Entertaining all-star game a bit too long

I was so happy when Dioner Navarro scored the winning run for the American League in the bottom of the 11th inning in last night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

 

I had to get up in the morning – not for work, but to play my version of golf – and I was glad it was all over at about 12:15 a.m.

 

Wait a minute. You say he was out? What?

 

Yes, now I remember. The less-than-speedy Navarro was on second, and Michael Young singled to center. Nate McLouth charged the ball and got off a strong throw to the plate, catcher Russell Martin snagged it on the hop and tagged the sliding Navarro, who very obviously was safe. It was close, but he was safe.

 

Only home plate umpire Derryl Cousins didn’t think so. He called Navarro out after this guy, who personifies the age-old moniker of “lumbering catcher,” had busted his butt running the toughest 60 yards of his life to try to get the win for his team.

 

“Oh, man,” I said. “Now I have to stay up.”

 

Which I did for one more inning. I’m usually up until about 1 a.m. anyway, but, man, I had to get out of bed early. I checked out after Ian Kinsler grounded out to end the 12th.

 

I didn’t’ find out who won until this morning, which I regret, because, even if it was way too long, it was a very entertaining all-star game. The fact that it was played in the soon-to-be Old Yankee Stadium and that dozen of Hall of Famers were there on the field before the game – man, those guys are getting old, aren’t they? – made it even better. It was fun to watch, for sure, but I just couldn’t watch it all.