Bay Area Closers Put Together Strong Performances in 2010 All-Star Game

The National League managed to snap a 13-game losing streak against the American League with a 3-1 victory that featured some phenomenal pitching. The NL will have home field advantage in the 2010 World Series thanks to a bases clearing double by Braves catcher Brian McCann and a HUGE heads-up play by OF Marlon Byrd in the ninth inning. For more details of the entire game, check out Jeff Sullivan’s Live Blog.

The Giants and A’s were able to get playing time in this year’s game. Brian Wilson pitched the 8th inning, earning a hold as he set-up closer Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton. I’m sure Giants fans had to love that one. A’s pitcher Andrew Bailey was brought in after McCann’s double and after walking Rafael Furcal, Bailey was able to stop the bleeding by getting the last out of the seventh inning.

Brian Wilson Enters Game For NL And Earns Hold

Brian Wilson entered the game for the National League in the 8th inning and was lights out with a 1-2-3 inning. He forced Elvis Andrus and Paul Konerko to ground out and then forced Jose Bautista to pop out in first base foul territory.

That gives the Bay Area 1 1.3 IP with one walk and no hits. Not too bad a day’s work.

Giants Closer Brian Wilson Warming Up For NL

NL manager Charlie Manuel has Giants closer Brian Wilson warming up in the bullpen in the top of the 8th. The NL is currently leading 3-1, so if Wilson comes in for the bottom of the 8th inning, he’ll get a chance to earn a hold.

It looks like Tim Lincecum is being held back as the emergency pitcher for extra innings.

Andrew Bailey Enters Game For AL And Stops The Bleeding

Well, an Oakland Athletics pitcher is appearing in the MLB All Star game for the first time since 2008. Andrew Bailey was brought into the game with two outs in the seventh inning with the AL down 3-1 and a man on second.

Bailey walked Rafael Furcal and then struck out Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips on a filthy pitch.

Andrew Bailey Warming Up In Bullpen For American League

Oakland A’s closer Andrew Bailey is currently warming up in the bullpen for the American League. Jon Lester just finished up the sixth inning with the AL holding a 1-0 lead. Although Bailey has been phenomenal as a closer, it’s safe to say that if the AL holds their lead, Mariano Rivera will be the pitcher closing out the game in the 9th.

Nonetheless, it’d be nice to see Bailey get a chance to pitch in the game and potentially get a hold. Last year, Bailey sat in the bullpen without getting a chance to pitch.

2010 All-Star Game StoryStream

SB Nation is going to be live blogging the game for those of you who might not be able to watch. They’re currently updating events here.

When the A’s and Giants players get involved, we’ll make sure to post updates for you throughout the night.

Andrew Bailey Named To All-Star Game

Because of the rule preventing Sunday starting pitchers from appearing in the Tuesday All-Star Game, the American League has had to replace Trevor Cahill and C.C. Sabathia. They’re still All-Stars, but they simply won’t pitch.

The two of them were replaced by A’s RP Andrew Bailey, Tigers SP Justin Verlander, and LAA SP Jered Weaver. Weaver is pitching today against the A’s and is thus unavailable. However, he’ll get to appear and wave his cap around.

Congratulations to Bailey on his second consecutive All-Star appearance.

A's And Giants Represented By Solid Talent In Today's Futures Game

My favorite part of the All-Star Game festivities is the Futures Game. The game features some of the top minor league talent from across baseball. Due to the overlap of various All-Star games, and the need to include players from across the league, it’s not 100 percent best of the best, but it’s pretty close.

Today’s Futures Game (3 p.m. PDT, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com) features some talented players from both the A’s and the Giants. The A’s are represented by shortstop Grant Green, a 2009 first round draft choice currently playing in Stockton of the Single A California League. The Giants are represented by RHP Zack Wheeler and OF Francisco Peguero. Wheeler was a 2009 first round draft choice and is currently pitching for the Augusta Green Jackets of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Peguero was signed as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic, and is the youngest player on the Giants 40-man roster. He’s currently playing for the San Jose Giants of the California League.

ESPN’s Keith Law had some comments on the various players involved in the game. It’s Insider-protected, so here are the comments on the A’s and Giants representatives:

Grant Green
Hitting much better after a slow April. Green has good bat speed and the size to eventually hit for power, but he has a tendency to get on top of the ball and hasn’t carried over his plate discipline into pro ball. There’s also a decent chance he moves off shortstop, where he’s still pretty rough but has the athleticism to figure it out.

Zack Wheeler
A surprise addition, since he’s been out since late May with a torn fingernail, Wheeler has been up to 96 with a hard slurve but needs to improve his changeup and fastball command; his body has a lot of projection left and he looks like a potential 1 or 2.

Francisco Peguero
Toolsy but very crude centerfielder who can run and has good bat speed, but six unintentional walks in over 280 plate appearances isn’t going to get anyone’s bat to the big leagues.

Tim Lincecum And Brian Wilson To Represent Giants In All Star Game

As the All Star roster spots were revealed, pitchers Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson were announced as reserves for the National League roster. In addition, Bruce Bochy will be a part of NL Manager Charlie Manuel’s staff.

Lincecum has scuffled a bit over the last month and a half, but still leads the NL in strikeouts with 121. Wilson has put together a very solid 2010 with 22 saves, a 2.10 era, and only 2 blown saves.

Trevor Cahill Selected To 2010 All-Star Game; Won't Be Able To Pitch

The rosters for each All Star team were announced today, and the Oakland A's are represented by Trevor Cahill. The A's pitcher lost a battle for the fifth starter spot this spring, but has emerged as a revelation, currently sitting with an 8-2 record and a 2.74 ERA. The problem for Cahill is that he is slated to pitch next Sunday, which makes him ineligible to pitch in the All Star Game.

Given the potential injury concerns for any pitcher going two days before, it's certainly reasonable to have such a rule. The problem for the A's, as mentioned by Susan Slusser in the link above, is that unless his roster spot is replaced with another Oakland Athletic, the team will have nobody who could potentially appear in the game. Cahill is still considered an All-Star, even though he won't appear. However, because he's considered an All Star, the mandatory team representative is made.

Slusser mentioned Bailey and Suzuki as alternatives, but I'd be pretty surprised if the A's got a second rep. They deserve it, but given the way they fly under the radar, it'd be a surprise if any other Oakland A made the roster. Nonetheless we'll keep an eye out for the replacement.