you're an All-Star, go play

oh dear god, did I just quote a Smashmouth song?
my sincerest apologies...

just a quick recap of the events around the Triple-A All-Star game that was played here at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio!

Welcome to Toledo, bitches!

Monday night was the Home Run Derby which was pretty cool...and no doubt the only home run derby I'll ever see in person. there were 2 local high school kids, 2 former major leaguers (including former Cub all-star and goat Leon "Bull" Durham who is Toledo's hitting coach), and three players each from the International League (including Mud Hen Ryan Ludwig) and the Pacific Coast League. The Hen made it to the final round but lost to a Buffalo guy who had almost 30 I believe in three rounds and could have gone all night. Bull Durham had a couple but the cool story is one of the high school kids tied him and beat the other former All-Star, Howard Johnson of the Mets.

"Bull" Durham...best nickname in coaching and can still hit better than 2/3 of the current Cubs

Tuesday was only fireworks over the city (*yawn) and a fancy red-carpet Bash at the ballpark that was basically closed for anyone who makes under $500,000 a year...

Today Brandon, Pop and I started by going to the Seagate Centre across the street from the park for the Triple-A Fanfest...which was really cool. it was mostly interactive things, I guess mainly for the kids (though we all got in line for the throwing booth). but it also had historical exhibits, display lockers for each team in the IL and the PCL with info about them, a stage (no music today), food, autographs (though we missed them), and lots of cool stuff. there was even a couple of girls dressed up like players from the All-American Girls Baseball League like in A League of Their Own...and they were cute (though looked underage when they changed back into real clothes).

Chief action shot (I won't tell how slow my pitches were or how sore my arm was)

I'm not in Cooperstown, NY...just Toledo, OH

Chief liked this logo, for some reason

after tooling around for a couple hours we headed back across the street and into the ballpark for the game. of course Toledo's Own Jamie Farr was on hand to throw out the first pitch, along with Mike Farrell who played B.J. Hunnicut on M*A*S*H (apparently Alan Alda was busy) the skies were very ugly when we were waiting for the game and we did get poured on for 10 mins or so....looked like the tarp might even go on but we lucked out. great game was played (hoped you watched it on ESPN2 and looked for me!). the IL won 6-0 and a Mud Hen even had a home run. the crowd was a bit on the quiet side for me, and there was a breakout of the ever-annoying wave but despite that it was a great experience and a great thing for this city.

Iowa Cub (and PCL MVP Rich Hill)..yet another good young arm in the Cubs system that will soon be on the DL every season

the guy in the middle and kneeling is Tony Gwynn Jr., son of the Hall of Famer

Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H fame (no snide comments, probably my fav show ever)

Toledo's Own Jamie Farr (sure, Katie Holmes looks better in a dress but she's actually the crazy one now)