SAN FRANCISCO -- Can Jim Leyland please manage in the All-Star Game every year? The Tigers manager put on a clinic on how to play to win in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday, leading the AL to a thrilling 5-4 victory and extending the Senior Circuit's misery to 11 consecutive winless games.
Leyland set the tone early by having his top two pitchers -- Dan Haren and Josh Beckett -- give him two innings each. By the time another pitcher had to come into the game for the AL, Leyland had the lead at 2-1 and would not relinquish it the rest of the way.
In the ninth inning, with J.J. Putz imploding and the AL's 5-2 lead cut to 5-4, Leyland made the tough call of taking out the Seattle reliever in mid-inning -- always a mildly embarrassing thing in an All-Star setting, especially for a dominant closer. Frankie Rodriguez came in and got the final out, though not without drama, walking two batters before getting Aaron Rowand to fly out. (Life can be tough without Mariano Rivera around, huh?)
Speaking of Rowand, what exactly was he doing at the plate with the bases loaded and the tying run at third base and two outs in the ninth? With all due respect to the overachieving Phillies outfielder, he shouldn't have been put in that position with the game hanging in the balance. At least not with Albert Pujols still on the bench and available to pinch-hit.
But NL manager Tony La Russa didn't want to make that tough call of pulling Rowand out of the on-deck circle in favor of the league's most feared hitter. When asked after the game why he didn't pinch-hit Pujols for Rowand, La Russa said he needed to keep the versatile Pujols available for extra innings because of his ability to play multiple positions. It's not the worst excuse for losing a one-run game with your best hitter never getting an at-bat, but it's not a good one, either. What La Russa didn't give enough weight to is the possibility that if he had allowed Pujols to bat, extra innings might not have been necessary at all. Pujols wasn't happy with the decision, either.
With that in mind, let's start the 2007 All-Star Game grading with the managers of each league:
AL Manager Jim Leyland: A+
NL Manager Tony La Russa: D-
American League Grades | National League Grades
STARTERS
1. Ichiro Suzuki, center field, 3-3, 1 R, 2 RBIs, SB, HR
Ichiro provided the signature moment of this All-Star week with the first inside-the-park home run in the history of the Midsummer Classic. He added two more hits and a stolen base to wrap up MVP honors.
Grade: A+
2. Derek Jeter, shortstop, 1-3
He killed a rally in the first inning by grounding into a double play with Ichiro on first base, got a hit in the third inning but was stranded. We were also treated to a special, All-Star edition of "Pasta-Diving Jeter" when he shockingly failed to get to Ken Griffey Jr.'s RBI single up the middle.(Please note sarcasm.)
Grade: C-
3. David Ortiz, first base, 0-2
Quiet night for Big Papi as he reached on an error after hitting into The Shift in the first inning and lined out to right in the third.
Grade: C
4. Alex Rodriguez, third base, 1-3
Typical A-Rod -- even when he does something right, things somehow don't work out. After reaching on a single and stealing second base in the fourth inning, Rodriguez foolishly tried to score from second on a line-drive base hit to right field. He was gunned down by 10 feet on a sterling throw by Griffey.
Grade: C-
5. Vladimir Guerrero, right field, 0-3
Is the Home Run Derby curse already at work? Vlad lost his rematch with Brad Penny, whom he homered off in last year's All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, when he broke his bat on a 95 mph Penny offering. Hitless in three at-bats.
Grade: C-
6. Magglio Ordonez, left field, 0-2
The major-league leader in batting average went hitless. He must be saving the baseknocks for the real games.
Grade: C
7. Ivan Rodriguez, catcher, 1-2
His bid for an RBI in the fourth inning was cut down by Griffey's throw to the plate to nail A-Rod.
Grade: B
8. Placido Polanco, second base, 0-1
Only got one plate appearance.
Grade: C
KEY RESERVES
Carl Crawford: Did you think he was just a speed guy? This guy has power, too. His home run in the sixth inning to the deepest part of AT&T Park is evidence enough.
