The American League lost the All-Star game and baseball lost more

The last time I saw the American League lose the All-Star game was when I was 12 years old.  Fourteen years later and I will be 26 next month and unfortunately the National League done it again in a final score of 3-1.  I was hoping there would be a miraculous come from behind win like in previous All-Star games and the American League take their rightful win and unfortunately it didn’t happen.

I don’t know why, but I prefer American League baseball.  I don’t know if its the higher scoring games, if its the designated hitter or if I just like Texas Rangers.  Even in the World Series I would prefer if the American League pulls a win even if its the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox.

I loved earlier this season when the Rangers basically dominated in inter-league play.  I have been to games in National League parks and in American League parks and the game just seems to flow better with American League rules, but I guess it’s just a personal preference and I am sure there are other bloggers on the Fansided Network on the N.L. side that would feel opposite of me.

The Rangers are looking to make the postseason for the first time since 1999 and with the rooster they have assembled with ace Cliff Lee anchoring the pitching staff the Rangers should go deep into the postseason.  If they make it to the World Series it will be tougher with the National League having the homefield advantage in the World Series.

One thing I have to say about tonight’s loss to the National League, the American League was represented by a lot of Rangers, but it was represented by more Yankee’s players who lost their polarizing owner today to a massive heart attack.  George Steinbrenner just turned 80 on July 4th and died only 9 days after his birthday of a massive heart attack.  I am sure the entire Yankees staff on the All-Star rooster had a very difficult time focusing on the game.

There are a lot of people who criticize the Yankees and Steinbrenner saying that they pay for championships and that Steinbrenner was a horrible person consistiently hiring and firing personnel from the General Manager down to players on the field.  It was known by every player what he expected from them.

I have to admire his desire to win, he put winning as the primary focus, to him a year without a World Series trophy was a failure.  Now I don’t believe in being that radical about baseball, but I do believe that every year you want your owner to look forward to winning.  Once a owner becomes complacent with just putting 25 men on the field every season, he loses his desire and will not put forward the resources for a team to win.

A lot of people criticize him for what he paid players, but I believe he helped players more than he hurt baseball as a whole.  One thing I have to say is people say that baseball players make too much money, but for starters they work for pretty much 9 months straight if not year round with training.

I am sure the average tenure of a baseball player is under 10 years and then he retires.  Normal workers work 40 years plus before they retire, so MLB players have to make their money go a lot farther.  He did put the money out to get players, but he was creative in getting the money to pay players capitalizing on the team rather than Rangers owner Tom Hicks who used his team to bankroll other opportunities.

One thing, no matter what your stance is on Steinbrenner, he moved baseball forward for the players and the managers.  He was also very generous in his giving in the Bronx and in his hometown of Tampa.  I remember a couple of years ago when something like six children were killed in a fire, he paid for all of their funerals.  Even though he had a spotty legacy, baseball lost a pioneer as a whole and he can/never will be replaced.