With All-Star selections a few hours away, here are some links to all of the great stories from around the country leading up to the announcement. In addition, I will be at Camden Yards attending the Baltimore Orioles-Texas Rangers where a number of potential All-Stars may or may not have their name called today.
... The New York Post is reporting that Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb will be announced as the starters for the American and National League when the teams are announced today. The names are buried in "Report: Rodriguez, Ramirez highlight AL All-Stars" which can be found here.
... Could Jair Jurrjens be an All-Star in his rookie season with the Atlanta Braves? Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks it is a possibility. Check out "Jurrjens has chance to make All-Star roster" here.
... What about Vladimir Guerrero? Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times thinks his chances are not great. Check out "Vladimir Guerrero has slim chance of making All-Star team" here.
... Some think Kerry Wood could also be an All-Star selection. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times chronicled the possibility and grabbed some reaction from Wood on a story posted on their site today. Check out "Close to an All-Star closer" here.
... Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell deserves (at least I think so) to be an All-Star and Randy Miller of PhillyBurbs.com writes that Pat the Bat wants to be one too after talking to him this weekend. Check out "Burrell wishing he's an All-Star" here.
... Who will represent the Pirates at this year's All-Star game? I think it will be at least one outfielder -- although Jason Bay, Nate McLouth and Xavier Nady could all make a case -- and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review agrees. Check out "Notebook: Bucs' all-star likely to be outfielder" here.
... One of the no-brainers on the National League side is Tim Lincecum of the Giants who has been amazing this season. According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Bruce Bochy is preparing for Lincecum to at least throw an inning or two and adjust accordingly. Check out "Giants plan for Linceum to pitch in All-Star game" here.
... They are the best team in baseball right now... so shouldn't the Tampa Bay Rays get more than one representative at this year's All-Star game? Manager Joe Maddon says it "would be nice" although the team has loftier goals. Check out "Rays: We deserve more than one All-Star" in the St. Petersburg Times here.
... Over in the Chicago Tribune, Phil Rogers writes that more Cubs should expect to hear their name called on Sunday than White Sox. Check out his piece -- "More Cubs than Sox likely to be All-Stars" -- here.
... Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press weighs in with his thoughts on who might represent the Detroit Tigers. Check out "All-Star rosters announced today: who will represent Detroit?" here.
... In his blog on the Houston Chronicle's website, Jose de Jesus Ortiz thinks that Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Jose Valverde should be named to the All-Star team. For his reasons why, check out "Berkman should be joined by Lee, Valverde on All-Star team" here.
... Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press offers up his own selections which can found in "Baseball All-Star picks always debatable" here.
... Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star got Gil Meche to talk about what his first time was like to play in an All-Star game last season. Check out "Royals notebook: Meche says All-Star experience will be 'awesome' for any first-timer" here.
... Anthony Andro of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote an excellent piece on All-Star veterans whose names you won't hear on All-Star Selection Sunday. Check out "These former All-Stars are playing like benchwarmers" here.