MIAMI -- This year's Futures Game, my 12th and the 19th such event in its history, was a somewhat dry affair -- for which I should probably be grateful given the 1,000 percent humidity outside of Marlins Park -- as the World pitching didn't quite hold up its end of the bargain and no hitter reached base more than twice.

The game never really developed any sort of rhythm, and the score was quickly 7-0 in favor of the U.S. team, although the World hitters never gave up and the second shift managed to put the tying run on base in the ninth before losing 7-6. Here are my observations on the day, starting with the pitchers: