SnakeBytes, 7/11: Home Advantage Edition

So, the biggest margin of victory in an All-Star Game since 1983, and the biggest shutout since 1946. Good job for Justin Verlander that it's only a meaningless exhibition game with no impor... Oh, hang on: it means we get home-field advantage in the World Series! Woo-hoo! Of course, we still have to get to the World Series, mind you, but that's a given, right?

Recaps

• [dbacks.com] Wade Miley's All-Star experience a winning one - Miley threw only 11 pitches, but they are 11 pitches he will never forget -- for many reasons. "I was scared there for a second when I had that ball hit right back in my face, but that's what you get when you leave a breaking ball over the plate at 1-2, especially if Joe Mauer is hitting," he said with a smile.
• [AP] All-Star game quickly turns into NL romp - "Verlander threw six straight balls during consecutive two-out walks to Carlos Beltran and Buster Posey. Wearing shiny gold-and-orange spikes for the occasion, Sandoval sent a drive off the base of the wall in the right-field corner for a 4-0 lead."
• [AP] Bryce Harper has forgettable All-Star debut - "Bryce Harper finally acted his age at the All-Star game. The 19-year-old Washington Nationals phenom lost a fly ball in the lights and got hung up between second and third Tuesday night during the NL's 8-0 victory over the American League. At the plate, he was 0 for 1 with a strikeout and a walk."

Team News [not including all the Justin Upton rumors and rumors of rumors, which we'll get to later this afternoon...]

• [AZ Central] Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall to get prostate test - Hall undergoes PSA tests about every three months. His first two came back clean. "This last one was detectable," Hall said. "It was very low but nonetheless was still detectable. We're going to wait another three months and take the test again. If I have to have some sort of treatment, it will probably be radiation." Fingers crossed.
• [Phoenix Business Journal] No time frame for Sutton's return to D-backs booth - "Daron Sutton’s suspension from the Arizona Diamondbacks broadcast booth continues with no return scheduled. "The suspension is still in place and there is no timetable for a return," said team spokesman Josh Rawitch." No news, in other words.
  
• [AZCentral] Diamondbacks prospects face off in 5th inning at All-Star Futures Game - Skaggs said he had told Marte beforehand that if they were to face each other, he'd give him a fastball to hit on the first pitch. After that, all bets were off. Marte laughed when told of Skaggs' comments, denying that the left-hander ever made such a promise. "When I hit it, when the outfielder caught the ball, I ran by and he was watching me," Marte said. "I said, 'Come on, meat.' And I said, 'I just missed it.' "
• [dbacks.com] Tyler Skaggs, Alfredo Marte enjoy experience at Futures Game - "This time I feel like I can soak it in more," said Skaggs, comparing the two experiences. "Last year, I was starting the game. I was home and really, really focused. This time I'm more laid back. I'm really not on the spot anymore. I really get to enjoy the Futures Game this time."
• [SB Nation Arizona] The Arizona Diamondbacks' Five-Step Program To Post All-Star Game Success - "Only four games behind in both the NL West and wild card races, the D-backs are back in sniffing range of success once again. And I'm here today to make sure they capture it...provided they follow my simple, five-step program..."
• [Baseball America] Diamondbacks Sign Top Colombian Catcher Oswaldo Garcia, Dominican Shortstop Fernery Ozuna - The Diamondbacks have signed catcher Oswaldo Garcia, a player some scouts considered the top prospect this year from Colombia. "The tools are there," said one scout. "He's going to be a guy who, in the next two years, you might have a a really good guy behind the plate with a chance to hit for power. It's a good swing and he hits in games. He's pretty good."
• [democratandchronicle.com] D'backs All-Star Miley goes from small town to big time - Memo to self. Do not piss Wade Miley off. "[He and a friend] came across a wounded deer limping across the road. They had nothing but a small hunting knife." "We didn't have a gun or nothing," Miley said. "So we get out, my buddy got out and hit the deer over the head with a board and cut its throat with this small knife. … Some people may not like that stuff or hate me for saying it, but, hey, the deer was wounded anyways. It was going to die anyways."

Other stuff

• [ESPN] Kinsler glad Chipper Jones' grounder went for hit - Kinsler was asked if he could have made a better play on the ball. "I wish I could have," Kinsler said. "Both my hamstrings felt like they were going to explode and that I had lead in my feet. It worked out that it was Chipper Jones hitting it. Said and done it was pretty cool, but I would never just let a guy have a hit."
• [MLB.com] Twitter provides links with fans at All-Star Game - "Dodgers All-Star Matt Kemp became the first Major Leaguer to tweet directly before and during a game." In related news, Kirk Gibson's head exploded.
• [CBSSports.com] With Gee out, Mets will start second half with Batista in rotation - "How will the Mets, a surprise contender in the NL East, cope with Dillon Gee's absence to start the second half following his unexpected shoulder surgery? For now, manager Terry Collins says, Miguel Batista will move into [the] rotation." There's a name from the past!
• [ESPN] Cano says Kansas City Royals fans crossed line by yelling at family - "This is a game," Cano said. "We're All-Stars. And if I get booed, I don't really care. But when they start with your family, that's over the line."
• [MLBlogs] Marlins likely headed to closer by committee - "Guillen said he plans to talk with Heath Bell in the next few days, and that the team will start off closing by committee." That always works SO well...