SB Nation Houston - 2011 MLB All-Star Game: The Big Event Is Finally Herehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-07-12T09:49:16-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20319622011-07-12T09:49:16-05:002011-07-12T09:49:16-05:00The Big Event Set For Tonight
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<p>We’re in Day Two of the All-Star Break, with no Astros baseball to comfort us. But, we do have an Astros player who will be in action tonight. Hunter Pence will take the field as a reserve for the National League.</p>
<p>We’ll have to see when/if Pence actually gets into the game. Last season, Michael Bourn was Houston’s lone representative, and he finished the game in the outfield while getting one late at-bat. Pence also got an at-bat in his only All-Star appearance in 2009.</p>
<p>We do know who the starting pitchers will be as Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay will face off with Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver. While Weaver is certainly a worthy pitcher to star the game for the American League, many were disappointed that Justin Verlander wasn’t able to start against Halladay. Verlander has arguably been as dominant as Doc this season, but since he pitched on Sunday, Verlander was ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game.</p>
<p>The other thing that struck me last night as I was watching the Home Run Derby is a graphic <span class="caps">ESPN</span> showed about the number of All-Stars selected. In 2003, there were 70 players picked for the game, while this year, there were 84. That’s a huge increase in the number of players who can claim that they were an “All-Star,” which then devalues the status of it even more.</p>
<p>Still, you can bet I’ll be watching and hoping for Pence to get in the game. Maybe he’ll tweet from the dugout…</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/7/12/2272087/the-big-event-set-for-tonight-2011-all-star-game-baseball-phoenix-hunter-penceDavid Coleman2011-07-11T14:30:42-05:002011-07-11T14:30:42-05:00Hunter Pence To Live Tweet 2011 Home Run Derby
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<p>How can you make the Home Run Derby more exciting? Well, more exciting if your team (the Astros) doesn’t have a player actually competing in the event?</p>
<p>How about following Hunter Pence on Twitter? The Astros slugger will be one of a number of players who are going to be tweeting from the field at Monday’s Home Run Derby. It’s a first for Major League Baseball, and that’s saying something. After all, the <span class="caps">NFL</span> and <span class="caps">NBA</span> got more press for players Twittering when they weren’t supposed to than for actually doing something to connect with fans. Another example of Bud Selig doing something good in an event he messed up so badly (the All-Star Game proper).</p>
<p>What will Hunter say? Who knows, but it’s a fun experiment that I’ll certainly be looking in on as the Derby is going on. I’ve always been a bigger fan of the Derby than the All-Star Game itself, but this makes me even more interested.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110709&content_id=21642642&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb">The complete list of players who will be tweeting from the field can be found at this link</a>, but if you want the list in an easier form, look below:</p>
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<p>David Ortiz (<code>davidortiz), Jose Bautista (</code>JoeyBats19) and Matt Kemp (<code>TheRealMattKemp) will be tweeting on their accounts during the course of the event as participants, and so will other gathered All-Stars including Heath Bell (</code>HeathBell21), Gio Gonzalez (<code>GioGonzalez47), Brandon Phillips (</code>DatDudeBP), Gaby Sanchez (<code>GabySanchez215), Justin Upton (</code>RealJustinUpton), C.J. Wilson (<code>str8edgeracer), Howie Kendrick (</code>HKendrick47) and Joel Hanrahan (@hanrahan4457).</p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/7/11/2270406/hunter-pence-to-live-tweet-home-run-derby-houston-astros-twitterDavid Coleman2011-07-10T19:59:28-05:002011-07-10T19:59:28-05:00Altuve Shines In Futures Game, U.S. Team Wins 6-4
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>' lone representative in the Futures Game, Jose Altuve, started at second base for the World Team and he went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and a single. He batted second in the order, and he really held his own in the biggest stage for baseball's youngest stars. <br><br>Altuve didn't waste any time in his first at-bat, and it only took him one pitch to hit a double down the third-base line. It was a hard hit ball that bounced off <span>Will Middlebrooks</span>' glove at third. Altuve was really hustling down the line, and he was able to reach second base safely. <br><br>In his second trip to the plate, Altuve watched a couple pitches and then lined a single up the middle. After his second hit, analyst Keith Law referred to Altuve as a "hitting machine." When talking about Altuve's strong offensive numbers, a couple others on the broadcast team said that his production so far has been "<span>Robinson Cano</span> like." <br><br>It's worth noting that Altuve recorded his first hit against <span>Tyler Skaggs</span>, and his second one came against St. Louis' <span>Shelby Miller</span>. Both pitchers have drawn rave reviews around the minors, and it says something that Altuve succeeded against each one.</p>
<p>His third at-bat came in the fifth inning against Tyler Thornburg, and he flew out to right field on the first pitch. Although he recorded an out, he really squared up the ball nicely and hit it hard.</p>
<p>Altuve also looked smooth in the field, and he helped turn a couple double plays for the World Team. His overall performance was great, and I hope this goes a long way in generating some more national publicity for Altuve because he deserves it.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/7/10/2269218/altuve-holds-his-own-world-team-wins-4-3playmaker1732011-07-10T13:00:37-05:002011-07-10T13:00:37-05:002011 MLB All-Star Game: What's Happening In Phoenix?
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<p>The All-Star festivities will officially kick off this evening with the Futures Game (5PM CT, ESPN2) and will continue throughout the early part of next week.</p>
<p>This year's Futures Game should be a good one for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> fans with Jose Altuve making the World Team roster, and it will be interesting to see if Altuve gets a chance to play at second base. Both rosters can be found here: <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/roster_futures_us.jsp">US Team</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/roster_futures_world.jsp">World Team</a>. Most fans at Chase Field will be in for a treat if the diminutive Altuve steps into the batter's box. Although he is listed at 5'7, he's much closer to 5'5. Nonetheless, the little guy keeps hitting and his All-Star selection is well-deserved.</p>
<p>The State Farm Home Run Derby (7PM CT, ESPN) will be taking place on Monday night, and <span>David Ortiz</span> will look to repeat his title from last year's contest. Ortiz chose <span>Jose Bautista</span>, <span>Robinson Cano</span>, and <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> to fill out the American League squad. <span>Prince Fielder</span>, <span>Matt Holliday</span>, <span>Rickie Weeks</span>, and <span>Matt Kemp</span> will be representing the National League this year.</p>
<p>If you're a fan of pop culture and baseball greats, make sure you tune in to the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (9:30PM CT, ESPN) following the Home Run Derby on Monday night.</p>
<p>Finally, the 2011 MLB All-Star Game is on Tuesday night, and the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/enhancedroster.jsp">interactive rosters can be found here</a>. <span>Hunter Pence</span> is the lone Astros representative.</p>
<p>Let the festivities begin.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/7/10/2337723/2011-mlb-all-star-game-whats-happening-in-phoenixplaymaker173