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Seattle rocks

Emerald City embraces its Mariners, All-Star Game

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By John Donovan, CNNSI.com

	• Top Stories • All Thumbs • Quote of the Day • Short Hops • Things We'd Like to See

SEATTLE -- There are few events in sports that are hyped more and mean less than baseball's All-Star Game. What is essentially a midseason exhibition, jammed tightly into a six-month regular-season schedule, is played up like the crowning jewel of the game.

Which gives us this opportunity to hear from Seattle, the host of the 2001 game:

"Who cares?"

Yes, the 2001 All-Star Game is Tuesday at Safeco Field and this burg, for one, can't wait. The ubiquitous banners hang in downtown streets -- you know, Major League Baseball has an inkling about how to put on these things -- the local papers are blowing out the event, breathless TV stations play it high in their broadcasts, hand-scrawled banners on storefronts and churches welcome visitors to the city. For a handful of days starting this weekend and sliding through the week, Seattle is the center of the baseball universe.

It has worked out especially well this year, of course, because the American League roster has a decidedly local flavor. Seven Seattle Mariners, headed by international sensation Ichiro, load down the AL All-Star team. One well-known former Mariners great, Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez ("Seattle, start your booing"), will be here, too, and he'll compete in Monday night's Home Run Derby. Former Mariners left-hander Randy Johnson will throw for the National League.

Before that, though, Seattle is reveling in the John Hancock All-Star FanFest, baseball's attempt to reach out and touch its fans and parade out some of the game's all-time greats. That started Friday and runs through Tuesday and has drawn thousands of fans.

On Sunday, we have Radio Shack All-Star Sunday, featuring the Futures Game between up-and-coming stars.

And on Monday, it is the Claritin All-Star Workout Day, when the players come into town, play a little at batting practice and some then compete Monday night in the Home Run Derby.

Hmmm. The John Hancock FanFest. The Radio Shack All-Star Sunday. The Claritin Workout Day.

Major League Baseball knows its marketing.

Too much? Maybe. But here in the Emerald City, it just doesn't matter. There's no such thing as too much fun. Not this week.

On to the special CNNSI.com (brought to you by corporate daddy AOL Time Warner) All-Star Day at a Glance, which will appear through Tuesday.

Bobby and Joe Picking a team has never been so hard or so controversial. Joe Torre gets people hot by going Yankees-heavy on the American League side. Bobby Valentine, if you believe Marlins left fielder Cliff Floyd, is an out-and-out liar. Maybe next time they should have the last-place managers do the picking.
The Homecoming Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez, two of Seattle's Big Three that got away, return in All-Star form. They've both been back since -- A-Rod a couple times already this year, Johnson pitched at Safeco in 1999 -- but how the hometown crowd reacts in an All-Star setting will be interesting to see.
Clemens, Piazza Yeah, they could face each other for the first time since the bat-throwing incident in last year's Subway Series. Clemens has said the All-Star Game might be a good opportunity to explain to Piazza what was going through his head. Which would be nice -- if he can do it -- considering Piazza nearly had a bat going through his.
Seattle's Best This thing is ripe for a Mariners love-a-thon. Seven Mariners are on the All-Star roster, the team has the best record in baseball, the M's have a spot in the postseason all but assured, Safeco is a jewel of a ballpark ... and, if you haven't noticed, Ichiro has become the most popular baseball player on the planet. We could go on. But you'll hear enough as it is.
Bobby Valentine -- What is it with him? He's always in the middle of something. If it's not the Darryl Hamilton tiff or the Cliff Floyd thing -- and what went on with that? -- it's the backhanded shot at Joe Torre. You'd think he'd have enough to worry about with the Mets.
The Derby -- It's not until Monday night, but the Home Run Derby, in a lot of ways, is more popular than the game Tuesday night. Sure, it's a manufactured-for-TV thing. Sure, it's glorifying an already over-glorified part of the game. But, sheesh, you know how far these guys can hit it when a few cameras are trained on them and they really want to bash one?
Cal Ripken Jr. -- Just one hit. That's all we're looking for. The guy who made going to work every day a work of art -- and put to shame anyone who ever took a sick day -- ends his marvelous All-Star career here Tuesday night.
Jeff Nelson -- He'll be here, even though it's because of an ankle injury to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. But Nelson deserved it. And kudos, too, to Joe Torre for correcting the oversight -- even if it took his guy going down to help the skipper get the right guy.
The best of the pre-Seattle nonsense "That is like Looney Toons. That's a cartoon world. That I'm going to set him up so I can look like a fool on one of the bigger weekends of my life?" -- Mets manager Bobby Valentine, on suggestions he lied to Cliff Floyd about making the team to make Floyd look bad.
For those who are counting -- four straight for the Americans. Just to refresh the memory. And 11 of the last 15. If you're counting.
All the Mariners in this game -- there are seven of them -- should pay homage to Ruppert Jones, the former outfielder who became the first Mariners player selected to the All-Star Game in 1977.
And if you're really counting, 41-29-1, the Nationals are ahead. One of the games played in 1961 ended in a 1-1 deadlock at Fenway Park (There were two All-Star contests played each year from 1959 to 1962).
It's not like the Mariners are not used to All-Star bids. Five M's went in both '96 and '97.
This is Cal Ripken Jr.'s 19 selection, and AL All-Star record. Did you know both Willie Mays and Hank Aaron won 17 times apiece? Ripken is 12-6 in All-Star games.
Randy Johnson, back where he grew up as a baseball player, mowing down a couple Mariners.
Bret Boone, finally back where he began, doing what he does best -- driving in a run or two.
A big, sloppy, awkward hug between Joe Torre and Jeff Nelson.
A big, sloppy hug between Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine.
A-Rod getting cheered at the Home Run Derby. The man deserves it.
Fewer distractions at the game -- and, yeah, the media causes a lot of it -- and more interaction between current players and fans.

 

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