Enjoy Tonight's 2010 MLB All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star game is still an exhibition, but it means more than any other All-Star game in any other sport. The winning league of tonight's 8pm ET game on FOX will gain home field advantage in the World Series. Kind of a big deal, as it has been since the game ended horribly in a 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park.

Some changes to this year's contest include the adoption of the designated hitter, regardless of what league's ballpark is holding the event. This means pitchers won't have to worry about injuring themselves on a whiff and one more National League slugger gets a shot at making the roster.

Ubaldo Jimenez vs. David Price

The 2010 All-Star starting pitchers have been chosen.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has called on Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez to take the hill for his National League All-Star team. Meanwhile, New York Yankees skipper Joe Girardi has picked who else, but Tampa Bay Rays phenom David Price to start for his American League squad, which was pretty much a no-brainer.

It's 2010 Home Run Derby Time!

Update: Good job, Big Papi.

Here is the lineup for the Midsummer Classic 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby contest, in order of appearance. Who ya got?

The All-Star Roster Has Been Decided

The All-Star final fan votes are in. It was no surprise that ass-kicking Joey Votto made it for the National League team. The only surprise was that he didn't make the roster prior to the fan voting. He promptly thanked his voters this afternoon by hitting bomb number 22 on the season. He's the first ever Cincinnati Reds player to make it into the game based on the final fan vote. Way to go, Joey!

In a much tighter race, Nick Swisher managed to eek past Kevin Face-muff Youklis to claim the final spot for the American League. There were five very deserving players up for the final spot, and based on their numbers, some might say that Michael Young, Delmon Young, or Paul Konerko have been having better seasons than Swisher or Youklis. But the Youngs and Konerko just couldn't compete with Swisher's Twitter campaign, the celebrity and/or senate endorsements for Swish and Youk, or the sheer number of voters the larger market teams have.

Vote Votto

Need I say more?

If this picture isn't worth a thousand words to you, check out our recent post on the badassery of Joey Votto and how he's pretty much a wild animal.

Then vote him onto the 2010 NL All-Star team!! And do it pronto, because you only have until 4pm ET today to do so.

The Cincinnati Reds first baseman is batting .313 on the season with 21 homers and 59 RBI.

[Cincinatti.com] | [Cincy Jungle] | [Front Office Fans]

Justin Morneau: Pumping Iron with Grizzly Bears

2010 All-Star Game Commercial

American League Keeps On Rolling

The American League's MVP hero of Tuesday night's All-Star game was Carl Crawford. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder robbed a home run from Brad Hawpe in the seventh inning, a shot off Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon that would've broken the 3-3 tie.

During the very next inning, Detroit Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson tripled and scored the go-ahead run to give the AL a 4-3 victory. Make that seven straight games since 2002’s 7-7, 11-inning tie at Miller Park and a 12-0-1 mark since the National League's last win in 1996.

So which AL team will have home field advantage in this year's World Series?

[AP] | [Best Seat in my House] | [No, You're a Towel]

National League: Lucky #13?

Braveheart wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg.

Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls set an NBA record with 70 wins in a single season.

Sublime's Bradley Nowell dies from a drug overdose and Tupac is gunned down.

I get my driver's licence and fill the red Beretta with $1.00 gallons of gasoline.

The year was 1996. It was a leap year in Philadelphia, marking the last time the National League won the All-Star game. The Senior Circuit will be looking for it's first win in 13 years this evening when they take on the American League in the 80th annual All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

You Suck, Brandon Inge

Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge just hit zero bombs in the Home Run Derby.

Good job, buddy.

First round action: Nelson Cruz and Prince Fielder are tied with 11 longballs a piece. Ryan Howard has seven, Carlos Peña, Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer are all knotted up at five a piece, and Adrian Gonazalez managed two tater tots.

Roy and Timmy: Your All-Star Hurlers

We're officially more than half-way through the 2009 baseball season, but the All-Star break is more or less considered the halfway point. Are you happy with where your team is sitting in its division standings? Washington Nationals fans, feel free to ignore that question. The rest of you have four days rest to ponder.

