WE'RE BACK!

What a celebratory night. Not only does future Hall of Famer David Wright put on a fine performance in the Home Run Derby, but the House sponsored by DirecTV has a new hard drive in its computer...and though certain files have been lost (more on that later), we have the internet! So, a recap of all things going on Monday night:

HOME RUN DERBY: Wright came out guns a-blazin' in the first round of the Home Run Derby, hitting 16 homers, the third-highest total for a round ever. He only hit 2 in the second round, but it didn't kill him, because for the first time, this year, baseball went to a cumulative total in the first two rounds to determine the finalists. So Wright advanced to take on Ryan Howard of the Phillies, who also finished with 18 through two rounds. Wright seemed to get a second wind, after being very tired through two rounds, but only managed 4 homers in the final round....Howard got five before he got a sixth out. So Ryan Howard was very impressive in the Home Run Derby, but David Wright made a very good showing, and I would expect him to be invited back...and perform well in the future. Kudos too to Paul LoDuca, who was throwing to Wright during the Derby.

ALL-STAR LEGENDS/CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME: There's only one reason this is worth mentioning...and I'll start with a little baseball detectiving. I didn't know who would be playing in this game...and usually I get so tired of Chris Berman and the Home Run Derby that I never even see this game. But three factors led me to be interested in it - 1) David Wright was in the Home Run Derby finals. 2) Berman was tolerable Monday night, perhaps because he was offset by an increased 'Baseball Tonight' crew presence. 3) I figured with the Futures game having been in Pittsburgh on Sunday, when the softball game was taped, and with Hall of Famer Gary Carter managing in that Futures game (he led the American team to a win, incidentally), there was a good chance that Carter would be one of the legends. He was.

And he wasn't only in the game - he was the MVP!!! Classic. He hit a 3-run homer in his first at-bat, and made a very nice tumbling catch in the outfield that pretty much saved the game. I felt like I was 7 years old again watching this game. Also fun to watch - an interview between Gary Carter and Dave Parker, revisiting a play at the plate where Parker nailed Brian Downing, with the tag being applied by Carter, in the 1979 All Star Game. The interesting thing being that in Sports Illustrated's latest issue, the "Where Are They Now?" edition, Dave Parker was featured, and talked about his campaign for the Hall of Fame, in which he exclaims, "Gary (bleepin') Carter is in the Hall of Fame?!?!?!" Nice that he had to sit down and do an interview with Gary (bleepin') Carter.

LAST PLACE LASTINGS: The Norfolk Tides are back to a half-game ahead of Richmond for last place in the International League...but the minor leagues are at their All-Star break. Interestingly, somehow Milledge is not on the All Star team. The only Tide to make the team was pitcher Royce Ring.

BEAT THE STREAK: Travis Hafner got me a hit before the break, so at least when baseball resumes, I'll have one hit in the bag.

LIFE IN GENERAL: Crazy stuff happening at the House sponsored by DirecTV, brought to you by Babies R Us. The Wife and I spent the weekend in New York, attending a baby shower for The Wife. So now the family room, aka the baseball room, aka MY room, is drowning in shower gifts...baby gifts. So now I have to make a nursery appear...to get this stuff out of MY room. It's weird. But we got a bunch of Mets stuff, so that's good. Including a Mets mobile, featuring little Mr. Mets hanging over the crib. I will use that until the baby is born - it plays "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". I will post a picture of it when I have picture-posting capabilities. (Things will be progressing slowly until the computer is back in full functioning mode.)

COMING SOON: Tuesday night I'll recap the All Star game (or at least the Mets' performances in the All Star Game). Then Wednesday I'll begin my 2-day special, reviewing all of the broadcasters in the majors. I was worried I would have to scrap that feature, but I'm actually glad that the Mets have Thursday 0ff, because instead of recapping a Mets game, I'll do the National League broadcasters that night, with the AL ones on Wednesday.

Thanks for your patience through all the computer troubles, and Let's Go Mets in the second half!!