Draft League All-Star Game

After much should-I-or shouldn't-I-go debate, I decided to go to the All-Star game being held at Trenton Thunder's stadium. Before I started blogging, I remember going the Eastern League All-Star game in Altoona, PA with Cousin Bruce. Each team sent their best players wearing their team uniforms and made a festival out of it. The day before included a Home Run derby. The stadium was packed and the energy level was high.

This was not that.

Instead of it being a game of east vs. west, it was Team Trembly vs. Team Manto. Named for the manager of each team.

Instead of wearing their own uniforms, they wore a blue or red tee-shirt (depending on the side), with their regular hats and uniform bottoms. 

The scorecard did not identify which team they usually play on.

Since each player is supposed to play (which makes sense), and there are 11 pitchers on the roster, a pitching change took place at least once an inning, adding to the delays.

The game started at 6:30 (instead of their usual 7 PM). By 9 PM the regulars were heading home. The seventh inning stretch hadn't even taken place yet. The game was slow, and painful. Runs seemed to be scored more on the errors caused by the other team than by the talents of the players (I'm sure this was not true in all cases). Play was sloppy.

There were a number of scouts in the stands as the next day was the draft deadline.

The consensus among the regulars is we miss having a team affiliated with the major league. We have a nice stadium, and passionate fans, but without a team to root for, it is hard to keep up our enthusiasm. 

Hopefully next year we'll have a new team.