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All-Star Notebook: Vote close on final all-stars
Balloting for 32nd spot on NL and AL teams ends tomorrow
Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Some 3.3 million votes and three nights into the election, it's still too close to call.

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MLB.com reported yesterday that the All-Star Final Vote candidates -- five each from the National and American leagues -- were locked in a tight race heading into the last day-and-a-half of balloting online at the site or via a mobile telephone.

Voting ends at 6 p.m. tomorrow to name the 32nd and final roster spot for Tuesday's 77th All-Star Game at PNC Park. There is no limit on how many votes a fan may cast.

The candidates: For the AL, Cleveland's Travis Hafner, Baltimore's Ramon Hernandez, Minnesota's Francisco Liriano, Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski and Detroit's Justin Verlander; for the NL, Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu, Milwaukee's Chris Capuano, Los Angeles' Nomar Garciaparra, New York's Billy Wagner and San Diego's Chris Young, a 2000 draft pick by the Pirates.

Home Run Derby

Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye said he hasn't officially heard from Major League Baseball that he will be part of the Home Run Derby on Monday at PNC Park. Dye told reporters in Chicago that he initially agreed when asked, but expected to receive some confirmation. Dye added that he still would participate, even though teammate Jim Thome already declined and White Sox/AL Manager Ozzie Guillen doesn't seem too thrilled with Dye being in the event.

Charity balls

Five thousand sets of two baseballs commemorating the 1979 world-champion Pirates and this PNC Park All-Star Game will be sold to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundations of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia. The balls, which come in an acrylic display case and with a certificate of authenticity, can be purchased at $59.95 at www.nikcosports.com or by calling 1-800-345-2868.

First published on July 5, 2006 at 12:00 am