Live from New York ... All-Star edition

After spending the afternoon riding in cars for a parade from midtown Manhattan to Central Park, the three Rays, and the other All-Stars, were eager for Tuesday's game.

Rookie 3B Evan Longoria is likely to be used as a pinch-hitter sometime in the middle of the game. LHP Scott Kazmir probably won't pitch unless the game goes into extra innings. It wasn't clear how C Dioner Navarro, one of three catchers on the AL roster, would be used.

The parade turned out to be quite entertaining for Kazmir, who said he was especially popular among fans of the Mets, the team which traded him to the Rays in July 2004 (for Victor Zambrano) and still hears regularly about it.

"They were really passionate, put it that way,'' Kazmir said. "It was crazy. There were guys tossing there Mets caps to me saying "Just try it on, see what it feels like, we know you'll come back.' A couple made it (to the truck) and they were like, "Just keep it, you'll be wearing it soon." And they were all asking me when I'll become a free agent.

Navarro said the heavily attended parade was quite the experience for him and his family. "It was great,'' Navarro said. "I was surprised how many people were cheering for me. A lot of people cheering for Tampa Bay, it was fun. I saw a lot of people in Rays shirts.''

Longoria will stay in New York on Wednesday to be a guest on the HBO Costas Live show, and to get some rest, then return to Florida for Thursday's workout at Tropicana Field. "I need to relax one of these days,'' he said.

He also had a different look about him Tuesday - a cleanshaven look.

Longoria had been wearing a beard, but last week in Cleveland trimmed it back to a goatee, but with the Rays extending their losing to seven decided it was time for further action. "That didn't work so I figured I might as well go all the way."

The players were invited to a number of parties on Monday night; Kazmir was among those stopping by the Jay Z / Alex Rodriguez party at the 40-40 club. There was some star power on the field Tuesday, with singer Sheryl Crow - who will perform the national anthem - getting autographs for his nephews.

Here are the starting lineups:

NL
Hanley Ramirez, ss
Chase Utley, 2b
Lance Berkman, 1b
Albert Pujols, dh
Chipper Jones, 3b
Matt Holliday, rf
Ryan Braun, lf
Kosuke Fukudome, cf
Geovany Soto, c
Ben Sheets, rhp

AL
Ichiro Suzuki, rf
Derek Jeter, ss
Josh Hamilton, cf
Alex Rodriguez, 3b
Manny Ramirez, lf
Milton Bradley, dh
Kevin Youkilis, 1b
Joe Mauer, c
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Cliff Lee, p

Comments

[Booooooooo]

Wow, one of your coworkers at Adventure Island (whatever the hell that is) is named Booooooooo too? What a coincidence! What name do they post under here?

[anti-Booooooo]

'of' not 'or'. My apologies, Boooooooo.

[anti-Booooooo]

Booooooooo told me yesterday that he loves coming on this blog and being so antagonistic. It makes him feel alive. He sits at his desk (he's in charge or the complaints department at Adventure Island) and contemplates his next strategic post. He's the best.

[Booooooooo]

Don't shoot the messenger kid

[Ted]

Congratulations BOOOOOOOOOOOOO
you get JERK of the month award.

Heh. I have an imposter comment too. SpambotHelene yearns for true love with a Rays fan or a troll, apparently. ;)

[Sox fan]

OK based on the comment by an imposter "Sox fan", I'm guessing some comments were pulled...because that just doesn't make any sense now. Whatever. Sorry I missed the comedy.

[Kincaid]

Just be thankful it ended without being called because our protected/ pampered little Scotty might have to do two innings.

He pitched 100 pitches Tues big deal. He goes 5 innings 100 pitches and out almost every start.

Half miler

[Booooooooo]

If it was fieldable it wouldn't have been scored E-2. It was an error. It allowed a run. It added six innings and two hours to the game. AL LVP = Navarro

BTW for future reference, when a guy hangs his head and trudges toward the dugout without saying a word after being called out, he was probably out.

[Sox fan]

pink so not my color but i kinda like it and trying 2 stay positive as always

[Helene]

Could it be love? It can't be, because there's no true love.

[Seymour]

Booooooo's a bad a**

[Helene]

C'mon, Navi's errant throw to second wasn't that crappy. I love how sportscasters and naysayers are talking like he airmailed it. Sure, he rushed it and bounced it too far wide of the bag, but it wasn't like it was utterly unfieldable or anything. :rolls eyes: Plus, his error only "matters" in the sense that it was a factor in the game going into extra innings. (Extra innings! Oh noes!) The AL still got the win, even though they couldn't hit with RISP to save their lives.

[jeff]

ROCKN' WITH KAZMIR

[Booooooooo]

Did the umpire call him safe? No? Then he was out. Welcome to "baseball," I know it's new to you guys but try to keep up.

Navi was safe at the plate. They showed the replay over and over.

[Booooooooo]

Neither of which meant anything. Not grounding out with the bases loaded and not throwing the ball into center would have meant something, though. Uggla is NL LVP obviously.

[Hank]

Hey Booooooooo,

What about Ugly from the Marlins. An All Star Game record for errors by one player. You must have forgot about Longoria's double in the eighth and Navi's single in the 15th (as well as he actually scored but there is no replay.

[Sox fan]

"being Sox Fan (what a joke this guy is)."

Sorry...that would be gal. Now run along little Seymour and think of something smart to say. You can do better than that!

