At this point in time, Kenny Rogers and Ivan Rodriguez are your Tiger representatives at the All Star Game.  I only caught bits and pieces of the announcements on ESPN, but it looks like Justin Verlander has a shot in the ESPN vote off that they’ve done the past couple of seasons so it could end up at three.  His stiffest competition will probably be from Francisco Liriano.  I’m not completely surprised because of the rules (every team has to have a player), but the most conspicuous abscense will be Magglio Ordonez.  You wonder how much his feud with Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox played into that.  Regardless, I didn’t see anybody in the outfield that wasn’t deserving so it was definitely a tough choice.

Former Tiger Mark Redman will be in his first All Star game, more because of the team he plays for then his on field performance.  Redman has a 5-4 record and a 5.59 ERA with a dead even 30/30 strikeout to walk ratio.  I would have thought Mark Grudzielanek might get the spot because he’s second base, but Jose Lopez was very deserving and he ended up getting the back up spot there.

Six White Sox made it and while that sounds like a lot, none of the guys Guillen brought in were questionable and it could have been a whole lot worse.  You could have made a case for A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede and Tad Iguchi.  All have had solid seasons.  Anyway, it’s tough when you’re a manager because just about every player gets a bonus for making the All Star team so the players who get snubbed lose out on several thousand dollars.  And when it’s you’re own manager snubbing you, it doesn’t make for a comfortable club house.

The Tigers won two of three in Pittsburgh and they certainly did make things interesting.  Todd Jones got into trouble today but pitched out of his own jam.  Zach Miner picked up the win and he’s now 5-1 despite Fernando Rodney and Roman Colon giving up six runs in the seventh inning to make it a one run game.  Miner has now won four straight starts   The White Sox lost so the Tigers lead is back to 2 1/2 games.  If the Yankees lose tonight to the Mets, the Tigers lead for the Wild Card spot will be a nice, comfy nine and a half games.

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