Max Herz, 11, describes himself as "a HUGE baseball fan." During All-Star week, Max will report on the FanFest, All-Star Sunday, the Home Run Derby and other events, including the game.

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		Hey Kids! Kids, tell Max what you like best about All-Star week in Pittsburgh. Did you get a player's autograph? Got a hunch about who will win the Home Run Derby? Send your message to allstargame@post-gazette.com. Please include your name, age and hometown.

Tonight is the night! 7/11/06, 6:05 p.m.

Last night I went to the Home Run Derby! The participants were David Wright (Mets), David Ortiz (Red Sox), Miguel Cabrera (Marlins), Ryan Howard (Phillies), Jermaine Dye (White Sox), Lance Berkman (Astros), Miguel Tejada (Orioles), and Troy Glaus (Blue Jays).

Although David Ortiz was my prediction to win, I was happy when Howard, the winner, hit his fifth home run of the finals that bounced off of the "Hit it Here" sign in right field. Ortiz hit the longest of the 87 total homers, it went 488 feet and landed in the Allegheny River on the fly! Howard also hit a home run into the river on the fly.

My dad got a home run ball during AL batting practice that I think was hit by Grady Sizemore of the Indians. Also during AL batting practice, Yankees' closer and future hall-of-famer Mariano Rivera threw me a ball. During the Derby finals, one of David Wright's homers ended up in my row!

Albert Pujols of the Cardinals and David Ortiz got presented with awards. Ortiz for being the top vote-getter in the AL after Manny Ramirez claimed that he was too injured to play (even though he played a whole 19-inning game, he says that he is too injured to play about 5 innings). If you say that that's just Manny being Manny, I don't agree. I mean, who would not want to play in the All-Star game if you're healthy enough (which he obviously is). If you disagree with me or would like to add to what I've said about Manny, email Hey Max! and tell me what you think about "Manny being Manny."

Pujols received the award for the top NL vote-getter and another award for being the top online vote-getter. Congrats to Albert and Big Papi!

The All-Star game is tonight! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taking it all in! 7/10/06, 10:35 a.m.

Yesterday, I was at All-Star Sunday. I saw the Futures Game and the Celebrity Softball Game. The Futures Game had the top prospects from the Minor Leagues against each other. The American team beat the World team, 8-5. The two Pirates in the game were Neil Walker and Josh Shaprless. Tom Gorzelanny was supposed to be in it, but he got called up to the majors and Sharpless took his place.

Based on what I saw yesterday, I think that Humberto Sanchez from the Tigers' AAA team (Toledo Mud Hens) is going to be really good. The Dominican pitcher started the game for the World Team, pitched one inning and struck out the three batters he faced with his "nasty stuff." Billy Butler of the Royals' AA team (Wichita Wranglers) won the MVP Award. He hit a home run and was one of the few players who played the whole game. The Royals have a bright future in outfielder Billy Butler! He is hitting .319 this season with Wichita and has 10 homers.

The Celebrity Softball Game was just pure fun! The NL topped the AL in the game, in which Dave Winfield (NL) and Tommy John (AL) both pitched a complete game. The contest featured basebal legends including Ozzie Smith, Rollie Fingers, Gary Carter (who also managed the USA team in the Futures game), Andre Dawson, Fred Lynn, Goose Gossage and former Pirates Dave Parker and Bill Madlock. The two managers were John Kruk (NL) and Harold Reynolds (AL). Both are former players and work on ESPN.

It also included celebrities such as Cowboy Troy from Big and Rich, Franco Harris from the 1970's Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl teams, actress Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel from Jimmy Kimmel Live and Win Ben Stein's Money, Carlos Bernard from 24, Leann Tweeden from Fox Sports Net, Tony Potts from Access Hollywood, Sal Iacono from Jimmy Kimmel Live, Marcus Giamatti from Judging Amy, and motorcyclist Carey Hart.

Bill Mazeroski (hero of the Bucs' 1960 World Series victory) and Ernie Banks were the honorary coaches. Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman developed a "rivalry" when Sarah caught Jimmy's fly ball and did a little dance in celebration. The next inning Jimmy rolled the ball at her while she was doing an interview.

I also saw a bunch of mascots including Baxter (Arizona Diamondbacks), the horse (Texas Rangers), Raymond (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), Firebird (St. Louis Cardinals), the Oriole (Baltimore Orioles), the bunny (Houston Astros) and Ace (Toronto Blue Jays).

Did any of you see a mascot? Write in and let everyone else know!

Who do you think will win the Home Run Derby tonight? I think David Ortiz has a good shot. Let everyone know what you think!

So many things to see!

7/8/06, 4:09 p.m.

Today was my first time at FanFest. It was a lot of fun. There were so many things to do and so many things to see! I stole home at the place where you got timed when you were running the bases (I got about 4.30 seconds). I also hit some pitches at Home Run Derby.

I also saw some really cool pictures of the early 1900s Pirates at the Silent Auction that I asked my dad if he'd let me pay my college fund for them! I also played MLB 2K6 (a kid can't walk by a gamecube without stopping). I also saw game-used jerseys from the World Baseball Classic and from earlier times in Major League baseball. I also took part in a "Stump the Expert" competition for MLB.com and won a cool MLB.com cap for stumping the expert with a question about Ryan Doumit.

Did you get a good steal home time? See the mascot Home Run Derby on Saturday Morning (If you did, tell me who won cause I missed it)?

See something you were drawn to in the Silent Auction?

If you did, email Hey Max! and tell me about it!

Everything is ready! 7/6/06, 7:44 p.m.

I am so excited that it is finally here! We now know who all of the players are (even though a lot of the players aren't deserving and some who are not in it should be starting). In my opinion, the three best pitchers in the AL aren't in the All-Star Game (Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett and Francisco Liriano).

They're ready at the Convention Center for FanFest, the grass is cut for the events at PNC Park, everything is ready! The game has been talked about forever, but now it's a reality! All the banners around the city are telling us, "The All-Star Game is in the Burgh!"

Hey Max! debuts 7/6/06

Max Herz, 11, is from Squirrel Hill, and he lives for baseball. Max and his dad go to almost every Pittsburgh Pirates game, they always travel to Florida for spring training and they take at least one road trip a year with the Bucs (last year it was New York and Boston, and this season it's St. Louis).

Max collects bobbleheads and other Pirates memorabilia, and his favorite players are Ryan Doumit, Freddy Sanchez and Mike Gonzalez (in that order).

Max also bones up on baseball by studying major and minor league statistics, and he can give you the starting lineup, and starting pitchers, for every team. To have the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh is Max's dream come true. So we asked him to write about his experiences over the next five days -- from FanFest to the Big Game itself.

If you're a Little Leaguer like Max (he plays for the Pirates in the 14th Ward), or just a kid who's a baseball nut, use the link above to send an e-mail telling Max what you like best about All-Star week. We'll post it here at Hey Max!