MLB All-Star Game 2015: Open Thread

Ahhh the midsummer classic. This time, it counts! It seems disingenuous to say "This time, it counts" when it's counted way too many times. Do they even say "This time, it counts!" anymore? I don't know. At any rate, the AL All stars take on the home team NL All Stars at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

I can't lie, I have a mild love affair with the MLB All Star Game. We're halfway through a borderline terrible season where every game is mildly stressful and mostly ugly, where Sam Fuld and Eric Sogard Ro Sham Bo for playing time, and where Billy Butler exists. But the All Star Game is a happy time: player's adorable kids, siblings, and friends are close by, everyone is smiling and you realize how happy all these guys are to be playing this amazing game for a living. Take a minute to check out Albert Pujols being awesome with Joc Peterson's younger brother, Champ. The All Star game really makes you appreciate that some of these guys are awesome people.

Except Manny Machado. Screw that guy.

Alas, this game might not happen. The threat of rain looms over today's event, after causing a slight disturbance in the Homerun Derby last night. Should today be rained out, the game will move to tomorrow night. Forecasts are looking good for now and it looks like the game will go on without a hiccup, but earlier it wasn't:

Suddenly there is a monsoon out there. #ASG pic.twitter.com/7wVH4HgVIx

— Sergio Gonzalez (@CBSGonzalez) July 14, 2015

This wouldn't be the first instance of an All Star game being moved due to bad weather. In 1969, the game was rained out and moved to Wednesday. In 1961, the game was called a tie at 1-1 in the ninth thanks to rain. And of course, who could forget the 1952 five inning, rain shortened affair when the NL topped the AL 3-2.

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Lineups below, written by a 4 year old, or in a font that shouldn't exist. There are exactly two names on the AL side that don't cause me physical pain. LOVE THE ALL STAR GAME!

Here's your NL & AL All-Star Game lineups! pic.twitter.com/u5WKED9Hm5

— 120 Sports (@120Sports) July 13, 2015

Your beloved A's have two players in the game tonight. Sonny Gray will not pitch after throwing an absolute gem Sunday, disqualifying him from tonight's contest. As much as I'd love to see Sonny pitching or even starting for the American League stars, I'm ok with him saving his bullets for Friday's second half opener against the Twins. The A's other All Star will see action, as Stephen Vogt, his lovable personality and his awesome catcher's gear will be on display!

Stephen Vogt's gold-trimmed All-Star catching gear. pic.twitter.com/JQC6oooowl

— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) July 14, 2015

Here's an extremely long list of events for tonight. The broadcast will be going all day, first pitch is "scheduled" to be at 4:30pm, but it will really be at 5:15pm (PST). Play Ball, eventually!