Monday's first pitch

Leading Off
We're chock full of All-Star news today.

1. Here are the teams. For now.


2. Prince Albert set some voting milestones.


3. These squads are very young.


4. The AL squad is the dominant one.


5. Shane Victorino might make the team.

Regional Roundup

• Brad Lidge must be eatin' his chili because he had gas this weekend. Jimmy Watch: 2-for-3, solo home run, walk, strikeout.


• What's going on with Scott Olsen? In April and May he couldn't beat Tidewater; now he's dominant.


• Peter Schmuck thinks the Birds are onto something.


• Ryan Doumit is working his way back.

Best of Rest

• Maybe Joba's not all that he's cracked up to be.


• The the Giants lose their giant?


• The A's PR department had a busy day.


• Dustin Pedroia is heating up.

Batter's Eye

• Allen Berra takes a great look at Dick Allen's career. Makes you realize how dominant, and historically underrated, he was.

Today in history
1929 -- The St. Louis Cardinals scored 10 runs in the first and fifth innings in beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 28-6, in the second game of a doubleheader. The Cardinals had 28 hits and set an NL record with the 28 runs.

1933 -- The first major league All-Star game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The AL, managed by Connie Mack, defeated the NL, managed by John McGraw, 4-2 on Babe Ruth's two-run homer.

The Closer
Well, that was smooth and crisp - notice how often Tom McCarthy said Brad Lidge's slider was crisp? - this weekend.
The World Champs scuffled into their weekend series with the Mets. Then they dispatched their rivals like they were play toys.
The Phillies swept the Mets in dominant fashion.
But what was more important than the sweep was that Jimmy Rollins caught absolute fire. He went 5-for-10 with three doubles, a home run, two runs scored, three walks and five runs driven in.
Then there was Brad Lidge, who had two saves with 0 earned runs in two innings pitched. He struck out five and walked none.
So the bookends were working.
And that could be the start of something good for the Phightins.