Our own Ken Griffey, Jr. was the star of last night's All-Star Game, with his two RBI and his throwing Alex Rodriguez out at the plate, but amidst all the hubbub, there was one lesser-known slugger who was left on the bench to stew in endless obscurity. That unfortunate lad was Albert Pujols.

You can practically feel the lonesome dejectedness in poor Little Abie's comments:

“It's the All-Star game. He can do what he wants,” Pujols said Tuesday night. “He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here.”

Meanwhile, that mean old Tony LaRussa didn't even apologize:

“If he wants to get upset, he can get upset,” La Russa said. “Whatever he wants to do, he can do. It's America. That wasn't the most important thing tonight.”

What was the most important thing? you might ask. Why, being LaRussa's designated driver, of course.

As I write this, the AL is up 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Ichiro has hit an inside-the-parker and Ken Griffey, Jr.'s at bat is being pre-empted by a fluffy conversation with Derek Jeter.

Hard to believe that at this time last year we were watching Bronson Arroyo and Jerry Narron in this spectacle. Harder yet to believe that the year before that, I cared enough to spend the evening smack talking the game with Bellyscratcher. I guess back then I didn't have a new job to look for.

Oh, Griffey knocked in his second run of the game, to bring the NL score to 2. Good job, Kid.

Well, I hope that the NL team can pull into the lead, but I probably won't stay up to see it. It just doesn't feel like real baseball. I think I've got the All-Star Blahs.

Tonight the Crack Technical Staff and I let the Home Run Derby play on in the background while we did the podcasting thing. Topics include:

• Why I’m feeling glum
• Homer Bailey resting up for the inevitable mysterious DL trip that will allow him to be back in Cincy in time for his next start
• My enormous head
• Ramona the Pest (no, it’s not a new nickname for David Eckstein)
• Wondering why Adam Dunn isn’t in the derby. Probably because he’d be the first contestant ever to be called out on strikes
• The NLC standings going into the break
• How well will Pete Mackanin have to do to get hired for 2008?
• How things are looking to shake out the rest of the year

Episode 66: Reporting Live In Front of the Home Run Derby (17.5MB, 25:30)

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There seems to be a revolving door on the entrance to the Reds' clubhouse these days. In the latest episode of “As The Revolving Door Turns” we find that as of Monday 7/8/07, Homer Bailey has been optioned to Louisville. Infielder Pedro Lopez has been called up from Louisville to fill the thus-opened slot on the 25-man active roster.

Unless somebody goes on the DL, Bailey has to stay at Louisville for at least ten days, meaning he wouldn't be eleigible to return until July 19. This would seem to preclude Bailey making his previously scheduled start against the Braves on July 16. Not that there's any shortage of pitchers who could start that game. Saarloos is back on the 25-man and could do it. So could Gosling. Or they could call up Livingston, or Dumatrait, or Ramirez, or…well, you get the idea. Or Wayne Krivsky could find another team's GM wandering around drunk at the All Star game and convince him to trade a starting pitcher to the Reds for a couple of warm ballpark beers and an autographed mugshot photo of a Florida DUI offender to be named later.

Lopez (as you'll recall the instant I mention it) was claimed by the Reds off waivers from the White Sox back on May 21. Don't rush out to buy your Pedro Lopez jersey just yet, however. For one thing, Lopez hasn't even been assigned a number yet. For another thing, they can option him back to Louisville at any time. There are now seven infielders on the active roster, and only 11 pitchers. They customarily carry 12 pitchers, so I'm sure that revolving door will be spinning again relatively soon.