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All-Star Baseball Classic 2010: Featured Game
McCall Mudhens	VS.	Jenks Wildcats

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Fogelberg – One addition to this years All-Star Baseball Classic is the Featured Game on Saturday afternoon. Each year one key game will be pulled form the schedule and played at 3:45 on Saturday afternoon.

This years game will feature two of the oldest franchises, with similar draft choice position and a history of rivalry. When the McCall Mudhens and Jenks Wildcats collide in pool 2 action there will most certainly be much more than a win/loss on the line.

“Back in the day, Ducky Medwick and Don Blasingame used to go after each other from the moment they exchanged lineup cards,” analyst Terry Steinbach said. “When Whitey Herzog took the helm in McCall, I think he instilled even more hatred of the Cats into his players… I remember on time… Cats’ lifetime player Mike Schmidt was crowding the plate all season long against Larry Jackson. Herzog got a mannequin from the local dress shop, put a wildcats uniform on it and pasted a picture of Schmidt’s face on it… Jackson spent an entire practice knocking it over!”

The intensity of the managers is about the only similarity these two franchises share. With vastly different drafting philosophies that translates in completely different types of teams, a Hens’ vs Cats’ matchup is typically an on-base percentage vs power-hitting matchup. This is evident in the lifetime players that are used by each team. Lou Brock of the Mudhens is a speedster at the top of the lineup and the Wildcats Mike Schmidt is a slugger with a patient eye.

Being the final game of the day, this matchup might be the decider of many of the matchups in Sunday’s double elimination tourney… One more reason that all eyes will be on the Mudhens and Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.

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Fogelberg – While center field may boast some of the biggest names in baseball, it is a surprisingly thin position, especially for the career draft. Consider both Mickey Mantle and Hack Wilson unavailable, as the Mick will be drafted in the single season draft, and Wilson is ineligible due to being selected in the single season last year.

There are two rabbit CF’s that stand out above the rest, Billy Hamilton and Ty Cobb. Hamilton possesses a better on base percentage, which means that he is a lock to go in the first round of the blacks, that is of course if his single season disc is not chosen. Cobb is valuable in that he can get on base, steal bases, and play the entire outfield. Barry Bonds is easily the next best in this group, as he can draw a lot of walks, drop bombs, steal bases, and also play multiple positions in the OF. Don’t expect to see Cobb or Bonds make it past the second round of blacks.

After Bonds, teams are just as likely to look at mojo as they are numbers, as there are many other players that stand out statistically. Tris Speaker is a great on-base disc with plenty of singles to offer. Joe DiMaggio is a more balanced disc with a little more power, and a fair amount of everything else. Willie Mays may be highly coveted because he has a ton of power, and an uncanny knack for coming through in the clutch. I have Earl Averill ranked just above Duke Snider simply because the disc is a bit more balanced and strikes out much less. Snider does possess huge power, however. Dom DiMaggio may be the last true CF taken to play the position, but there are plenty of capable guys that play the entire OF, such as Hugh Duffy, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Davis, Tony Phillips, Pedro Guerrero, and pitch-hit extraordinaire Kiki Cuyler. Many teams will likely look to these players to fill out their bench, but you never know which player is going to step up. Almost every championship team has one unsung hero that seems to come out of nowhere and blow up beyond expectations to lead the team to the title. In other words, if you feel some mojo with a certain player, you better nab him because that is often the difference-maker in a game that can swing in the balance of a 1% slice of mojo love.

Fogelberg (written by Ry) – The number nine position on the field hosts some of the greatest hitters to ever play the game. When you look at the names available you would think it was a deep position, but names aren’t everything in ASB.

There is one name that means business every time he spins. Babe Ruth. Of course his career disc will never play in the Classic, as he will most certainly always be drafted (when available) first or second. This year the Bears or Sketchers have the option of picking what is, in my humble opinion, the best disc in ASB.

The next three names are players that could go either in the single season draft or early in the career. Ty Cobb, Billy Hamilton and Roy Cullenbine are all available this year to play in right with Hamilton also available to play center and left. Cullenbine can play left and Cobb can play center, which makes them very valuable. Cobb and Hamilton are two of the best on base guys in the game, either single season or career, and the new guy Cullenbine can drop bombs and walk at an amazing pace. I would be surprised if all of these guys are taken in the single season draft so keep your eye on one or all of these players when the career draft starts.

Tony Gwynn is another guy who will get some playing time in this years classic. His singles are out of this world. The only drawback with Gwynn is his lack of walks. Unlike Hamilton and Cobb, Gwynn is purely a single and doubles guy. Larry Walker is also in this next tier of player with a disc that is very balanced. His total bases are really nice with his home runs and his nice big 11 spot (doubles). He would make a great five hole for a lot of teams.

