Dodger All-Stars Pull Their Weight

Matt Kemp: 1 for 2, single, run.

Clayton Kershaw: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K.

Andre Ethier: 1 for 1, single, RBI.

Pool babes: check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check and check.

1: Christian Petersen/Getty Images; 2: Norm Hall/Getty Images; 3: Jeff Gross/Getty Images; 4: Denis Poroy/Reuters

All-Star Game Thread, 5p

NL STARTING LINEUP

• Rickie Weeks (Brewers), 2B
• Carlos Beltran (Mets), DH
• Matt Kemp (Dodgers), CF
• Prince Fielder (Brewers), 1B
• Brian McCann (Braves), C
• Lance Berkman, (Cardinals), RF
• Matt Holliday (Cardinals), LF
• Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), SS
• Scott Rolen (Reds), 3B
• Roy Halladay (Phillies), SP

AL STARTING LINEUP

• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), CF
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), SS
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), 1B
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), RF
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), LF
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), 3B
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), DH
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), 2B
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), C
• not Derek Jeter (Yankees), SP

Kemp: Christian Petersen/Getty Images, Ethier: Paul Buck/EPA

Cano Edges Kemp In 2011 Home Run Derby

Robinson Cano barely edged out Matt Kemp and a field of others, winning the 2011 Home Run Derby at Chase Field:

PHOENIX -- Robinson Cano thought about hitting the Miller Lite sign, a 472-foot drive off an advertisement a good 50 feet or more above and well behind the swimming pool at Chase Field.

"That was my favorite one. I'm going to have that in my mind for the next two or three weeks. I wonder how far could it be, that in New York?" he said. "I got power."

Kemp ended up finishing eighth, a mere 30 home run shots behind Cano.

We Still Love You, Matt!

Only two home runs. Oh well — it just gives you more time to rest up for tomorrow's game!

Home Run Derby Thread, 5p

This year's participants:

• Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
• Robinson Cano, Yankees
• Prince Fielder, Brewers
• Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
• Matt Holliday, Cardinals
• Matt Kemp, Dodgers
• David Ortiz, Red Sox
• Rickie Weeks, Brewers

This is what Matt Kemp will be wearing @ The Home Run Derby (VSIMH)
Home Run Derby balls to have real gold (MLB.com)

From "Dodgers' Kemp adds Derby to All-Star itinerary" by Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com:

Kemp said one of the benefits of being named to participate is the chance to bring a personal batting-practice pitcher. He's chosen Rob Flippo, now in his 10th season as the club's bullpen catcher and batting-practice thrower.

"It's funny, for the past three years I've been telling Flip that if I ever go, I'm taking him with me, and it's finally happening," Kemp said. "He's excited, too. He's always the one throwing to me, getting me ready every game."

UPDATE from Sax (5:15p): Gotta love ESPN's web coverage of this event, which clearly isn't being moderated (see below):

Getting Fired Up For The Derby!

Man, I hope Matt Kemp has a big day today in AZ. Orel has a GT going up this afternoon.

Ethier Edged Out By Victorino For ASG Final Vote, But Does DL Stint Provide Glimmers Of Hope?

Tough news at the Stadium last night that Andre Ethier's effort to be added to the All-Star Game roster fell a bit short, with Phillie Shane Victorino winning the Final Vote NL slot:

In the 10th year of the All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint, Major League Baseball fans were as certain as ever about their choices. Those two were rare double wire-to-wire winners in the balloting at MLB.com and were added as 34th and final men for the 82nd All-Star Game on Tuesday at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Victorino led all candidates with 9.2 million votes to become the first two-time winner in the Final Vote. Unlike 2009, when the Phillies center fielder rallied in the last 24 hours to join Brandon Inge in the successful "Bran Torino" campaign finish, Victorino led every MLB.com update this time. He won the National League race over Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, Nationals left fielder Michael Morse and D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy.

It was cool to see Ethier's address to the crowd on Diamondvision during the game, in which he thanked the Dodger fans for our support (video here). On his bobblehead night, Ethier's address got a rousing round of applause from the crowd.

And then late last night, the news broke that Victorino is hitting the DL with a sprained right thumb. Might this give an opportunity to Ethier, after all? (emphasis mine)

Victorino will not be able to carry out his mandate from fans, though. On Friday, the Phillies announced that he is being placed for a second time this season on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 4, with a ligament sprain in his right thumb. His roster spot will be replaced, opening the possibility of a Final Vote also-ran replacing him.

How can we vote Andre for All-Star Game Also-Ran? Go Ethier!

