Here are some random thoughts on how to make the HR Derby interesting:
the-daily-something.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-make-derby-watchable.html

On the Piniella thing, I love that move and think managers should do that more often (especially if it eliminates the ridiculous 13th pitcher, and preferably even the 12th). But the interesting thing to me was the rule discussion about whether he could send him to the outfield, then bring him back in, then swap in a different pitcher if LaRussa pinch hits without having him face a better. The umpires last night decided he couldn’t, but is that spelled out so clearly in the rules? It seems to me that his having already faced a batter in the game should carry through, even though he was moved out and back into the pitcher role. That once you’ve faced a batter, you’ve faced a batter, and you should be able to be moved in and out of the pitcher position just like it’s any other position.

Does it make me a bad guy that I had to look up to see if Pujols was an American citizen? 

He became a US citizen in 07.

worse

Isn’t anybody excited about ESPN’s “Ball Track” technology?  (Ugh)  My 8 & 6 year olds will probably think it’s cool.

@ Wooden-
  The Starland vocal Band was one of the few, if any, groups to hail from the Washington D.C. area.  Jimmy Carter camapigned and won on a platform to pass legislation banning them inside the beltway.  After malaise set in, he pardoned them (that was big back then)
    They retired from govt. service recently, not having been able to find a single project “shovel-ready”
    This is what Craig gets for leaving us unattended for an afternoon.

Re. the Buchholz era—is there any indication this is for more than one start?