American Association SUNDAY Insider: The American Association All Star Game recap, plus Power Rankings.

In an ironic twist, I'm writing this blog on Saturday night at CHS Field. The St. Paul Saints hosted the 2016 and 2019 American Association All Star Games. Both of which land on my list of favorite baseball memories. The game itself is fine, but I really enjoy the pageantry of the event. Plus it's fun to see fans and from throughout the league get together and celebrate the league.  

There are a couple of things in life that are tough to get over as I've found in the last week. Being an older man who enjoys too much sweet beverages, and red meat, I found it at made me a prime candidate for gout. Throw on top of it a continual bout of dehydration, my All Star Game week was going to be different than what was expected. 

I did not attend the Prospects tryout nor the youth baseball clinic on Monday. It will be interesting to see if any players from the camp land contracts and make an impact as the season winds down. I have to imagine that there may not have been too much to choose from. It would seem to me that any young player turning pro would either have been drafted or signed by an Indy League ball club. We've seen with the competitive nature of trying to procure talent, everyone has their connections where a player isn't going to slip through the cracks. That being said, I tip my cap to the guys that decided to participate in the camp, hoping for that second chance. 

After the 4 1/2 trip to Fargo, inhaling water like I never have before, it was time to attend the Home Run Derby. A big thank you to the Fargo staff for having the golf cart doing the shuttle from the parking lot to the front gate. From there I made a mistake. I went down behind the third base dugout to see The Posse. Now, the mistake wasn't seeing them, it was a great visit, one I make sure I do every time I visit Newman Outdoor Field. I soon found out, it wasn't great for my foot walking down there, or my dehydration issues. I went upstairs to try to get my wits about me. Jack Michaels was doing the on field emcee work for the Home Run Derby. Michaels pointed me in the direction of water in the Press Box and let me hang in his booth for the Derby. 

Everyone by now knows how the derby and the other competitions went. So just my observations. Newman Outdoor Field either played big or there was not the quality of power hitters in the competition like we've seen in the past. I would've been interested in seeing what Josh Rehwaldt of Sioux Falls could've done with the right field corner. Rehwaldt participated in Kansas City last year and from my view it seemed to affect his swing. I thought the bunting competition and the throwing accuracy competition were nice touches and it allowed the Derby participants a chance to rest between rounds. 

Sitting in the radio booth with no broadcast going on, I found myself listening to the production crew in the Press Box. As fans and whatever I'm considered, I think we take things for granted when we're watching games on AATV. It's not like 2005 where you plug in a webcam and call it a broadcast. I could hear the director telling his crew what cameras to cut to during the broadcast. You may think that they get to watch baseball through a lens or through a TV screen, it's not that simple and they have my respect. Fargo-Moorhead puts on a quality broadcast, one in which many of the teams in AAPB should strive to be like.  

All Elite Wrestling has joined AAPB in cross promoting their products. It may be a marriage of convenience as AEW is having a residency in the Chicagoland area this Summer, making much of its talent available to make appearances in ballparks in the five East Division markets. I think this has potential to grow each others product. Jeff Jarrett and Wheeler Yuta appeared for both days of All Star festivities. I observed the autograph lines both nights. There were a lot of fans that I would put a bet on were not fans that would usually come out to a baseball game. If I'm AEW, I'm looking to put on small shows at AAPB ballparks as either stand alone events or running a few matches after a ballgame. 

After the Derby on Monday I got to meet Jarrett and Yuta in the Press Box. I'm usually a shy person when it comes to meeting people that have achieved fame, but for some reason I was able to approach Jarrett. It helped that I was listening to his podcast, My World with Jeff Jarrett, on the way to Fargo. Jarrett is part owner of two teams in the Prospect League. If I'm the American Association hierarchy, I'm kicking the tires on Jarrett's interest in being part of an expansion team. Speaking of expansion, talk has seem to quieted on that level. Although a Facebook post by Canaries owner Brian Slipka caught my attention as he reposted an ad for a Scheel's Sports store slated to open in Blaine in 2028. Slipka added, "So many exciting things to come in Blaine". "Stay tuned!!!!".

Then came All Star Tuesday. I didn't want to push things by going to the Hall of Fame banquet, which was tough as I was really looking forward to seeing Marv Goldklang again. Marv is as passionate of a baseball guy as I know. He is also a partner in the New York Yankees. There is a picture out there of Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox being pulled from a playoff game at Yankee Stadium. If you look close you can see Goldklang in the background in the crowd giving Martinez the business. From all accounts it was a great ran event.

So after a night of rest and elevation of my foot, I'm in my hotel room. At about 1pm the figurative light in my head came on. A friend of This Week in the Association and more importantly, a friend of mine, David Scrivines of the Boston Red Sox was in town scouting the All Star Game. So I placed a call and we ended up having lunch at Sickie's Garage, right outside of my hotel room. I love comparing notes with Scrivines and with so many mutual acquaintances throughout the Indy Baseball world, the conversation is always fun. 

I arrived at Newman where I was able to walk to the front gate. Progress!!. I met up with Tanner Hoops, my good friend and voice of the Sioux Falls Canaries. The two of us along with Michaels (who was my HR Derby MVP calling the action on four hours sleep) figured out the names of all the mascots in AAPB. After that we talked once again with Jarrett and Yuta, before heading downstairs to catch the game. The result surprised me as I thought the West was much more loaded than the East, but after players drop out and are replaced, the field leveled. I felt like I missed out by not going to visit the VIP tent, but the walk was too much for me to try. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi

Fargo put on a good show as I expected them to. The passing of Jeff Bittiger kind of cast a pall on the event but as I believe Brad Thom may have said on the broadcast, Bittiger along with Bruce Thom and Marge had the best seats in the house. 

Next year's All Star event will be held in Lincoln where I'm sure the Saltdogs organization will put on a great show. 

I drove back on Wednesday. After seeing an ad in the All Star Game program for Sandy's Donuts, I paid a visit before heading out. As I have said plenty of times, when you patronize an advertising partner of a team, be sure to let them know you saw their ad, or heard their commercial on the broadcast. I made sure to do so at Sandy's. As a guy who had more than his share of donuts, Sandy's were top notch and I look forward to seeing them the next time in Fargo. 

Most of my drive home consisted of listening to the All Star game broadcast on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. After last year where I didn't make the trip to Kansas City and the AATV broadcast faltered, this season was a great experience. I can't wait to get to Lincoln for next year's festivities. Can the league find a way to have Runza cater the Hall of Fame banquet?

American Association Power Rankings brought to you by Tart Cherry Extract Pills

1. Sioux City Explorers

2. Sioux Falls Canaries

3. Lake Country DockHounds

4. Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

5. Chicago Dogs

6. Kansas City Monarchs 

7. Cleburne Railroaders

8. Kane County Cougars

9. Milwaukee Milkmen

10. Lincoln Saltdogs

11. Winnipeg Goldeyes

12. Gary SouthShore RailCats