In which Selig gives Obama a Cardinals jersey before the start of the All-Star Game

In photos obtained by the Sun-Times, Obama was supposed to wear a No. 44 St. Louis Cardinals jersey, handed to him by baseball commissioner Bud Selig.

and Obama says ‘nice try Bud’:

Seems the MLB bosses didn’t want Obama to wear a Sox jacket at the All-Star game (UPDATE)

Paul Sullivan (h/t David Caplan):

Axelrod said he had a long talk with Obama before the game because some Major League Baseball executives weren’t happy about the decision.

“There was a big controversy,” he said. “I think Major League Baseball wanted him to wear the All-Star jacket, and he was intent on wearing his White Sox jacket. He prevailed in that.

Go Sox!

BTW, here’s Ozzie’s reaction to Obama’s pitch: “He threw better than (Clayton) Richard’s last outing,” Guillen quipped.

UPDATE: Jerry Reinsdorf confirms it:

It sounded like Major League baseball officials were trying to get him to wear the All-Star jacket.

Yeah, there were people in St. Louis that weren’t real happy he was going to wear our jacket. Some baseball people wanted an All-Star type jacket or even a Cardinal jacket. He said, ‘I’m a White Sox fan. I’m going to wear my White Sox jacket.’

Paul Konerko approves of this Barack Obama guy

whitesox.com:

White Sox first baseman and team captain Paul Konerko commended Obama for displaying his fanhood without reservation.

“I thought it was a pretty bold move on his part,” Konerko said, “because it’s going to bring into play the questions that come around — none of which are really life and death questions or that important — but he could’ve just gone out there with a Major League Baseball jacket on and called it a day.

“We knew he was a fan before that, but it’s nice to see him basically kind of stick his neck out there a little bit. Because now, most politicians or presidents, the grayer an answer you can give, the better. And that’s not gray. He wore our team’s jacket out there. You don’t see that much.”

Fixing Obama’s Throwing Motion

Deadspin:

As you know, our commander-in-chief took the mound last night and did an excellent impression of a man trying to throw a party balloon. I asked some experts to evaluate Obama’s mechanics and explain just what needed to be fixed. …

Ichiro meets Obama and more

whitesox.com:

Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki of Japan got an autographed ball from the president, who told fellow AL All-Star Curtis Granderson that he’s a big Ichiro fan.

“My idea, when I saw him, was to say, ‘What’s up?’ to him,” Ichiro said through interpreter Ken Barron. “But I got nervous. You know, he has that kind of aura about him. So I got nervous and I didn’t say that to him. I was a little disappointed about that.

“But I realized after seeing him today that presidents wear jeans, too. So my hope is that our skipper, [Don] Wakamatsu, was watching that and we can wear jeans on our flights as well.”

BTW, here’s Bob Costa’s ‘MLB Tonight’ Obama interview (6:34), Obama locker room stop (1:21), and Buehrle’s interview (0:56).

Obama throws the first pitch (video)

Video: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5571893
and http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5572949

Buehrle followed with a 1-2-3 inning (3rd). 9 pitches (video).

BTW, the two met earlier:

Next stop was the AL clubhouse, where he jibed Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter for being so old and signed an autograph for Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. A White Sox fan, Obama was glad to see pitcher Mark Buehrle, the only representative from the president’s favorite team.

Buehrle and Barack video.

Mark Buehrle’s plan for pitching to Pujols

Chris DeLuca:

”High and inside — hit him or knock him off the plate,” Buehrle said Monday. ”Hopefully, he charges the mound.” ”Whatever you throw the guy, he’s going to hit it,” Buehrle said in all seriousness. ”The softer you throw, maybe he won’t hit it as far.”

Buehrle wants a photo with Barack

Mark Gonzales:

The White Sox’s lone representative has only one request — to have a photograph taken with President Barack Obama , who is to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

“I’ll try to get a picture with him,” Buehrle said of the opportunity to pose with the No. 1 Sox fan. “I’m big on getting pictures.”

Free MLB.TV for the week of July 11 to 18

MLB.com:

MLB.TV Special Offer

If you are not a current MLB.TV subscriber (MLB.TV or MLB.TV Premium), you are eligible to receive a one week free trial of MLB.TV Premium from July 11-18. Valid e-mail address required. Offer not valid for current MLB.TV subscribers. If you are a current MLB.TV subscriber (MLB.TV or MLB.TV Premium), you will receive a 15% discount to the MLB.com Shop. MLB.com Shop discount excludes taxes, shipping, handling and gift cards. May not be combined with any other offer. MLB.com Shop offer expires 8/17/09. Blackout and other restrictions apply. See www.mlb.tv for details. MLB.com will send an email on July 11 to all Final Vote voters that will include instructions on how to redeem the applicable offer.

I think you have to vote for the All-Star game’s last player (Final Vote ends Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. ET.).

Mark Buehrle: your one Sox All-Star game player

MLB.com:

Buehrle was selected as the lone White Sox representative for the 2009 All-Star Game, to be played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday, July 14, added by American League manager Joe Maddon.

BTW, here are the full rosters for the All-Star game.

Buehrle to Coop: Don’t call me fat

Mark Gonzales:

Buehrle said he feels fine thanks to an arm-strengthening program that has enabled him to throw between his starts all but once during the first half.

“The older you get, the more you have to be conscious of what you’re doing in the off-season,” Buehrle said. “But I think [throwing limits have more] to do more with my arm than [not working out enough].

“That’s why I got on Coop [for criticizing my conditioning] because he made it sound as if I was a fat [guy] coming into spring training. It was really just my arm.”

Sox alter pitching rotation (UPDATE)

Mark Gonzales:

White Sox ace Mark Buehrle will make two more starts before the All-Star break and start the second half of the season July 17 against Baltimore.

The decision was made two days before the American League All-Star roster will be announced. The left-hander, who is 8-2 with a 3.09 ERA, has a chance to make the AL squad. If he’s selected, the Sox have the option of adjusting their rotation for the second half.

The rotation is set up so left-hander John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Buehrle will face Minnesota next weekend. …

UPDATE: Con Cooper doesn’t like the idea of Buehrle pitching in the All-Star game after his Sunday start: