MLB is doing something really cool for the all-star game this year: they're letting the fans pick the last reserve on each team. You can find the ballot on espn.com. I've already placed my votes for two outsports favorites: Jim "The Anaconda" Thome, and Ryan "I'm-too-cute-for-my-own-good" Klesko. Hurry, hurry, hurry--there's only 48 hours to cast your votes!

Another reminder...

Click here, and vote for Johnny Damon!

redsoxbreath, Johnny Damon's a great guy and a great player, but because he's been in a 3-week-long, Tony Clark-esque slump as of late, it's kinda tough for me to get all gung-ho about voting Damon in as the 30th man. I did vote once, but didn't bother again much less maxing out my allowed 25 Internet ballots.

I had to wonder if Damon was pressing too much, with thoughts of the All-Star Game dancing in his head, and if pressing too much was contributing to the slump. He did seem awfully concerned with the ASG. Then again, every gets into slumps, and why should Damon be any exception? Especially since about 80% of the team was in a horrible slump for the entire month of June.

NESN reports that Pedro Martinez has declined to participate in the All Star game "in the best interest of the team". In other words, been there, done that, rather rest and let someone else have the honor. Sure would be nice to see him mow 'em down like he did in '99, though -- what an awesome game that was...

Tonight Pedro threw 14 K's in eight innings, for a 4-0 win against Toronto.

Damon got it, good for him, his first.

Your 30th Men: AL, Johnny Damon, NL, Andruw Jones.

And now, with Pedro out, it looks like Freddie Garcia will get the nod on the AL mound.