The good, the bad and the Uggla

The good, the bad and the Uggla: This was the joke we were tossing around about the All-Star game that lasted forever. I don't usually watch this thing, but it got interesting when it looked like they were going to run out of pitchers. If the game had continued, we would have had third-baseman David Wright pitching as well as outfielder J.D. Drew. These guys are good, but they aren't pitchers.

There were a few other interesting things about the All-Star break. Second-base All-Star Chase Utley shamed my fantasy team by saying a major boo-boo on national TV during the home-run derby. We're talking the grandfather of bad words. Remember "A Christmas Story." In this case, however, he completed the word. Didn't he notice the microphone on his uniform? ESPN blushed. Utley has always come across as a down-to-earth guy that hasn't let his success go to his head. He has apologized, but this will hurt his image with some. A little humility could go a long way -- and a few more home runs.

Then there's the horrible game from Dan Uggla. His errors kept piling up in the game despite the fact that he hasn't had that many in the regular season. He had an ugly game.

Then there's the booing of Jonathan Papelbon, the great Boston closer. He should take it as an honor. He was playing in Yankee Stadium. What did he expect? A gracious welcome. They boo their own players there. Who cares what the New York tabloids say about him? He's a great closer for a team I hate.

The best story is the emergence of Josh Hamilton, a former first pick in the draft who fell into a life of drug addiction and fell completely out of baseball. He has battled back through a strong support system and his strong faith in God. He won over a tough Yankee Stadium crowd at the home-run derby and won the hearts of millions. You can blame him for getting into drugs if you want. That's fair. But why not praise him for leaving that life behind and reclaiming glory on the baseball field. I can't wait for someone to make a movie about this remarkable story.

They'll be no movie about Dan Uggla: This Florida Marlin standout flopped like a fish out of water.