Diamond Cuts.

Okay, Strasburg started yesterday, won, struck out eight, whatever. Today, I want to talk about the 2010 MLB All-Star Game.

Sportscasters, sports writers, bloggers, players and fans all have something to say about the All-Star game coming up on Tuesday. I say, shut up. Specifically, one giant shut the eff up to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan.

On July 4, Passan decided to go All-Star bashing and according to him, Omar Infante is the "worst All-Star ever." This is probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. In no way am I angry solely because I am a Braves fan and he took a jab at one of my men, I find all of his All-Star views to be ridiculous and unnecessary. Arthur Rhodes and Evan Meek were sarcastically referred to as "better equipped...than Strasburg."

Let's see, Infante is currently batting .321 with 2 home runs, 26 runs, 23 RBIs and 3 stolen bases in 61 games. For a spot starting, pinch hitting utility player, those are respectable numbers. As he plays in the outfield more often, as he should, those stats are going to skyrocket.

Arthur Rhodes has given up five runs to the Phillies and one to all other clubs, has three fists full of holds and up until June 29, had a 0.28 ERA. Seems like the 40-year-old southpaw deserves to be an All-Star.

Pitching nearly 50 innings out of the bullpen over the first half, Evan Meek is well deserving of a spot on the All-Star roster. He has consistently kept his ERA under one on a bad club. Pittsburgh is not close to being a winning team, but Meek is their saving grace.

All three players, unnecessarily dumped on by Jeff Passan hold a large place in their respective clubs hearts. Without Infante's consistency off the bench, the Braves might be looking up at the Mets in first place. Without Rhodes in the bullpen, the Reds may not hold an unexpected two game lead over St. Louis. Without Meek, well without Meek, Pittsburgh may only have 5 wins, it's tough to say.

The All-Star selection process is quite unfair. The fans in the larger market areas will sway the voting towards players who have been known in the past to do great or players that are just coming up and are expected to do great. You can always expect the AL to have 5 Yankees and 4 Red Sox. This fact alone should be reason enough for fans of baseball to appreciate the fact that lesser known players are getting a chance.

Rhodes has been around forever and deserves to bask in the glory that comes with being an All-Star, who knows if he will get another chance. Who knows if any player will have another chance. Maybe a series of unfortunate events will lead to Meek's early retirement, maybe Infante will be forever a bench warmer, maybe the world is going to end in 2012, who knows.

All I know is that these players, Omar Infante, Arthur Rhodes and Evan Meek, all deserve an apology from Jeff Passan and any other player, coach, fan or reporter that questions their spot on the team. They made it. They deserve it. And damn it, they will remember it. I for one would like to thank Charlie Manuel for helping make the NL All-Star team what it truly should be; a group of guys ready to win.

Jeff Passan's article.

Diamond Cuts.

With another Stephen Strasburg start on the horizon, it's time for another Stephen Strasburg Update.

Well, I can't say it enough, every time Strasburg takes the mound, he gives the Nationals a chance to win. He pitched brilliantly against the Braves, but came out early and was handed his second loss.

Strasburg got hit hard in the first inning, made his pitches and worked around a couple of baserunners. Quickly thereafter he found a groove against Braves hitters, striking out five in a row through spotless fifth and sixth innings.

It's the seventh inning that doomed Strasburg this time out. A lead off walk, a bloop single and a fielding error that could have turned into a double play, lead to the bases being loaded and no one being out. A sac-fly and a single later and the Braves were up 2-0. At this point, it's my opinion that Strasburg made an early exit. With stuff like his, Jim Riggleman should have let him get out of the inning. Chances are, all Strasburg would need is six pitches and he would strike out the next two batters and the Nationals would be down 2-0. Instead, Sean Burnett comes in and allows a bunt single to Gregor Blanco and an infield single to Omar Infante. Now down 4-0, Drew Storen comes in to get the final two outs. But before he can do that, he allows another runner to score on a sac-fly making the lead grow to 5-0.

The final line on Strasburg was 6.1 inning pitched, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. All in all, he had a great outing, his defense let him down and his offense didn't help any. Losing his second straight start was surely tough, but Strasburg will look to continue his success today against the Mets. I can't say it won't be difficult, but it is the Mets, how hard can it be?