Linkification

• Don't think the Dodgers will be exercising Jon Garland's $8 million option for 2012. Shoulder surgery to end Garland's season (Dodgers.com)
• MSBs wobble but they don't fall down. Aaron Miles' elbow X-rays negative (ESPNLosAngeles.com)
• When Matt Kemp hits a total of four home runs in the second half, this will be why. Home Run Derby and Matt Kemp's swing (Dodger Thoughts)
• According to Bill Plaschke, next year is the last guaranteed year of Ned Colletti's contract. Last-place Dodgers are just taking up space, and there's nothing Ned Colletti can do about it (LA Times)
• Paper chase. MLB says Frank McCourt isn't entitled to documents (Bill Shaikin, LA Times)
• McCourt is such a fool he made Kareem become a writer. Bums! (The Dodgers' owners, that is.) (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, ESPN.com)

  

photo from @Dodgers

All-Star Charisma

photos by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

All-Star Team-Up

From a Dodgers press release:

Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier, one of five National League players competing for the "Final Vote," has teamed up with White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko in a campaign to help one another reach the All-Star Game in their hometown of Phoenix.

Ethier, who attended St. Mary's High and Arizona State, and Konerko, who attended Chaparral High School, recorded videos earlier today stumping for one another in the online voting competition which ends on Thursday at 1 p.m. PT.

Konerko, who played for the Dodgers in 1997, has reached the All-Star Game four times while Ethier, who was acquired by Los Angeles in 2005, appeared in his first All-Star Game last season and started as a center fielder for the National League. The Dodgers' right fielder finished fifth in All-Star voting among NL outfielders this season.

• Campaign Headquarters - Andre Ethier (MLB.com)

All-Star Recognition

From @Dodgers:

Kershaw & Kemp (& hopefully Ethier) will wear star patches on their jerseys until the All-Star Game

MLB.com Takes a Page from Illinois Politics

Vote early. Vote often.

Vote Andre.

Matt Says Hi

From @TheRealMattKemp:

All Together Now: Voix Pour le Andre

• 2011 All-Star Final Vote Ballot Sponsored by Sprint

Congrats, Matt Kemp & Clayton Kershaw

From @joe_block:

#Dodgers OF Matt Kemp will start All-Star Game

From @TheRealMattKemp:

Wow!! God is good!! Thank u 2 all my fans that voted for me time and time again. This is a dope feeling!!

And speaking of Dodger All-Stars...from @dodgerthoughts:

In his past 45 games, Russell Martin has a .183 BA, .300 OBP, .281 slugging, .581 OPS.

Martin will be an AL All-Star reserve player.

UPDATE: As expected, Clayton Kershaw will join Kemp:

• Matt Kemp Elected To Start All-Star Game, Clayton Kershaw Makes It Too (Eric Stephen, True Blue LA)

UPDATE: Andre Ethier - Final Vote Candidate! (VSIMH)

• 2011 All-Star Final Vote Ballot Sponsored by Sprint. Yes, we shelled out advertising dollars to sponsor a ballot

Kemp Closing In on Holliday (Not the Relaxing Kind)

• 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint

From "ASG spots up for grabs as voting nears close" at MLB.com:

NL outfield: Which Matt will it be?
Dodgers Triple Crown candidate Matt Kemp is making a serious run at Matt Holliday of the Cardinals in the race to join Ryan Braun of the Brewers and Lance Berkman of the Cardinals in the NL starting outfield. Holliday had 2,935,965 votes to Kemp's 2,743,927 on Monday, and considering that Kemp received 81 more votes than him in the past 72 hours, that gap looks like a slight edge right now.

A small sign of encouragement: the last-place Dodgers will have more than just a token representative at the All-Star Game this year. An early congrats to Kemp and Clayton Kershaw!

UPDATE: Today is the last day to vote!

Friendly Reminder: Voix Pour le Bison

• 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint

From "NL voting remains close as races approach wire" at MLB.com:

The league's top vote-getter and only player eclipsing the three million-vote mark, Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun (3,034,057), continues to head the way for the outfield spots ahead of the Cardinals duo of Lance Berkman (2,562,428) and Matt Holliday (2,390,118), though Los Angeles' Matt Kemp is closing in on the third spot with 2,062,667 votes.

Kemp was tied with Fielder for the league lead in home runs and was third in RBIs (57) on Monday morning. His teammate Andre Ethier is in the fifth spot with 1,889,298 votes.

If he's not voted in, Kemp seems sure to join Kershaw as All-Star managerial choices. Ethier would make it a nice trio. Make it so, Dodger fans!

photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images