It was great. That's all I can say. The game tonight was really crisp and fairly well played. The atmosphere was special. All 3 days were better than I had expected. Here are some of my thoughts on the All Star Game.

The bad news first. Miguel Cabrera left with a pain in his side. That will give me a pain in my neck because he's my feature player on my AL only team. I'm hoping it isn't an oblique. Josh Beckett didn't enter the game because of a bum knee. That's all the bad news.

Phoenix can't decide if they love Prince or hate him. He was booed big time last night at Home Run Derby for the snub of Justin Upton and for picking Ricky Weeks. He was booed tonight until...until he hit the 3 run bomb. Then there were loud cheers. So Prince got some love and he left with a good feeling. I do think he wants to stay with the Brewers. I really believe that, but I don't think he'll pass up the $$$$ to sign for less.

This morning was the Red Carpet All Star Parade and it went well. It was a bit warm outside but people seemed to enjoy themselves. It was only about two blocks long and they did use a red carpet. Michael Cuddyer did a magic card trick that was pretty fine. He showed it to MLB Network's Hazel May and it was repeated on the big screen at the stadium.

The crowd for the pre-game workout today wasn't as big as the one yesterday at HRD. Then, all of a sudden the place filled to the rafters. It looked and felt more corporate tonight. They were both great, just both different from the other.

Here's one I've never seen before. The NL club changed out of their warm up jerseys into their home uniforms while still on the field during batting practice. They then went to get a team photo done in center field. When they were done with the photo shoot, the AL had their photo taken in the road uniforms. After the shot, the AL changed into their warmup uniforms on the field. Weird I tell you. Did you get all that? It was all about the clock. The entire three days has been on time almost to the minute.

The Giants probably had 12 guys in the team photo with the players, coaches, and manager. It was the Giants then everyone else. They really stood out in their distinctive "off white" uniforms. After the NL photo shoot, they had their own picture taken with just the Giants players.

Yadier Molina took infield practice for the NL.

Harold Reynolds played 2B in the AL infield practice in street clothes. No 2B was out on the field for AL infield.

Every Yankee was booed when the players were introduced.

The American flag stretched from foul line to foul line. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. This is a great country.

Of course the DBacks Kirk Gibson, Justin Upton and Miguel Montero were greeted with huge applause.

A red star covered home plate during the opening ceremonies. It was really neat to see.

It was a special moment when John Green and his family took the lineup cards to the umpire. There was a moment of silence in remembrance of the Green's daughter Christina who was killed in the Tucson shootings last January. All those who lost their lives were memorialized before the game.

It was 72 degrees inside and 99 degrees outside.

Jordan Walden threw the first 5 pitches at 100 MPH before he threw one at 85. He didn't have much movement on the ball at all. But he has a great arm.

Heath Bell sliding in to the pitcher's mound was beyond funny.

Michael Pineda was effortless on the mound. The ball just came out of his hand so smoothly it looked like he was toying with the hitters. What a future.

Hunter Pence has always has a good arm and his throw to the plate was right on the money. He just has a weird motion when he throws. And he has weird mechanics when he hits. And he's weird when he catches the ball and when he runs. But he's one very fine baseball player.

Starlin Castro has to improve his throwing mechanics from SS. He's made too many throwing errors and he holds on to the ball too long.

How in the world could Ron Washington put Ortiz, Cano and Avila hitting 7,8 and 9? All lefties in a row. It was exploited early by Bruce Bochy. Robbie Cano hitting 8th? Ridiculous.

Class move by Lance Berkman. He offered to come out of the game before his 2nd at-bat to give up his position for hometown favorite Justin Upton.

Lack of class move by the Mets and Brewers announcing their trade of Francisco Rodriguez for 2 Players To Be Named Later before the ink was even dry on the All Star Game stories. They could have waited.

I don't think the World Series winning managers should have anything to do with picking All Star Players. I'd like it to be totally fans and players. Managers pick their own guys. They feel the pressure. After they pick em, they have to play em. Not right. Not fair.

This was not an All Star game without Albert Pujols and Ichiro. They are All Stars. Always. There should have been a way to get them there.

Where do you come down on Derek Jeter not flying out to Phoenix? Do you think he could have made an appearance like Ryan Braun, Shane Victorino, Jose Reyes and others? I'm just wondering your thoughts.

Clayton Kershaw is flat out nasty. And how about that duo in Atlanta of Kimbrel and Venters? Yikes!

Jose Bautista's catch was great. Great, great, great!

Were you able to make out the ASG and MLB logo cut in the outfield grass? It looked really cool from higher up. I didn't see it as clearly last night.

Roy Halladay and Jered Weaver looked like they could have each pitched a shutout. Halladay is so cool on the mound. 91, 92, 84, 91, 84 and up and down and in and out and oh my goodness. How do hit that stuff?

Jacoby Ellsbury didn't look sharp at the plate at all. He looked totally fooled.

I really enjoyed being at All Star Week. I'm sorry I missed the RotoWire bash in Vegas. It will mean I won't have a team in the RotoWire Vegas League and for that I'm sorry. And I really, really wanted to be with everyone. But like I said in my Home Run Derby blog, this was amazing.

Hope you'll read my profile on Zack Cozart on RotoWiire.com. It's up now. Hope you'll read my blog about the Home Run Derby that's also up now. And finally, I hope you'll read my first of two articles next week on the Futures Game. Have a great week.
I want you to know that everyone of you are All Stars to me. I value all our readers and I wish you a great week ahead.

Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and on MLB.com. Peace.