Grade: A+
Victor Martinez: He salted the game away witha two-run homer off Billy Wagner in the eighth inning to expand the AL's lead to 5-2. Of course, there are those who thought Martinez should have been the starter in place of Pudge anyway.
Grade: A+
PITCHERS
Dan Haren, 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
The A's ace had decent stuff, spotting his fastball at 93 and 94 mph, but he got burned on two sharp grounders up the middle, the first by Jose Reyes to lead off the innng and then the RBI single by Griffey. Haren's best pitch was a filthy 94 mph heater, tailing away, to blow away Carlos Beltran, followed closely by the changeup he threw to strike out Miguel Cabrera and end the second inning.
Grade: B+
Josh Beckett, Win, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
He was dealt a tough break when Reyes reached on a bad-hop double but then got through a murderer's row of Barry Bonds, Beltran and Griffey in order. He kept the NL at bay for two innings to earn the win.
Grade: A+
C.C. Sabathia, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
His only blemish was allowing Reyes' third hit of the game.
Grade: A
Justin Verlander, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
When you throw 99 mph and you don't spot your pitches well, this is what happens: line drives all over the park. Beltran roped a triple to lead off the inning and came home on a sac fly. Verlander escaped further damage when Justin Morneau stopped a line drive to first base by Matt Holliday.
Grade: C
Johan Santana, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
He looked so good, I'm sure Leyland was tempted to just leave him in to finish the game. He needed only 10 pitches, throwing nine of them for strikes.
Grade: A+
Jonathan Papelbon, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Just another day at the office for the Boston fireman.
Grade: A
J.J. Putz, 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Closing out All-Star Game isn't as easy as Mariano Rivera has made it look recently, huh?
Grade: B-
Francisco Rodriguez, 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 K
Who else wanted to see a K-Rod vs. Pujols matchup with everything on the line?
Grade: C
Melanie Fitzpatrick
Cintia Dicker
Best Players 6-5 and Under
Notable Cuban Defectors 
Comments (29) Add A Comment
I don't care what reason LaRussa gives - he should be ashamed for making one of the worst managerial decisions of all time. How could you possibly not want Pujols batting with a chance to win the game? Extra innings you say? Lame, pathetic, deplorable excuse LaRussa. He should have to apologize to all baseball fans, especially those in St. Louis, for depriving us of seeing, potentially, one of the most intruiging at bats in All-Star game history: One of baseball's most feared closers in K-Rod vs. one of the most feared hitters ever to play the game of baseball. It could have been a perfect ending to an otherwise entertaining game. Thanks for ruining it for all of us! Instead, we see Aaron Rowand go 0-2 and Pujols is left sulking in the dugout with a big fat DNP next to his name. Unbelievable.
Ytsejam76
Catonsville , MD
Total Comments (4)
I don't care what reason you give - one of the worst managerial decisions can not be made in the All Star Game
We Still Believe BS
Santa Rosa , CA
Total Comments (279)
leyland gets a C and la russa gets a B.
1) are you kidding me? he took out putz, brought in rodriguez and almost blew the game. did you hear frod quoted on the angel network? he said that he never even dreamed he would be brought in( zero notice from leyland) and he has never , never come in unless it is the top of the 9th- not the middle of the ninth. very predictable: 2 walks........ hey, leyland doesn't even have a clue about closers. look at todd jones... he handles him about the same and jones is all messed up with, what, a over 5.00 era? i feel that to change all- star closers in the ninth showed panic and no understanding of a closer's mentality. at least rodriguez agrees with me. ask him if he would give leyland an A+.... wow.... if you do anything, you bring in a starter, never a closer who has mentally shut down for the night and NEVER has entered a game like that. ridiculous.
