee-buckling curveball in the dirt. And even if he did, Jeter said it best, "You still gotta hit it."
At the end of the night, as much as we all wanted to see it, Jeter was not the MVP. Mike Trout walked away with that honor after knocking in 2 runs. But it was fitting. Many see Trout as the heir-apparent to Jeter. And in many ways Trout is. He is a generational player. He is a good role model and ambassador to the game. And Trout believes in Jeter. It was a changing of the guard tonight.
Jeter did not disappoint. Before his first at-bat, the entire stadium and both teams gave him a moment of appreciation for all he has done for baseball. Wainwright set his glove down on the mound and joined in the applause. It was clear Jeter appreciated it, but it was also clear he wanted to play. Still, this was one of those moments that gives a baseball fan chills. Jeter knocked the second pitch to RF for a double. Mike Trout (Angels) smacked a double that brought Jeter around to score. Cabrera came up a few batters after and knocked one out of the park. The AL was leading 3-0.
In the top of the second, the NL got two runs back. One on a double by Chase Utley (Phillies), and the other on a double by Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers). Both came off Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester. Jeter came back up to bat in the 3rd and knocked another hit out to RF. When the top of the 4th came around, Jeter was back on the field. But not for long, when Alexei Ramirez (White Sox) came out to replace him. Again the crowd erupt into applause. Jeter nodded to the crowd, went into the dugout and shook everyone's hand, and came out for a curtain call. This was another one of those great baseball moments.
The NL scored another run in the top of the 4th, when Dee Gordon (Dodgers) scored off another Jonathan Lucroy double. The AL took the final lead in the fifth. After a couple singles, Mike Trout knocked Oakland catcher Derek Norris in for a run. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve hit a sac fly that scored Alexei Ramirez. The game was over from that point on.
There was a brief moment of controversy when Adam Wainwright said he gave Jeter a couple meatballs. The media really ran with this. Wainwright was joking. It was clear he wasn't serving anything up to Jeter, especially when his first pitch was a knee-buckling curveball in the dirt. And even if he did, Jeter said it best, "You still gotta hit it."
At the end of the night, as much as we all wanted to see it, Jeter was not the MVP. Mike Trout walked away with that honor after knocking in 2 runs. But it was fitting. Many see Trout as the heir-apparent to Jeter. And in many ways Trout is. He is a generational player. He is a good role model and ambassador to the game. And Trout believes in Jeter. It was a changing of the guard tonight.