ASG Has More Levity, Since Game No Longer “Counts”

For the first time since 2003, Tuesday night’s All Star Game had no ramifications for the postseason. And that brought some moments of levity, as former Brewers’ prospect Nelson Cruz of Seattle had catcher Yadier Molina take a smartphone picture of him and a smiling plate umpire Joe West just before Cruz batted in the sixth inning. Also, Fox T-V reporters interviewed players on the field during the game — and play by play announcer Joe Buck talked to George Springer and Bryce Harper while they were standing at their outfield spots. The All Star Game returned to being an exhibition after the winning league stopped getting home field advantage in the World Series — an effort to make the game mean something after the 2002 affair in Milwaukee ended in a 7-7 tie as players left Miller Park right after their appearances, and both managers used up all their pitchers after eleven innings. National League skipper Joe Maddon says he didn’t notice any drop in intensity Tuesday night, as Robinson Cano homered in the tenth and was named the game’s M-V-P in a 2-1 American League victory.