The next three names are baseball royalty. Mel Ott, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron are Hall of Fame big leaguers that each led their respected teams to World Series Championships. This is where the name doesn’t necessarily equate to great ASB player. All three have played in Classics before and have performed well, but I see these guys as mid to late picks in the career disc draft. Musial can play left field and first base as well which might interest some managers and we all know that the sun rises and sets with Mel Ott, so my guess is he will be playing.

Harry (call me Harvey) Heilmann is a player that has performed well in recent major tournaments and is a nice stick that can move runners lower in your batting order. Tony Phillips makes another appearance in a draft preview thanks to his utility status. The rest of the players at right are just bench players in my opinion with some nice power that you might want late in the game if you need a home run (Reggie Jackson, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Davis).

It will be interesting to see how right field plays out in the early rounds. If you start to see the draft trending towards right, you might want to think about acting quickly. Remember, names don’t mean anything in ASB. It’s all about the numbers.

We’re down to three weeks remaining before the 2010 ASB Classic. As debates and speculations swirl, some draft choices still seem to be up in the air. Here’s a look at our latest predictions as to how we think the picks will play out.

1. Ted Williams (Bamford Bears) – What was once a lock at the #1 spot, is now wavering between Williams and Ruth. This one could come down to a draft day decision, but at this point, we have no evidence to indicate the Bears are favoring Ruth, so we still believe Williams will be the overall first pick.

2. Babe Ruth (Aginville Sketchers) – This one is going to come down to Ruth vs. McGraw. Right now, it looks like Aginville is leaning toward an outfield heavy team with loads of power. Depending on where they think they can land in the career picks, Aginville may opt to go with McGraw to add the ultimate rabbit to a lineup in an effort to get plenty of baserunners on for lifetimer Dale Murphy.

3. Mickey Mantle (Boggstown Boilers) – We are confident that Mickey Mantle will be selected 3^rd overall, however it will not likely be with the Boggstown Boilers. Ownership is in negotiations with several teams lower in the draft. Rumors have suggested that a trade proposal could be on the table as early as next week, but it is likely teams will opt to wait until draft day to pull the trigger on a deal.

4. John McGraw (acquired for Bill Joyce) – (Lincoln Square Devil Dogs) – While not official, it looks like the Devil Dogs have agreed in principal to a deal that will send the coveted Bill Joyce to the Mudhens for John McGraw and a pony keg of Miller Lite.

5. Frank Thomas – (Jenks Wildcats) – Jack Clark has been rumored to be talking to Jenks ownership again, perhaps trying to win back a spot on the roster after a poor showing in the first round of elimination Sunday two years ago. Will he get a shot? At this time, it looks like Jenks is more likely to grab the more balanced, less strikeout-prone Frank Thomas.

6. Bill Joyce (acquired for John McGraw) – (McCall Mudhens) – the Mudhens will do most anything to get Joyce. It’s tough to imagine that the rumored deal with Lincoln Square will only cost them a pony keg. Perhaps there is some substance to the rumor about a “bj for B.J. deal”.

7. Rogers Hornsby– (Jeetzton Beanbags) – Why not? He was their selection in 2008, and it’s possible that the Beanbags want to not only take a great single season player, but also remove the best shortstop and one of the best second baseman from the career selections. After Hornsby’s play in the Holiday League, it is clear that he can carry a team on his back.

8. Billy Hamilton – (Fogelberg Falcons) – It looks like the Falcons may roll the dice and hope for a high selection in the career draft, which would allow them to go after the likes of Wade Boggs or Roy Cullenbine in the first round of black selections.

Fogelberg (written by Ry) – Today we take a look at third base, the hot corner. And this year the hot corner might turn into the not corner if you don’t act fast in the draft.

With the likes of John McGraw and Bill Joyce going in the single season draft, the choices at third become very tough. Wade Boggs will be the best career disc left, but there is a chance that he could be gone as well. My guess is he will still be there, but you never know.

Boggs, Eddie Yost and Edgar Martinez are the best chance a manager has of rounding out a good lineup with a player who has strikeout totals that aren’t through the roof. Once you get into the likes of Harmon Killebrew and Dick Allen you really are taking a chance, but with that chance comes the equalizer…Home Runs. Eddie Mathews is a great power surge along with some nice base on balls numbers. Mathews, Killebrew and Allen can play first base as well so double switching becomes a great option with those players.

The next level of player available at third allows a manger to fill out the spot and not fall to far behind the likes of Killebrew, Allen and Mathews. Tony Phillips is a great utility player that can be used for double switching, Joe Sewell, with his limited strikeouts, can be a great rabbit along with Cap Anson who is the ultimate no strikeout guy (none on the disc). George Kell and Johnny Pesky are players that aren’t going to tear the cover off the ball, but can suffice if necessary.

And then there is Bobby Bonilla, the Frisch award winner. His disc does not have the numbers as the rest of these guys, but his mojo makes up for it. If you are looking for a guy to perform late in the draft, watch out for Bobby Bonilla.

All in all, the right choice is to get on third base early in the draft if you want someone that can help you in the top to middle of your lineup.