AL wins the All Star Game, 6-3

Pregame

The All Star festivities started at dawn with an uncomfortable circlejerk to Pete Rose, and continued with an all day circlejerk deadicated to Pete Rose. You might remember Pete Rose from having the most hits of all time, or doing the one thing you really, really should not do in baseball, or from hit television show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Who's who? pic.twitter.com/dZLnr7BfCH

— Tim Fong (@teckertfong) July 15, 2015

I get it, Pete Rose is a very good baseball player who has the most hits of all time.  He's from Cincinnati, and was on some pretty awesome teams. He's a polarizing figure, due to the fact that he broke the most forsaken rule in baseball, over, and over, and over again, and you know what? Maybe I don't get it. Maybe focus on Barry Larkin or something.

I will say, this blazer is just perfection.

After receiving a rousing ovation from the fans in Cincinnati tonight, @PeteRose_14 spoke to @Ken_Rosenthal. #ASG https://t.co/FKtHEwWpIm

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 15, 2015

The A's Days:

The A's had two All-Stars, one of whom was ineligible to play today, so this section will be fairly short.

Stephen Vogt entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, catching Rays' starter Chris Archer. Defensively, Vogt didn't see any action, holding a catcher's ERA of 4.50. Catcher's ERA is worthless, but when your dude gets one at bat, you've gotta stretch just a little bit.

Speaking of said at bat, Vogt faced New York Mets' youngster Jacob deGrom, striking out on three pitches. If that sounds bad, consider that DeGrom struck out the side on ten pitches, making AL hitters look foolish. He was the best pitcher in a game full of the best pitchers, and it wasn't even that close. Even Aroldis Chapman's 3 strikeout performance couldn't match DeGrom, who didn't even allow a foulball.

The lowlight of Vogt's appearance was of course, Harold Reynolds. Harold blabbered on about nothing as Vogt came to the plate to lead off the sixth, and the entire broadcast team didn't mention Stephen's name until after his at bat was over. Big ups to Joe Buck who overcame his lack of broadcasting skills to acknowledge Vogt's awesome year and wonderful story.

Unfortunately, Reynolds sullied Buck's kind words by saying "You better hit the ball if you want someone to talk about you". Seriously, those words were uttered by a professional broadcaster, on a national broadcast of the All Star Game.

Anyway, let's not let Harold Reynolds ruin the night. Stephen Vogt is awesome. Did you see him on intentional talk today? Watch, it's amazing. Stephen Vogt, a man who started his career 0-25, is an All Star, and deservedly so. His fWAR more than doubles that of starter Salvador Perez, but who's counting. The A's traded cash considerations for their best player, a hilarious, kind, humble and all around awesome guy, who has the best, albeit most plagiarized cheer in baseball right now.

The A's other All-Star, Sonny Gray, put up straight donuts in his first All Star game. That's 0 appearances, 0 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, and 0 references by the broadcasting crew. Sonny was unfortunately ineligible for the game after starting Sunday (this has to happen to the A's more than any other team), but looked happy to enjoy the experience of his well deserved first AS Game. Fear not Sonny, we didn't forget you, nor your AL Leading 2.04 ERA. You'll have plenty of All Star appearances in your future.

The Game:

Oh yeah, there was a baseball game and frankly, it was pretty entertaining. Mike Trout started the game with an opposite field homerun off MLB ERA leader Zack Greinke. Overcoming his neckless upbringing, Mike Trout has now lead off an All Star game with a single, double, triple, and home run. That's pretty cool, and he is the best player in baseball.

The National League tied the game at 1 in the second. Paul Goldschmidt led off, singling to chump third baseman (kidding) Josh Donaldson, and advancing to second on chump third baseman (kidding again) Donaldson's throwing error. Goldschmidt came in to score on a dinky single by NL shortstop Jhonny Peralta

The AL added two in the fifth, as Prince Fielder scored Alcides Escobar on a single off of Clayton Kershaw, followed by an RBI double by Lorenzo Cain. Royals. Yuck. The score was 3-2 heading to the bottom of the frame.

The NL got one back in the sixth thanks to an Andrew McCutchen bomb. Stephen Vogt called for a slider, but Chris Archer hung the 85 mph offering which McCutchen blasted to deep left, making the score 3-2.

The AL added two in the seventh, as Manny Machado doubled to center scoring Brock Holt. No explanation why Holt was at the game or on the bases, but Commissioner Manfred let the play stand. Prince Fielder added another run on a sacrifice fly to center, extending the score to 5-2. The damage was done off of RHP/idiot Francisco Rodriguez. I'd call that a victory for mankind.

The AL added a run in the eighth, as Brian Dozier homered off of Mark Melancon to extend the lead to 6-2. Raise your hand if you knew Mark Melancon was an All Star!

The NL scored a final run in the ninth thanks to a Ryan Braun triple (would have been a double without the roids, no question) and a sacrifice fly by Brandon Crawford. The game ended without any drama, with the AL winning 6-3 to secure home field advantage for a second consecutive year.

MVP

Mike Trout made history by winning his second consecutive MVP award, thanks to his homerun, and beating out a double play, I guess. It was a gritty play, that will hopefully inspire Oakland Athletic's DHs everywhere. This Mike Trout guy is really, really good. Tomorrow's Daily Bernie? Mike Trout for Zobrist, and parts.

Home Field Advantage: American League

Breath a sigh of relief A's fans, we will have home field advantage in the World Series! With tonight's win, and thanks to a rule, which somehow still exists, the AL will host the World Series opener in October.

Back to Action!

The A's will end their midsummer vacation on Friday, as Sonny Gray and the A's take on the Twins at O.co Coliseum.