2008 MLB All-Star Game: NL loses to AL in record setting fashion, not in Uggla fashion

Headlines sell. To that end it is not a shocker to see all the various reports of the American League winning an 'Uggla victory' over the National League in the aftermath of Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla committing three errors, striking out three times and hitting into a double play.

Dan Uggla's horrendous defense was the worst in all-star game history, but it was not the reason the American League won and set a record of being unbeaten in 12 straight all-star games.

Undoubtedly, the media had their heart on selling Uggla as a mini Bill Buckner type of goat after he made his second error in the bottom of the 10th inning. Uggla's second error came on a ball that went through his legs. Had he caught the ball he would have started a double play that would have erased the runner that was on base from his previous error and immediately washed away any potential All-Star Game infamy.

Instead the 'every team has to have an all-star' Aaron Cook would have to pitch out of bases loaded and nobody out. Cook and the NL infield came through on three straight ground-out plays.

With one out in the bottom of the 13th Uggla took another potential step towards All-Atar Game infamy. He made another (throwing) error to let another potential winning run (J.D. Drew) on base. It was an Uggla trainwreck. But the NL got out of that inning too.

The next day, most in the media probably spouted out how they felt great for Uggla that he did not have to live down those errors. More realistically, most media members likely wished Carlos Quentin would have singled in J.D. Drew (who had stole second base) to consumate Uggla as the goat. But Quentin struck out swinging and that is the end of that story.

Since the American League did not score in the two innings, Uggla made errors, Uggla did not cost the National League the game. You could say if Uggla contributed on offense, the National League might have won. But by that logic about every player who ever batted has cost their team a hundreds of wins.

Still there is something to the Uggla story. You can expect American League fans to be casting lots of ballots for Uggla in the 2009 All-Star Game. Afterall, the American League will want to add onto their new record of being unbeaten in 12 straight all-star games and Uggla can help teams like the Angel, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Twins secure that coveted home field advantage.