First it was the flack over the Home Run Derby and snippy comments from Magowan. Then it was the re-signing of Brian Sabean and further snippy comments from both Magowan and Sabean. After that came the slump, the all-around crappy July and the tired legs that led to some gleeful whisperings that maybe Barry just might not be able to do it. Add it all up and what do you get? A really angry Barry. You wouldn't want to see him when he's angry. ...

We have to admit to becoming positively stoked about all the All Star Festivities these days, especially as tonight is the big Home Run Derby. Local sports talk radio is all over it, ESPN is here, Fox has been promoting the hell out of it, and Jay Z is even throwing a party for it (and hey, Hovah, if you happen to be reading this and want to help hype it by having an on the spot reporter, just drop us a line). And we're not the only ones excited-- reports say that the All Star Game is bringing the city big bucks. ...

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We have to admit that we're not terribly excited about the All Star Game next Tuesday. None of the players who play really care despite the "This Time it Matters" hype and usually by the sixth inning, when most of the actual stars are flying back in their rented private jets, you get all the excitement of watching some reliever for the Devil Rays facing off against some guy from the Nationals. The only thing that will make it worth watching is to see the ball park and the city get shown off. Well, that and they're expecting so many boats in the Cove that the Giants will only allow boats that register to be out there. We love when the Cove is filled with boats. ...

Hey, did you hear we're hosting the All-Star game next year? If you watch any of the Giants' games on TV (and who would, all things considering), they only mention it like twenty times a game. Last week they had some big brouhaha with Hizzoner Gavin to unveil the logo and if you go to a Giants game, they have signs everywhere and some clock to let you know that, like, there are only 362 DAYS UNTIL THE ALL-STAR GAME!!!!! ...

Making official something that's been talked about for months, Major League Baseball today announced that the 2007 All-Star Game will be held at the Stadium Formerly Known as Pac Bell Park. Isn't it nice to have some news about Bay Area baseball that doesn't involve injecting things in people's asses? The Giants last hosted the Midsummer Classic in 1984 and also held one in 1961, a game remembered primarily for pitcher Stu Miller getting blown off the mound by the Candlestick wind....