Major League Baseball nearly had another debacle on its hands Tuesday night as the All-Star game as the game went 15 innings.  Both teams were running out of pitchers and with home field advantage on the line everyone was just waiting for Bud Selig to call the game again.

I would hate to be a team that was a contender am have my guys out their jeopardizing themselves. Doesn't it seem to make sense to expand the All-Star rosters?

Brad Lidge, who NL manager Clint Hurdle tabbed as the team's closer, threw over 100 warm-up pitches in various bullpen sessions, before coming into the game in the 15th inning.

Lidge, 20-for-20 in save opportunities for the Phillies and the only full-time closer in the NL who has not blown a save this season, warmed up in the bullpen in the top of the ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th innings only to sit down after the NL failed to take the lead.

Each time the NL didn't score, Hurdle called in another pitcher and told his closer to sit down.

"All of my pals kept getting into the game," Lidge told the Courier Post. "We had the Rockies bullpen catcher and coach and me. That was it."

Luckily the game ended on Michael Young’s sacrifice fly to give the American League a 4-3 victory in a 4-hour, 50-minute marathon, the longest All-Star Game in history.

The game has lost its luster for sure, but it still is professional sport's best All-Star event.

OTHER TAKES
--I was disappointed that Edinson Volquez gave up the bomb to J.D. Drew, it makes it hard to argue the guy should've started when he blows the save. I just hope it doesn't have a hangover effect.

--Has anybody every had a worse three minutes in All-Star game history. Dan Uggla hit into an inning-ending double play in the top half of the 10th inning with a runner on third. Then he followed it up with two errors to lead off the bottom half of the inning. Lucky for him Aaron Cook pitched out of the jam.

--Will the NL ever win again? It is completely opposite of when I was kid when the senior circuit use to dominate. The AL is now up to 12 straight victories.

--Man George Steinbrenner is not looking good. I was raised to hate that man, but I don't want to see him like that. The end is near for Mr. Steinbrenner. 

--Apparently the NL was prepared to call in Clay Counsil, Josh Hamilton's 71-year old Home Run Derby pitcher, if the game were to go to a 16th inning. Counsil was a bit tired though after giving up 32 bombs the night before to 'The Natural'.

MLB all-star game, brad lidge, edinson volquez, michael young, justin moreneau, j.d. drew, dan uggla, aaron cook, george steinbrenner, clay counsil, josh hamilton