also, mr. lust, you must realize that there is a volcano ready to explode in st. l. soon. of course he would have used pujols if pujols wanted to play. la russa didnt use him because pujols chose that route. if you dont see this, then you dont know tony. just read the explosive anger that pujols dropped on la russa. pujols totally fooled tony and dumped on him. unfortunately this is probably far bigger than the game itself. obviously pujols' childish turn on tony is trouble. and, after pujols' last year dumping on glavine, mr. pujols will determine the outcome. a good guy of the past becomes, as they all do, an ego-driven nasty person. sad, very sad. tony is a great man. i know this man. he puts the rest of us to shame with his great deeds that few know of. he put up with ozzie smith's rantings for 9 years( after joe torre left st. l. and ozzie in a total mess)- ask leyland, ask torre what they think of tony. especially ask sparky anderson. tony's respect for them is reciprocated in volumes. this pujols issue was way bigger than the game... sadly i say.
protony
Palos Verdes Peninsula , CA
Total Comments (2)
Way to Go Rios with the Game Saving Catch in the bottom of the 9th.
Maybe if the runner up to the home run derby, One of the games brightest young stars got to bat in the top of the ninth for Hunter who already had a plate appearance (0-1) the score wouldn't have been as close.
Matt Hogtown Fox
Total Comments (26)
I though i heard La Russa say he would stop at nothing to win this game. But the thing that was proved during the all-star game was this: Marino Rivera is the best closer in the game. He has never blown an all-star game unlike Trever Hoffman, Eric Gagne, or even Billy Wagner who has really struggled in his all-star appearences
Olaf
Shrewsbury , NJ
Total Comments (10)
Listen, I understand that most people, especially writers, don't like Barry Bonds. I certainly am not rooting for him to break the record. But, I am wondering why he is the only guy to go 0-2 and get a grade of D. There are other people that went 0-3 and you give them a C-. Others who went 0-2 got a C. Billy Wagner and Putz get a C-...huh? Clearly there is some anti-Bonds sentiment clouding your reasoning.
BravesFanInME
Total Comments (1)
protony...
So you're saying that Pujols didn't want to play? No way! I don't believe for a second that Pujols would convey any idea that he would not want to be put into that situation. It should have been a no-brainer to put Pujols into the game.
As a Cubs fan, I'm not the biggest Albert Pujols fan, but, with all due respect to Aaron Rowand, I would much rather have Pujols up there than Rowand in that situation. I was a bit confused when I saw Orlando Hudson batting, instead of Pujols, and after Hudson walked, I was yelling at my TV when I saw Aaron Rowand coming up, and not Pujols. I'm not saying that the result would necessarily have been different, and it's easy to second guess LaRussa now that we've seen how Rowand did, but I would have liked my chances better with Albert Pujols up there.
frisbeeplaya
Durham , NC
Total Comments (1)
I understand that Tony LaRussa does some nice things for animals and has done some nice charitable work, but he did a lousy job last night. protony, the Cardinals obviously won the World Series last year because of Tony, that Pujols guy can be replaced easily.
Also, Putz was on fire, why take him out? Todd Jones would probably have 50 saves and an era of 1.00 with Tony as his manager.
And while we conclude on the great Tony, I really like when berates reporters and falls asleep at the wheel. protony, I appreciate that you are friends with Tony or related to him, but you needed to watch last night's game on the same tvs that the rest of us watch it on. The reality ones...
Japes
Oak Park , IL
Total Comments (3)
Geez protony, guess you've already made up your mind, eh? Nobody has ever criticized La Russa's big game choices before...oops, my bad, they do so routinely! Its ok, its what people do! It doesn't matter what you think about Pujols as a person, it's about him as a batter that matters here.
You closer comments don't come across as well informed...Bring in a starter to spell a close mid-inning, because they're more used to that? Puhleese! And re Leyland and Jone, Todd Jones almost without exception comes in at the start of the 9th inning, and likewise is almost never yanked...you should be happy about that...even if he SHOULD BE yanked, like when he let the Indians score five runs, or gave up five hits to the Nationals (!) without getting an out. But that's Leylands fault I guess; maybe he owes you money?
ThePhantom
Herndon , VA
Total Comments (11)
The worst part of LaRussa's decision is that he somehow managed to create controversy with his own player for a team that certainly doesn't need any distractions sitting 7.5 games out.
