July 14 -- ALL-STAR MONDAY

NEW YORK -- Greetings from Yankee Stadium.

Crazy day here. To give you an idea of how things work here, today's All-Star festivities began on 42nd Street at the Grand Hyatt, next door to Grand Central Station. AL manager Terry Francona and NL skipper Clint Hurdle announced their starting lineups for tomorrow night's game (listed below), and the eight contestants in tonight's Home Run Derby shared their thoughts on hitting home runs in The House That Ruth Built (more on that in a bit).

There were two 50-minute media availability sessions with both All-Star teams. Think about Super Bowl media day, and you get the picture. Each player sat at a table in a big ballroom and answered the same questions over and over from media types like me. Weirdest question I heard: Someone asked Rays rookie third baseman Evan Longoria what's on his iPod. I'm sure there were far stranger inquiries than that, especially in the pack that surrounded Alex Rodriguez.

A few observations:

-During the press conference with the managers, honorary AL president Jackie Autry introduced Francona by listing his accomplishments with the Sox. Sitting two chairs down, honorary NL president and Phillies chairman Bill Giles listened quietly to all of the great things Francona has done as a manager since being fired by the Phils. That had to sting a little.

-Chase Utley will be batting second in the NL lineup. The NL is winless in the last seven All-Star Games.

-The All-Star Futures Game was held here yesterday. Phillies pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco tossed a scoreless inning for the World team and was credited with the victory. Other Phillies who participated: Center fielder Greg Golson (0-for-2, 2 strikeouts), catcher Lou Marson (0-for-1), shortstop Jason Donald (1-for-2, single).

-NL starting lineup: SS Hanley Ramirez (Marlins), 2B Chase Utley (Phillies), 1B Lance Berkman (Astros), DH Albert Pujols (Cardinals), 3B Chipper Jones (Braves), RF Matt Holliday (Rockies), LF Ryan Braun (Brewers), CF Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs), C Geovanny Soto (Cubs). And starting for the NL, Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets.

-AL starting lineup: RF Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners), SS Derek Jeter (Yankees), CF Josh Hamilton (Rangers), 3B Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), LF Manny Ramirez (Red Sox), DH Milton Bradley (Rangers), 1B Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), C Joe Mauer (Twins), 2B Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox). And starting for the AL, Indians lefty Cliff Lee.

-On a personal note, Yankee Stadium is where I saw my first major-league game. With help from www.baseball-reference.com, I've figured out that it was June 6, 1982. My dad took me to the game, and the Yankees lost to the Royals, 14-1. I'm surprised I ever wanted to come back.

So, who you got in tonight's Home Run Derby. Utley, Braun, Berkman and Dan Uggla (Marlins) for the NL or Hamilton, Longoria, Justin Morneau (Twins) and Grady Sizemore (Indians) for the AL.

More later.