[Booooooooo]

Is there a least valuable player award? Because that would be a tie between Longoria's weak grounder with the bases loaded and Navarro's throw into center to tack six innings onto the game. I'm leaning toward Navarro.

[Seymour]

It's a shame Longo couldn't hit in the winning run when he had the chance. That probably would have given him MVP. And who cares about the Yankee fans? It's fun to boo. I love to boo. I boo often. Classless is something else - like spending all morning on this inane blog or being Sox Fan (what a joke this guy is).

[Craig]

Boo hoo - they gave a red sock some of his own stupid medicine. Go cry on a Boston blog about it.

LET'S GO RAYS - FIRST PLACE AGAIN BY MONDAY!!!! SEE YOU ALL AT THE TROP AKA THE RAYS HOUSE THIS WEEKEND!

[Sox fan]

No I wouldn't be upset if the Sox closer didn't close at Fenway during an ALL STAR game. It wasn't a Yankees game, it was an MLB ALL STAR game. So, call me a liar...whatever. Rivera has a better average, so he should have closer...and I think Papelbon knew that...he was quoted as saying..."I said [Sunday] that I was pulling for Rivera to close the game." But then, pointing to Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, who was sitting quietly in the locker next to his, Papelbon added: "I mean, I want to close the game. You think this dude here doesn't want to close the game?" The NY media wanted a headline...and the NY fans took their hatred and ran with it. I'm glad all media outlets are calling them out on it today. It was very tasteless. One thing was very apparent over the past couple days...the MLB players have a lot more class then their fans. If they can put their differences aside for the game, then the fans should be able to as well. I saw Rivera giving pointers to Kazmir and other pitchers. Ortiz was bowing to give respect to Hamilton's pitching abilities. They showed a lot of class at the game yesterday. My youngest son learned a lot about good sportsmanship from the players...and unfortunately bad sportsmanship from the Yankees fans yesterday. Honestly, what did it get the Yankees fans yesterday when they booed THEIR player as he took the mound??? What did they WANT him to choke and lose them the game? Do they hate the Red Sox more than they love the game of baseball? Do they want to screw up home team advantage for the AL during the World Series (which according to any Yankees fan, they'll be in)? I really don't get it.

[Ray F]

As much as I hate the Stankees and Red Sux... the All-Star game is like a Christmas Day Cease Fire during war. Everybody gets to enjoy playing the game and for the Yank-me fans to boo Papelbon for a statement that was taken WAY out of context is just plain low-class.

They all wanted Rivera to close the game and 6 innings later a TAMPA BAY RAY got the win... swallow that you low-class bums!!!

I actually enjoyed watching Drew play and thought he deserved to win the MVP. What an all-around good night to not be a Yankee fan.

[Jason]

Navarro had one throw out and one error to be correct that would be 50% throw out percentage. The error was caused by the lack of Papelbons ablity to hold runners close to the base. No problem throwing out a runner with Rivera. Plus good teammates always pick up a bad play like Longoria did. Hats off to JD Drew for winning the MVP glad someone showed up from the Red Sox.

[Anthony]

He also threw the ball into center field or the AL would have won it in 9.

[Bill]

Navarro extended the 15th inning with a hit...........so he finished strong.

[Jimbo]

Correction: your closer is passed up for some Yankees' closer to end the game in your home stadium, you won't be upset? And if you say you wouldn't be, I'm calling you a liar or a fair-weather fan right now because I know I'd be down-right livid to have a final All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park closed out by the Mets' closer, that's for damn sure!

[Jimbo]

Well...yeah, he should. That's the point of this All-Star Game in the Bronx, isn't it? To celebrate the last year of Yankee Stadium? You mean to tell me if/when they close Fenway and Selig's successor gives you guys the All-Star Game that you won't be upset if your closer doesn't end the game? Gimmie a break....

[Sox fan]

Wow...that is all I'm going to say! This is a new LOW for the Yankees fan.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-sppap165765166jul16,0,3074482.story

His comments were completely taken out of context. And who cares if he said he wanted to close. Every closer there probably wanted to close. What is so special about the Yankees closer. What, because they played at the Yankees stadium he's got the upper or something?

[Sox fan]

Wow...that is all I'm going to say! This is a new LOW for the Yankees fan.

His comments were completely taken out of context. And who cares if he said he wanted to close. Every closer there probably wanted to close. What is so special about the Yankees closer. What, because they played at the Yankees stadium he's got the upper or something?

[Sox fan]

OMG...I FELL ASLEEP when it was 2-0! Now I'm trying desperately to find some recaps. I woke up this morning and saw the score 4-3. My son, before heading off to work, gave me his rendition. It went something like this...the Yanks fans have no class, they booed Papelbon when he took the plate, Drew is awesome, and our Sox manager is getting high praise...and then he went onto the Rays...he said Kasmir and Longoria...both had a chance to shine and did, but Navarro screwed up. So there you have it :). Something tells me there is more. I'm going to hunt for a run down.

[Hank]

11th inning blues.

Are you kidding me? I know the game is played at real speed, but Holy Cow! How can there be two calls that bad. Has the home plate ump ever heard of positioning to make the call?

[Anthony]

Thanks for blowing the gift the NL gave us, Longoria!

[Dan]

How bout those Rays! Evan doubles in the tying run in the eighth and Navi throws out the runner at second to chalk up a DP on Mariano's K in the top of the ninth. Great stuff, fellows!!!!!

[Amanda]

Frank-
We're all busy watching the game, obviously! :)

[Frank]

what, no allstar comments?! What's wrong with you guys?