Anyway, your All-Star starters have been named, and there's no surprise there. San Francisco Giants phenom Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.33 ERA) will take the hill Tuesday night for the National League while Toronto Blue Jays righty Roy Halladay (10-3, 2.85 ERA) will start for the American League.

Tater Tot Hot Dish: American League

The American League has chosen its participants for tonight's Home Run Derby. Finally.

With Dustin Pedroia opting out of this year's All-Star game to hang out with his pregnant wife, he will be replaced by Carlos Peña. The Tampa Bay Rays first baseman will join Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz and Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer.

Joe Mauer for President

Well, no shock here at BLB HQ. Man Muscles accepted an invitation to the Homerun Derby. Also joining the action is last minute vote-in Brandon Inge. While we're still waiting to find out who the other two American League Derby-ers are, let's take a moment to enjoy the Joegasm.

Joe's high school coach Jim O'Neill will be pitching to him. Awww, cute.

I'm not the betting type, but if I had to put money on who else will be in the Derby, it will probably be Evan Longoria (again, not to be confused with my girl-crush EVA Longoria. Man she's hot!) and Mark Teixeira. At least, that would be the least boring scenario. Good luck, Joe! And remember, if you need a good rubdown for your Man Muscles before the All Star break, you know how to find us.

The Final All-Star Votes Have Been Rocked

The fans have spoken. On-line voters -- a record 68.6 million -- have chosen to send Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge (not Miguel Cabrera...ahem) to the 80th annual All-Star game in St. Louis.

Victorino beat out Pablo Sandoval, Mark Reynolds, Matt Kemp and Cristian Guzman to earn a spot on the National League roster. Meanwhile, Inge overcame fans of Ian Kinsler, Chone Figgins, Carlos Pena and Adam Lind to become the final American League All-Star.

No Morneau in This Year's Homer Derby

My Canadian Crusher has declined his invitation to the 24th Annual Home Run Derby, to be held next Monday night on ESPN.

"They asked me yesterday," Justin Morneau said. "I said I wasn't going to do it."

And that's that.

Josh Hamilton Returns Today

Josh Hamilton is making his return to baseball tonight when his Texas Rangers face the Los Angeles Angels.

Now a two-time All-Star, he'll be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list after recovering from abdominal surgery. He played in a doubleheader with the AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks this Sunday, going 2-for-7 with a double, a triple, and one stolen base, but was just 4-for-27 in six games overall during the rehab stint.

Busch Stadium To Resemble Fenway

Can we get some more Boston Red Sox players in the American League's All-Star lineup please? Umm... really, Jed Lowrie? Actually, maybe I'll save my obligatory "fan-voting sucks" rant for another day.

This year's Midsummer Classic in St. Louis should be pretty exciting, considering all the young talent on both rosters, and how awesome the National League side looks.

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

All-Star Rosters Are All Set

The starting rosters for your 2009 All-Star teams are all set, and the American League roster is loaded with Boston Red Sox players. Business as usual, thanks to the fan-voting. Don't even get me started.

Speaking of the Sox, Tim Wakefield is an All-Star virgin at the age of 42, while Albert Pujols, the leading vote-getter, will be donning the National League jersey for the eighth time in his career. Derek Jeter finished at the top of the AL tallies for the first time, marking his tenth Midsummer Classic.

Only Hours Left to Vote for Your All-Stars!

If you're into sports betting, like I know most of you are, then you'll appreciate the chances that Joe Mauer has of being the starting catcher for the 2009 American League All-Star team... especially since he's nearly 1.5 million votes ahead of the next guy, Boston Red Sox backstop, Jason Varitek.

Another Change in All-Star Rosters

This news doesn't affect you as an All-Star voter... I'll get to the part that concerns you in just a minute. The big dogs at the Commissioner's Office have decided to add one more pitcher from each league, by manager's choice, bringing the total of each All-Star roster to 33 players -- 13 hurlers -- for the July 14th game in St. Louis.

Here's where you guys come in.

We're holding a Home Run Derby Challenge, in which our readers guess who will hit the most bombs and why (the why is the most important part) at this year's contest, even though we have no idea who will participate yet. The beauty of this, is that you can show off your psychic powers now, or guess later on once the players are announced.