Wrapping Up The All Star Break Links

Lots of links before (non-Yankee) baseball starts again tonight.

• Buster Olney is answering questions on the New York Times Freakonomics blog which is definitely the convergence of two of my favorite blogs all into one, lovely, Q&A. I asked him about fixing the baseball draft. I was hoping the Freakonomics guys could get into that as well. Also, Buster on why 30 is the new 40 in baseball.
• Steven Goldman says to beware of the Rays and I agree with him. Out of all the teams currently in the Wild Card race, none scare me more. I wonder how much more dangerous they would have been if they would have kept Edwin Jackson and signed someone like Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu instead of Pat Burrell.
• The Daily News' Mark Feinsand gives the Yankees a midseason report card. So does Baseball Musings
• Jim Baumbach at Newsday has Facebook updates for the Mets and Yankees. Pretty funny stuff.
• Another Newsday write, Ken Davidoff, wrapping up the All Star Game. Shysterball had a sort-of Sports Guy-like live blog going that wasn't live but is entertaining nonetheless. The New York Times says managers can't make everyone happy.
• Rob Neyer thinks the Selig All-Star Game is ultimately "fair". Keith Olbermann agrees with me to end the home-field advantage in the All Star Game. So does Joel Sherman who makes the point that no Yankee fan was rooting for Jonathan Papelbon to do well. So damn you again Carl Crawford.
• Speaking of Crawford, Goldman talks about whether the Yankees should pursue him. I think he's a tremendous talent, but I think that the Yankees should focus elsewhere if Austin Jackson is anything like the leadoff hitter he's supposed to be.
• Scott Proctor's Arm has the YouTube video of Joba Chamberlain appearing in a Powerade video. Maybe he should stop doing commercials and worry about how to pitch in Coors Field East.
• Doug Mientkiewicz went after Nick Swisher on Twitter (he called him a turd!) and It Is High, It Is Far, It Is...Caught is there to witness it and relive all the gory details.
• A fellow Scarsdale-resident--although I now really live in NYC--wrote a book on being a Yankees fan so I have to give love (and pick up the book at some point)
• Do you think A-Rod took offense to Mark Teixeira saying "There's Albert Pujols and there's everyone else" (quote via Jon Heyman). One Sports Illustrated writer says that Pujols ruined the All-Star Week with his pathetic play (not really...but...)
• Ken Rosenthal doesn't think the Angels or Cardinals could put together a package for Roy Halladay even though they are the most interested
• Aroldis Chapman. Put that name in your rolodex as the Yankees go after another Cuban defector (given the nickname "The Lefty Stephen Strasburg"
• I asked the other day whether you would sell a kidney to buy a Man Wall. The very next day The Altantic wrote an article about selling your kidneys. Coincidence? I think not
• I don't watch Fringe, but this whole bald guy at the All Star Game thing is sort of weird (and getting weirder) as told by Deadspin.
• Baseball Prospectus resets the playoff race.
• Baseball Musings points out one blog that is worried that the Nationals may actually do too WELL. That's funny.

Other news (some laughs here):

• A man was kidnapped and force-fed beer. Was not a fraternity hazing. Odd. (H/T The Big Lead)
• Put your name on Mars!
• This is a great reason to quit smoking.
• And, ultimately, when I choose my brothels I want to make sure that they're eco-friendly.