Relief, no relief

White Sox closer Bobby Jenks is on the mend with a rehab stint in the minors.

Takashi Saito's out for up to six weeks with an elbow problem, and the Dodgers' only true replacement is Johnathan Broxton.

Fantasy Impact: The Sox bullpen has done a decent job since Jenks left, but Scott Linebrink is no closer, and Octavio Dotel is not overly impressive but still servicable.

Saito's situation sounds fairly serious, and there's a chance he won't come back this year. For having such a good pitching staff, the Dodgers also have a shaky staff. Brad Penny, Jason Schmidt and Saito are the walking wounded. The rest of them combine an outstanding start or two with spontaneous combustion. Pick up Broxton for immediate saves, but he's never held the role and might break your heart a few times until he can settle in.

Ranking the ballparks

Last night's All-Star game signaled the beginning of the end for Yankee Stadium, arguably baseball's most historic park. It's listed as number one in terms of historical importance ahead of Wrigley Field and Fenway Park by The Bleacher Report. As a sign of the times, Oriole Park at Camden Yards comes in fourth in historical importance.

That makes the top four in baseball:

1. Yankee Stadium
2. Wrigley Field
3. Fenway Park
4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Next year, I think the top four will be:

1. The New Yankee Stadium
2. Wrigley Field
3. Fenway Park
4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards

While Wrigley and Fenway are classics, and Camden sets the standard for "new" parks, Yankee Stadium will be the reincarnation of a classic, something that's never been done before. Its importance will be understood in what it becomes known for. The Yankees need the stadium to be received as a retro masterpiece that plays baseball cathedral and forwarding-thinking colossus at once. I rarely listen to anything Joe Buck says, but last night when he mentioned that Yankee Stadium is the United States' Coliseum, he might've been correct. It's as important a stadium as any in the history of this country. It is probably the most important, and it probably will remain the most important.

Stadiums that would earn votes outside of the top four: AT&T Park, San Francisco; Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles; Petco Park, San Diego

I include Petco because it is the one park with a big outfield that hasn't had it's fences brought in since the park's inception. Comerica Park brought deep fences in, as did U.S. Cellular Field. Petco is as much a pitcher's park as any ballpark in baseball right now. AT&T Park is similar in this respect, but has very normal dimensions in left field.

Getting frank about Francisco

Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano's return to MLB is imminent, but don't get too excited. The Twins are talking about changing his role.

Antony said Twins general manager Bill Smith will speak with manager Ron Gardenhire about Liriano's role. Gardenhire has been adamant that when Liriano returns to Minnesota it will be as a starter, but Antony said the ballclub would discuss the possibility of Liriano pitching from the bullpen.

Given that Joe Nathan is one of the top two or three closers in baseball, Liriano's fantasy value would plummet if he goes to the 'pen.

LaPorta leaving port

Cleveland Indians prospect Matt LaPorta, who was acquired in the CC Sabathia trade from Milwaukee's farm system, will not be playing in the MLB until probably September. The U.S. Olympic team added LaPorta to the Beijing squad, meaning his July/August is going to be a little bit tied up.

"Just the chance to represent my country and bring back a gold medal, it would mean so much," LaPorta said after that game. As for this stretch of developments in his baseball life, he added: "It's been crazy, a roller-coaster ride up and down. The last two weeks just haven't stopped. One day you think you can catch your breath, then something else happens."

Fantasy Impact: LaPorta has the talent to contribue immediately, but he won't be playing imminently. You should stash him in a keeper league, as he'll probably be a starting candidate for Cleveland in Spring '09.

All-Star supernova

The New York Times says position players were ready to pitch just in case the All-Star game went beyond the point that the last remaining pitchers were capable of throwing.

Not Amused

I've been reading David Pinto's Baseball Musings long enough to know he doesn't get ruffled very often. Today is a bit different. I appreciate his passion. He even used the 'p' word!

Willing Webb

Brandon Webb's unwanted All-Star appearance (he had pitched on Sunday) was not met with reluctance. When the game went late, Webb approached NL manager Clint Hurdle and asked if he was needed. When he was, Webb just treated the appearance like a between-starts side session.

"I felt fine," he said. "There was a lot of adrenaline going, pumping through me. I went out there and got loose and felt comfortable and stuff."

Webb said he threw maybe 15 pitches in the bullpen warming up.

He threw 13 pitches in the 14th inning, keeping the score tied at 3 in a game that eventually was won by the American League 4-3 in the 15th inning.

"It was a normal day for a side session," he said. "Obviously, a little more intensity than in a side, but I think it all went very well."

He threw a perfect inning.

All-Star insanity

That was officially the best All-Star game I've witnessed in my life. The AL prevails on a Michael Young sacrafice fly off Brad Lidge in the 15th, scoring Justin Morneau for a 4-3 victory. Home-field is theirs in the fall classic.

I must admit I was rooting for more innings. I wanted to see what Terry Francona would do with both his bench and his bullpen used up and last pitcher Scott Kazmir almost out of bullets. I thought they might have to rotate Kazmir to another position and throw a position player. If both teams ended up throwing position players for home-field advantage in the World Series, the invalidation of "this one counts" would be complete.

A couple of oddities: Ryan Ludwick must've forgotten his "road" batting helmet. He was wearing a red one instead of the Cardinals' away navy helmet.

Kevin Youkilis was sipping a Red Bull at 1:34 a.m. EST. He was out of the game, so was Youkilis swigging the energy drink so he could stay up until daybreak?