The Rational Fanatic
Atlanta , GA
Total Comments (5)
protony gimme a break, If F Rod is such a great closer, come in and get the job done. His job is to come in and throw strikes when the bullpen phone rings, regardless of the situation. What's he want, his theme music to be heard at the Stadium when he gets the call, gimme a break. If throws strikes none of this is an issue, don't blame Leyland for F Rod's inability to find the plate. Another thing, Leyland handles his Detroit bullpen the same way last year and they were pretty effective.
beastieboy
Trenton , NJ
Total Comments (6)
I understand that Tony LaRussa does some nice things for animals and has done some nice charitable work, but he did a lousy job last night. protony, the Cardinals obviously won the World Series last year because of Tony, that Pujols guy can be replaced easily.
Also, Putz was on fire, why take him out? Todd Jones would probably have 50 saves and an era of 1.00 with Tony as his manager.
And while we conclude on the great Tony, I really like when berates reporters and falls asleep at the wheel. protony, I appreciate that you are friends with Tony or related to him, but you needed to watch last night's game on the same tvs that the rest of us watch it on. The reality ones...
Japes
Oak Park , IL
Total Comments (3)
Your comment
Japes
Oak Park , IL
Total Comments (3)
gimme a break protony. If F Rod is soooo great then just come in and throw strikes, regardless of when the bullpen phone rings. Its not like Leyland brought him in to the game during the 5th inning which would be strange for a "closer", but if memory serves me correct.... he came into the game in the 9th INNING prime closing time. what's he some sort of Diva that felt disrespected coming in during the middle of the innning, had to get his hair did ???? Leyland wasn't the one out there having trouble locating the plate, F Rod was that guy. Besides, Leyland "use" of his bullpen was the exact same last year, when that pen was the best in the majors. Big difference is zumaya and rodney being hurt and Jones cutter's not as effective, all having nothing to do with Leyland's "use of the bullpen".
beastieboy
Trenton , NJ
Total Comments (6)
You guys are missing the point if Rios never makes that catch The Nationals Win the game.
thank god Leyland save Rios for a defensive replacement with 2 out in the 9th.
Instead of hitting him for (at the time 0-1) Hunter.
Phew!
Matt Hogtown Fox
Total Comments (26)
I mean National League. Not the Washington Expos.
Matt Hogtown Fox
Total Comments (26)
As I stated on the other forum, La Russa lost the game, and did nothing to win it.
I dont care if you are "Reserving" the biggest threat with a bat on the bench, when the game is on the line, you put him in!!!
How embarassing to watch Pujols in the bench with the bases loaded and SF's most hated closer on the mound. It would of made this All Star memorable with that at-bat.. due to La Russas's sleeper, this All Star game was a DISSAPOINTMENT. THANKS LA RUSSA!!! La Russa might as well have thrown in the towell. Any manager in the majors would of made that move, and he held back HIS OWN SLUGGER!!!
nicageo
South San Francisco , CA
Total Comments (55)
gotta say that I agree with protony...Leyland nearly screwed up with the pitching AGAIN! This is the pain I endured last year every time he resorted to putting in Fernando Rodney...the errors that young pitcher made and the lack of control just about killed me every time. I love Leyland for his attitude about the game (made our boys play their very best last year and almost got us the world series), however, I do have to question his judgment when it comes to closers!
starfyr
Cleveland , OH
Total Comments (2)
Gotta say I agree with protony about Leyland's decision to put in frod in the middle of the ninth. Reminded me of the pain I went through last year every time he put in Fernando Rodney as a closer. While I totally respect Leyland's attitude about the game (spurred my boy's on to a near world series win last year), I do have to question his judgement when it comes to closers. It was just too close last night and I don't want to think about what might have happened if Pujols had gotten to bat!
starfyr
Cleveland , OH
Total Comments (2)
Giving Leyland an A+ is a joke. He left the reigning All-Star MVP (Michael Young) on the bench and didn't even get him an at bat. Michael even offered before the game to play second base (where he was All-Star caliber before Spariono came in and cried). Leaving Brian Roberts in there for 3 at bats was ridiculous ! I give Leyland and F for almost losing what should have been a blowout.
txrangerfan
Fort Worth , TX
Total Comments (3)
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