Berry Tramel

All-Star Game: Who are these guys?

Posted July 10, 2012 by Berry Tramel Comment on this article Leave a comment

Luke Bryan sang the national anthem Tuesday night in the All-Star Game. I had never heard of him, though Wikipedia tells me he’s a country singer.

National League's Pablo Sandoval, of the San Francisco Giants, hits a three-run triple during the first inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
National League's Pablo Sandoval, of the San Francisco Giants, hits a three-run triple during the first inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

But it’s OK. I didn’t know half the players, either. What a difference. Once, I knew every major league starter and virtually every player. Now, I don’t know the all-stars.

For grins, I gave myself a quiz. I went down the all-star rosters and separated them into three groups.

1) Names I knew and for which team they played;

2) Names I knew but didn’t know for which team;

3) Never heard of them.

Out of 74 all-stars, I could name the team of 33. Less than half. Twenty-five, more than a third, I had never heard of. The Ryan Cook, Matt Wieters, Chris Sale, Fernando Rodney, Asdrubal Cabrera, Mark Trumbo, Pablo Sandoval crowd. I don’t know those guys.

I’d say we’re both to blame, baseball and me. I haven’t followed the sport the last 10 years or so like I used to. The steroid scandal turned me off. The NBA’s arrival in town filled my brain with all kinds of hoops information where once was warehoused baseball stuff.

But baseball hasn’t helped. America has slowly stopped watching, too. Fans still watch their local teams, but the sport is losing its national appeal.

There was a time when the All-Star Game was must-see television. Now it’s who’s-he television.

33 Heard of: Prince Fielder, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Josh Hamilton, Jose Bautisa, David Ortiz, Matt Harrison, Justin Verlander, Joe Mauer, CC Sabathia, Jered Weaver, Paul Konerko, Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler, Mike Trout, Billy Butler, Yu Darvish, Buster Posey, Joey Votto, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Stephen Strasburg, Cole Hamels, R.A. Dickey, Matt Cain, Yadier Molina, David Wright, Chipper Jones, Ryan Braun, Andrew McCutchen, Bryce Harper, Matt Holliday, David Freese

25 Never heard of: Ryan Cook, Matt Wieters, Jim Johnson, Chris Sale, Chris Perez, Fernando Rodney, Asdrubal Cabrera, Mark Trumbo, Adam Jones, Pablo Sandoval, Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Gio Gonzalez, Wade Miley, Lance Lynn, Joel Hanrahan, Carlos Ruiz, Starlin Castro, Ryan LaHair, Jose Altuve, Ian Desmond, Jay Bruce, Carlos Gonzalez, Giancarlo Stanton, Michael Bourn,

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