All-star game

I'm a big baseball fan, a supporter of the Red Sox for the last few years despite not ever living any nearer to Boston than Baltimore (I'll be closer next year in New Haven). But I follow a lot of teams. This is a great baseball year - every division is up for grabs.

I don't usually care very much for the All-Star game. I watched it last year, when "it counted", even though that still seems a little silly. I also watched it two years ago when the game was called a draw because both teams were using up all their pitchers. It's always been sort of a farce, and it likely always will be, because you can't really ask any of the players to give it their all (that's reserved for their teams).

But this year the All-Star game might be interesting. It seems Carlos Beltran (who played for the KC Royals in the AL for most of the season before being traded to Houston in the NL) is on both the AL and NL All-star rosters. From ESPN:

NL Roster

AL Roster

In case they notice and correct their mistake before you see it, let me quote the bottom of the AL page briefly:

** The Royals traded Carlos Beltran to the Astros after player balloting had commenced and therefore he appeared on the American League Player Ballot. Major League Baseball recognizes Beltran as an All-Star and he can participate in All-Star activities, but he cannot be named to the National League All-Star Team based on the results of the American League Player Ballot.

How cool would it be if he played for both teams? He could be a pinch-hitter.