Barry Bonds is an All-Star, and it’s all thanks to you.  Despite the apparent distain most have for the slugger, he was still voted in by the fans to start the game in left field in front of his hometown fans in San Francisco.  At the time of this writing, Bonds stands just five home runs away from being the all-time record holder for home runs.  Even though Bonds is constantly surrounded by steroid allegations many people around Major League Baseball see this as a chance to celebrate a player who is a surefire first ballot hall of famer, and will go down as one of the greatest baseball players ever.  Even though the all-star game is fairly certain to revolve around Bonds, there is an even more important deciding factor among the players.

The all-star game victor now determines who has home field advantage in the World-Series.  Even though the World-Series is just between two times, it is a matter of pride between the National and American league players.  Speaking of pride, or lack there of, the American league has won the last nine completed all-star games, not including the game that ended in a tie.  If the National league hops to get back in the win column, it will be on the strength of young pitching, and veteran hitting.

Brad Penny of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres will both be making their second all-star appearance, and it is likely one of them will be the starting pitcher.  Penny is 10-1 with a miniscule 2.00 ERA.  Peavy is not far behind with a 9-2 record and a 2.09 ERA.  The veteran of the National league pitching staff is John Smoltz, who will be making his 8^th all-star appearance.  Along with Bonds, the offense will count on the bats of All-Star game regulars Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols, and Alfonso Soriano.

Four of the nine starters on the American League team will be making their eighth or more start.  Vladimir Guerrero, and Derek Jeter making their 8^th start and Jeter’s teammate Alex Rodriguez making his 11^th.  Leading all all-star appearances on the American League is Ivan Rodriguez, making his 14^th game as catcher. 

The American League pitching staff has a whole slew of stars making their first appearance.  The pitchers making their first appearances are Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Justin Verlander, Dan Haren, Gil Meche and J.J. Putz.  Out of the rest of the pitching staff only two players have more than two all-star appearances, and they are Johan Santana and C.C. Sabathia.  The pitchers on both sides of the dugout make this an all-star game that will showcase the future of major league baseball.

The voting for players isn’t quite over yet.  From now until Thursday you can still vote for the last player in at ESPN.com.  Be sure to tune in a day before the all-star game to watch the Home-Run Derby, one of the most exciting spectacles in sports.

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