all-star picks.

The All-Star game is fast approaching, and the most exciting part is...the Rangers are in first. Yes, it may be a slim lead, but god willing, they will be a game ahead when the Rockies finish of those blasted dual identity Angels from Los Angeles AND Anaheim.

In honor of this momentous occasion, I would like to share my All-Star picks. And out of respect for the great game of baseball, my picks are completely based upon performance. I'm no homer for the All-Star game!

American League

First Base: Justin Morneau, MIN

Second Base: Ian Kinsler, TEX

Third Base: Michael Young, TEX

Shortstop: Jason Bartlett, TB

Catcher: Joe Mauer, MIN

Outfield: Jason Bay, BOS

Outfield: Torii Hunter, LAA

Outfield: Nelson Cruz, TEX

National League

First Base: Albert Pujols, STL

Second Base: Chase Utley, PHI

Third Base: Pablo Sandoval, SF

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, FLA

Catcher: Brian McCann, ATL

Outfield: Ryan Braun, MIL

Outfield: Raul Ibañez, PHI

Outfield: Hunter Pence, HOU

May I just say that Albert Pujols is the best player of this era.

"Quarantined in Korea:" Day 4

And now, for the thrilling conclusion to "Quarantined in Korea!"

Day begins bright and early at 9:00 am

9:00 am to 11:00 am: Traveling to....Everland! Korea's answer to Disneyland. Rides, animals, rides with animals. Everyone's dreams can come true here at Everland.

11:00 am to 11:30 am: start the day off with some lunch. I go for the Everland special: Lasagna. Any italian lunch in Korea would not be complete without pickles and radish. fulfilled.

11:30 am to 1:00 pm: Animals!!! Polar bears are kick ass. Spent about 10 minutes staring down a cheetah through a thin glass window. I won when he became disinterested and continued his elliptical path around his enclosure.

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm: Seal show. Never to hot on "animal" shows, but this was thoroughly impressive.

1:30 pm to 2:00 pm: Safari time. Felt more like Jurassic Park. Rode on a nice little bus, painted like a white tiger. Fitting. Rode through Jurassic Park security gates. Such a great job of replicating the natural habitat of lions, tigers, white tigers, a liger (no lie) and bears. Complete with concrete, fences, and paved roads. Perhaps the rocks were fake....

2:30 pm to 6:30 pm: Ride time. Lets start from the top. Pirate ship. Gyro Swing: this amazing piece of craftsmanship is a giant swing...and it gyrates. Hence the clever name Gyro Swing. Double Rock Spin: This little doozy was conveniently located in America Town. To describe this one would be incredibly difficult for my unimaginative writing skill, so lets just say I was upside down at some points, I was high and low. I don't remember the name of the last one, but it did hurt my back, on account of the spinning.

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm: Dinner time. I feel like something different, so I head over to "Holland Town." Just as you imagine, dear reader, holland is afoot, magical dutchness. In order to get the full experience, I opted for the "various sausage plate." With french fries. All in all, tasty.

7:30 pm to 9:30 pm: returning home.

10:00 pm to 12:45 am: I remember a TV being on...I think I was on the couch...

1:00 am: Asleep.

This concludes our 4 part mini-series of "Quarantined in Korea."

"Quarantined in Korea:" Day 3

Day 3 begins at:

11:30 am: arise from my slumber.

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm: Whip up a little bit of curry and rice and eat some lunch while watching........good guess my trusted reader, its Star Trek: The Next Generation.

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Star Trek continues on. I feel myself drawn to the handsome yet rugged Commander Riker, or, as he is affectionately known as, "number one."

4:00 to 5:30 pm: Time spent in fantasy land as the GM of the Texas Rangers. Thats right, GM. There are some long overdue changes that will be occurring within this organization. I'm like Nolan.

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm: What day in quarantine would be complete without a substantial nap...on the couch...after a lot of Star Trek and XBOX.

7:30 pm to 9:30 pm: More Star Trek. Making good progress through Season 2.

10:00 pm to 1:00 am: Introduced to a new brand of genius comedy. The British. New TV show titled "Green Wing." Time spent laughing until I fall asleep.

A good day.

Thanks for remembering the time you spent reading.

"Quarantined in Korea:" Day 2

Welcome. Day 2 begins....

9:00 am: Early wake up call to test drive my new bike

9:30 am to 12:00 pm: Ride previously mentioned bike. Was not aware of how painful (and personal) sitting on a bike seat for that long can be.

12:30 pm to 1:00 pm: lunch. Ate ugly kimbab, and believe me, it is ugly. Fortunately, the taste is the opposite of its name.

1:00 pm to 2:15 pm: Sneak a co-worker past the haz-mat guards posted at my door for a second time. Watch 1 STTNG episode. I must lie on the couch as opposed to sit, as I am still in pain from my personal encounter with the bike seat. Episode involves the recurring character of Q, whom I have come to despise. But Commander Riker saves the day.

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm: Once again, I put on the ring and am whisked away to Middle Earth. This time, I find myself at the Gates of the Hornburg, as I turn away the rushing tide of orc filth. Still finding that I am best suited as an archer, with mage as my backup.

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm: I become incredibly tired from physical activity, and enjoy a 2 hour nap.

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Due to the "caloric room" I have created within my body (due to this morning's bike ride) I feel the need to eat McDonalds. I feel this is the best way to make a healthy day end well. Friend and I eat McDonalds while watching Casino Royale.

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Casino Royale. Blond Bond is growing on me.

10:00 pm to 1:30 am: I decide to continue my journey through space with Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander Riker and the rest of that wacky bunch of space travelers and knock out 4 more episodes. I am attempting to boldly go where no human has gone before, and that is to watch, chronologically, STTNG from start to finish.

1:30 am: sleep sets in. Its been a long day.

"Quarantined in Korea:" Day 1

Day one begins at 11:00 am...on the couch.

11:00 am: wake up on couch

11:00 am to 1:00 pm: watching season 2 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Beginning to realize how much of a badass Commander Riker really is.

1:00 pm: ate some rice, curry, seaweed and tabasco (while watching even more STTNG)

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Release my inner hobbit and play Lord of the Rings: Conquest on XBOX. I learn very quickly that the hidden talents that lie within my fingertips are best unleased while playing as the archer character, however I do moonlight as a mage.

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm: nap. enough said.

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Got lost on the internet. I somehow managed to find myself reading about kimchi...

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm: dinner.

9:00 pm to 12:30 am: Secretly outfoxed the haz-mat guards outside my door and smuggled in friends. Spent the time quietly watching dvds.

1:00 am: Battled the very formidable opponent sometimes known as "sleep" for 30 minutes. Admitted defeat.

Day Over.

Check back tomorrow for another exciting chronicle of "Quarantined in Korea."

QUARANTINE

I have recently returned from a 2 day trip to Texas, for a wedding, and have been put into a "quarantine" of sorts due to the swine flu scare. I will chronicle, hour by hour, this "quarantine," beginning tomorrow.