Site of MLB All-Star Weekend 2022: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Dates: July 16-19
Celebrity Softball Game
As is always custom for Los Angeles, the stars were out for the MLB's Celebrity Softball Game. For the game, the players were split into two teams: Team Brooklyn and Team L.A.
The game had the following participants:
Bad Bunny - Recording Artist
Quavo - Recording Artist
JoJo Siwa - Social Media Star
The Miz - WWE Star
Rob Lowe - Actor
Simu Liu - Actor
Coi Leray - Recording Artist
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II - Actor
Bryan Cranston - Actor
Anthony Ramos - Actor/Musician
Chloe Kim - Olympic Snowboarder
Desus Nice - TV Personality/Comedian
J.K. Simmons - Actor
Lauren Chamberlain - Softball Legend
The Kid Mero - TV Personality/Comedian
Action Bronson - Recording Artist
Jerry Lorenzo - Fashion Designer
Guillermo Rodriguez - Comedian
Natasha Watley - Softball Legend
Lisa Fernandez - Softball Legend
Jennie Finch - Softball Legend
Hunter Pence - Retired MLB Player, 4x MLB All-Star, 2x World Series Champion
CC Sabathia - Retired MLB Player, 6x MLB All-Star, 2009 World Series Champion
Andre Ethier - Retired MLB Player
Shawn Green - Retired MLB Player
The fans love seeing the stars play baseball. They also just love seeing the stars in general. It was this moment that made anyone who didn't know already know that just about everyone loves Bad Bunny. When his name was announced, he received one of the biggest ovations of the night from the crowd. He also brought out MLB legends David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero to pinch-hit for him during his first two at-bats. He did not hit until the fifth inning and he finished the game with two singles. His two hits were hit off of softball legend Jennie Finch and recording artist Quavo.
Former MLB player and San Francisco Giant Hunter Pence was booed by the LA fans after hitting home run in the game that nearly went over the Dodger Stadium outfield fence. This is expected due to the rivalry of the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Along with the stars being present, the game also had its' fair share of funny moments. Bryan Cranston paid homage to his roles in "Breaking Bad" and "Malcolm in the Middle" by using both shows theme songs during his at-bats. He also wore al Albuquerque Isotopes hat in reference to Breaking Bad. During the final inning of the game, Jennie Finch threw a pitch that most would say is just a bit inside on Cranston. The umpire rung him up for strike 3. This then led to the actor kicking dirt at the umpire's feet and yelling at him.
Team Brooklyn defeated Team L.A. by a score of 15-13. The Miz walked away with the Celebrity Softball Game MVP honors.
Home Run Derby
(Photo via usatoday.com)
As always, the MLB's Home Run Derby features the best in the game at hitting the long ball. For years, the event has been a common fan favorite with many legends of the game such as Ken Griffey Jr, Cal Ripken Jr., and David Ortiz coming out as winners of the competition.
This year's home run derby featured great matchups. The matchups included No. 1 Kyle Schwarber (PHI) v. No. 8 Albert Pujols (STL, No. 2 Pete Alonso (NYM) v. No. 7 Ronald Acuna, Jr. (ATL), No. 3 Corey Seager (TEX) v. No. 6 Julio Rodriguez (SEA), and No. 4 Juan Soto (WSH) v. No. 5 Jose Ramirez (CLE). Pete Alonso came into the Derby as the reigning champion, winning the Derby in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 MLB All-Star Break was cancelled due to the MLB's shortened season from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
One of the big stories of thew Home Run Derby is the participation of baseball legend Albert Pujols. Pujols took on 1 seeded Kyle Schwarber in the first round as the sixth seed. This round of the derby between the two had a tie and needed to have both hitters take 1 more minute to hit. Pujols ended up defeating Schwarber by a score of 20-19. Another big story occurred during the matchup of Rodriguez v. Seager. During this round Julio Rodriguez started off the Derby with a bang, hitting 32 homers in his first time out. Julio Rodriguez was a big story overall in the Derby as he hit a grand total of 81 home runs.
Juan Soto came out on top as the Home Run Derby Winner, defeating Julio Rodriguez with 19 homers to Rodriguez' 18. It was great to see a Home Run Derby final round that featured two of the games best young stars.
The 92nd MLB All-Star Game
(Image via MLB.com)
The MLB All-Star Game itself is always bound to have some special moments that come with it. Before the game began, Denzel Washington gave a speech about Jackie Robinsons' impact on the game of baseball and America as a trailblazer, baseball player, and a civil rights leader. 2022 marks 75 years since Robinson broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
As always, the All-Star Game itself features the best in the American League and the best in the National League going at it for home field advantage in the World Series in October.
To begin the game, the National League batting made quick work of Tampa Bay Rays left-hander and American League starter Shane McClanahan, getting four hits and two runs in the bottom of the first inning. This would prove to be majority of the damage that the National League would do, with them only getting one more hit in the game. It didn't take long after for the American League offense to wake up in the top of the third inning and take the lead behind a two-run home run by Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees and a solo home run by Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.
One notable aspect of the game that television viewers loved was the fact that the players were mic'd up. Fans loved and thought it was amazing hearing Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah talk while he was in the process of striking out the side. Hearing Liam Hendriks of the Chicago White Sox and Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners joke around while mic'd up was amazing to hear as well.
The American League won the game by a score of 3-2. This year was the 9th consecutive year that the American League came out on top in the Midsummer Classic. Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees took home All-Star Game MVP honors.
Comments