So the final voting came in for the All-Star teams, and the Rays dominated like no team I've seen before. The entire infield of Victor de Jesus, Jaiden Hardaway (the overall top vote-getter), Ricky Widmar and Bo Angeac won the voting at their respective positions, while Nate Clark and Dayle Jenkins won at the outfield corners. Widmar and Jenkins of course, will not be playing due to injury. Also Danny Medina won at reliever and I still don't know why Kikuo Kawase wasn't on the ballot
nor was he picked for the All-Star Game which is a travesty.
Here are the teams:
Some interesting selections here (Tanner Witt?) including Tim Sandstrom, the former Ray farmhand whom Colorado just put on waivers, which raises* the question: Can you play in the All-Star Game while you're on waivers? What if someone in the other league claims you?
(*Notice I didn't use "begs the question", which does not mean "raises the question" like most people seem to think it does.)
The Home Run Derby:
Three Rays among the eight selected, and two matched up against each other! (That would never happen IRL). Thanks to a side bet, Nate Clark owes Bo Angeac a steak dinner. Despite having three Rays in it, none of them made the final but at least a former Ray won it all, congrats to Joe Barker.
The game itself:
It was a strange game as the AL didn't have a hit through 7 innings when Edgar Medina led off the 8th with an infield single. Then the AL went nuts in the 9th with three homers, including a 3-run shot from Rule 5 draftee and former Rays farmhand Jose Escobar. Four Rays hitters started (in spots 1-4 in the lineup) and went a combined 0-8 with Jaiden Hardaway and Bo Angeac (twice) reaching via bases on balls. Danny Medina got the surprise start and gave up a run when Mike Kovalak tripled off him and old friend Joe Barker singled him home while Andy Aparicio had a 1-2-3 inning with a whiff. Nate Schultz and Leo Ortega did not pitch, having been on short rest.