Tomorrow night’s Major League Baseball All Star Game will
truly feature a changing of the guard moment when phenom rookies Mike Trout (20
years old) of the Los Angeles Angels and Bryce Harper (19 years old) of the
Washington Nationals take the field in the first All Star Game as Atlanta
Braves future hall of fame third baseman Chipper Jones takes his All Star bow
in his eighth appearance.
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| Phenoms Bryce Harper, left, and Mike Trout to make All Star debuts |
I’ve thoroughly
enjoyed watching Chipper Jones career ever since his rookie season in 1995 (the
very first year I became a baseball fanatic) and I hope to do the same with
both Trout and Harper, both who appear to be the real deal. Though, tonight’s
All Star Game kind of has that out with the old, in with the new feel to it and
I can’t wait to watch Harper (who I’ve only seen play once) and Mike Trout (who
I haven’t seen play yet) in action there’s no doubt that for me tonight is
about Chipper Jones (of course because that is who this blog is dedicated too).
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| Chipper's last All Star Game workout |
When I went to St. Louis in May to say my in person farewell
to my baseball hero I thought I might shed a tear upon seeing Jones play up
close for the last time, but I didn’t. My emotions may not be kept that in
check later this evening when he takes to the baseline with his fellow National
League All Stars for player introductions at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.
Oh I can picture his ovation now from the fans as he tips his cap. Despite the
NL being the visitor, it wouldn’t surprise me if Chipper got an even bigger
ovation than the Royals own Billy Butler.
While being at the All Star Game with his children and
getting that ovation from the fans would be a great moment I just hope that
National League manager Tony La Russa finds a way to put Jones into the
ballgame. Chipper has to at least take one final All Star at-bat in his final
appearance. I know that it might be hard though to find the playing time for
Jones as the National League squad as an incredible four third baseman with San
Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval starting at the hot corner and New York Met and
St. Louis Cardinal David Freese on the bench with Jones. Wright is having the
best season among all third baseman in the NL and deserves to play. Freese is
likely a favorite of La Russa’s as he was the World Series MVP on the La Russa
managed Cardinals last year, which might get him playing time over Jones.
If La Russa can’t find a way to get Chipper into the game than
it truly will be a crime perpetrated against baseball fans everywhere.
I’ll be watching tonight’s All Star Game with great
anticipation of Chipper stepping out onto the field at Kauffman Stadium, which
by the way is the only field in baseball that Jones has never played at in his
career. Maybe he’ll have a truly magical moment like Baltimore Orioles legend
Cal Ripken Jr. did in his final All Star game back in 2001 when he hit a home
run and won the game’s MVP award? Either way I’m sure it’ll be a moment that
neither Chipper nor myself will ever forget.
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