bellyitcher

Various All-Star Game things: Rolen's not going. Rolen's pulling out isn't really that surprising, but it makes me nervous about the real condition of his shoulder. They did fine while he was out, and his defense isn't hurting, yet the team needs him hitting at full strength. I think everyone pretty much agrees he came back too soon. There's more in the P-D story, which says a rehab assignment may be revisited.

Carpenter will be the starter. That's awesome. He'll only pitch a couple innings. Still, cool. I bet part of it is the only one stolen base against him in the past season and a half. Gotta have something to counter rag-armed Piazza. How many teams have two All-Star Game starters on their staff? So, in the lineup it'll be Jimmy, Eckstein, and Pujols as the DH with Chris pitching to begin the game. After his last couple of games, bringing Izzy in to save might be scarier than it's worth.

I don't know what's gotten into the defense. Other than Walker losing the ball in the first inning tonight, it has sparkled. Everyone brought their fancy gloves on this trip, I guess.

Oh, and Joe Morgan is an idiot.