The easiest question in baseball has been answered. The final American League All-Star was announced yesterday, and guess what, Paul Konerko is headed to Arizona. It should have never come down to a fan vote, Konerko was overqualified, especially to anyone who follows baseball. With ESPN giving us serving, after serving, after serving, after serving, etc, of Red Sox & Yankees games, players, executives, etc, it’s surprising that Konerko even got noticed.

You don’t have Lucas Harrell to pick on anymore. Harrell was placed on waivers, and immediately picked up by the Houston Astros. I, for one, will miss the kid. He was a true of guy as you’d wanna meet. I first interviewed him 5 years ago, in Tucson. He was a bright eyed kid coming off arm problems. We did a story on the top Sox prospects, and at the time he wasn’t a bad guy to talk with. Years later, we continued to talk. He would tell stories about his life changed after signing with the Sox. He pointed out that once people saw the bonus he got, his phone started ringing off the hook. Relatives, old friends, people he never knew, all wanting a handout. He even got a call from a girl that ignored him throughout high school, wanting to know his situation. I don’t think he was ready for, or even expected, his life to change. His success with the Sox was limited, and he really hurt himself this spring with a horrible outing against the Rockies. A good performance may have pushed him ahead of Phil Humber for a spot on the Sox team. Sometimes change is good, I hope Harrell finds a home in Houston.

Now we all know the Sox got off to a horrible start, at one time they were 10 games under .500. The Twins were worse, being a full 20 games under .500 at one point. As it stands right now, the Twins are 3 games back of the Sox. It doesn’t hurt that the Twins have beaten the Sox in all 6 of their meetings.

I think it’ll be either feast or famine for Adam Dunn this year. Another 3 strikeouts for Dunn on Thursday, but a huge bomb on Friday.

So here I am singing the praises of Phil Humber and how does he repay me? By throwing his worst game of the year. His pitches were flat, and the Twins hit a few good ones, but I will still say that Humber should have been an All-Star, or at least considered.

Talking All-Stars, Sergio Santos deserved the spot over the Angels Jordan Walden. Santos has allowed 2 more earned runs, and has one less save, but Walden has 6 blown saves to Santos 3. On that alone, Santos deserved to go.

Give it up for Hector Santiago, who pitched more than 4 shutout innings on Thursday. Not bad for a rookie making his 2nd bog league appearance. Twins still won the 1st game, 6-2.

So the Sox score 5 runs in the first inning on Friday and lead 5-1. With Gavin Floyd pitching, you’d figure the Sox pulled away and won easily, right? Unfortunately, the Twins scored 6 in the 4th and went on to win their 6th straight game over the Sox (this year). 8-5, the final.

I wonder what a starter says to a reliever who completely screws things up? Will Ohman came in after Floyd was unable to get out of the 4th inning, and preceded to give up a 3 run blast, turning a tie game in to a 3-run deficit. Is it considered a good outing if said reliever gives up nothing other than that 3-run blast.

If Alexei Ramirez doesn’t get the ball stuck in his glove, the Sox complete the double play in the 4th, and the Twins don’t get 6 runs. It’s a game of inches.

I wonder where the Sox are mentally. 5 runs in the 1st, zero runs the rest of the game. Even Ozzie’s walk to take Bruney out in the 7th wasn’t the walk of a confident man.

Sox still have 2 more to play against the Twins. Can they win one of them? Let’s hope.

Go Sox!!