ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Names change, not the result.

 

Trying to predict the MVP of the All-Star game? Turn to the American League.

 

From the Alomar brothers to Pedro Martinez to Cal Ripken Jr. to J.D. Drew, the junior circuit has provided most of the thrills over the past dozen years.

 

When San Francisco's Tim Lincecum throws the first pitch to Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki on Tuesday night at the new Busch Stadium -- after President Barack Obama's ceremonial toss to Cardinals star Albert Pujols -- the NL will be seeking its first win in 13 years.

 

"We're just going to try and keep going out there and give ourselves a chance to own that home field advantage for whoever gets in the World Series," Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan said. "We'd like to keep this streak alive one more year."

 

Welcome to one of the most one-sided rivalries in sports, what's become the American League's annual domination of the NL.

 

Even a pregame pep talk by Ernie Banks didn't help the NL last year at old Yankee Stadium, where Michael Young's sacrifice fly at 1:37 a.m. gave the AL a 4-3, 15-inning victory.

 

Now 11-0-1 since its 1996 defeat at Philadelphia -- the longest unbeaten streak in All-Star history -- the AL has cut the overall gap to 40-37-2 and hasn't lost in six meetings since the winning league started receiving home-field advantage in the World Series.

 

"We would love to be able to snap that streak," said Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, a St. Louis native. "It always seems like they kind of pull it out towards the end of the game but, you know, hopefully this year it will be different."

 

Couldn't be more different from 1966, the last time the stars met in St. Louis. The National League was in the midst of winning nine straight All-Star games and 19 of 20.

 

First on Monday night came the Home Run Derby, when sluggers with bulging biceps hit drives approximating the shape of Eero Saarinen's parabolic Gateway Arch, which rises to 630 feet. Pujols was knocked out in the second round, and Milwaukee's Prince Fielder beat Texas' Nelson Cruz 6-5 in the final. Fielder hit the longest drive of the night, a 503-footer to right-center that drew gasps from the crowd of 45,981.

 

Even when the All-Stars aren't playing in a stadium filled with crimson-colored seats, NL players seem to see red more often than not when they meets their AL counterparts. Since interleague play began in 1997, the AL had a 1,673-1,534 advantage, according to STATS LLC. This year's season series went 137-114 to the junior circuit, its sixth straight winning record and ninth in 13 years.

 

"Is there more talent in the American League than the National League? Not necessarily," Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said. "I think it's just two totally different styles of baseball, and when you put those up against each other for one game, our style seems to come out ahead."

 

AL dominance has not carried into October. While unbeaten in the last 12 All-Star games, the AL has won seven of the past 12 World Series. But those are best-of-seven matchups, so regular-season totals are probably a better barometer.

 

"For whatever reason, the numbers have been what they have been for the last 10 or 12 years. I don't think it's a true assessment of how well the game is played in the National League," said career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, who squandered a chance to end the NL drought three years ago in Pittsburgh, when he allowed Michael Young's go-ahead, two-run triple with two outs in the ninth.

 

All-Star victories have taken on increased importance because of the connection to the World Series. In 18 of the last 23 Series, the team with home-field advantage has gone on to win.

 

Imagine what must be going on in the mind of AL starter Roy Halladay. With the Toronto Blue Jays willing to consider trades, he could help the AL get home-field advantage, then get dealt to an NL contender.

 

"Going into the postseason, it was nice to know that we had home-field advantage throughout. We just did not utilize it," said Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon, the AL manager. "It definitely takes on a different shape because of all of that. I'm all for it. I think it makes this moment a lot more interesting, I'll tell you that. And a little bit tighter, I'll tell you that, too, because you're playing for the entire league."

 

Yankees captain Derek Jeter takes the contrary view, preferring the team with the better record get the extra home game. That would pose logistical challenges for baseball, which wants to finalize hotel and travel plans as far in advance as possible.

 

But maybe that's thinking too far ahead for too many people.

 

On Monday, Howard was basking at the attention in his hometown.

 

He thought about hitting a St. Louis landmark and, no, it wasn't the Gateway Arch, which rises temptingly beyond the right-center field fence but in reality is several blocks away. Rather, he remembered his Little League days at the suburban Ballwin Athletic Association. He was 12 or 13, and the home run is still talked about.

 

Where did the drive down the right-field line land?

 

"Red Lobster," he said.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=290714132

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar09/news/story?id=4326985

 

Longoria out for the game,

RF Ichiro Suzuki .362/.393/.480/.873

SS Derek Jeter .321/.396/.461/.857

C Joe Mauer .373/.447/.622/1.069

1B Mark Teixeira .275/.378/.535/.913

LF Jason Bay .260/.380/.527/.908

CF Josh Hamilton .243/.298/.428/.725

3B Michael Young .308/.363/.488/.852

2B Aaron Hill .292/.333/.487/.820

P Roy Halladay .000/.000/.000/.000

 

SS Hanley Ramirez .349/.411/.567/.979

2B Chase Utley .313/.430/.573/1.004

1B Albert Pujols .332/.456/.723/1.179

RF Ryan Braun .310/.391/.530/.921

LF Raul Ibanez .309/.367/.649/1.015

3B David Wright .324/.410/.462/.872

CF Shane Victorino .309/.375/.464/.839

C Yadier Molina .280/.352/.383/.735

P Tim Lincecum .184/.256/.211/.466

All Star game coverage starts on Fox at 8 EST!

All Star game coverage starts on Fox at 8 EST!

 

Please, I've been watching coverage on MLBN since 4PM.

 

 

 

Tonight, we take this thing National!

All Star game coverage starts on Fox at 8 EST!

 

Please, I've been watching coverage on MLBN since 4PM.

 

 

 

Tonight, we take this thing National!

Same. And Hanley is effin' huge.

Prediction time!

 

NL will win 7-4.

 

Pujols will hit a HR off Halliday.

 

Hanley will get a double.

We have the better pitching, they have the better offense, minus Hamilton. Should be a good one.

 

Based solely on their dominance over the past 13 years, I'll go 6-4 AL.

 

Mauer MVP.

 

Please make me wrong, NL.

 

Hanley plays 5-6 innings and goes 2-4.

Prediction:

 

 

 

8-6 NL wins

 

 

 

MVP: Justin Upton

It was pretty cool seeing Obama in the clubhouses, giving Pujols some good hearted jabs about the HR Derby last night.

Looking forward to the in-booth time. This POTUS is astute with his sports commentary and his insight is well....really cool. He also gave Willie Mays(my all-time favorite player) a ride to the game on Air Force One. I'm smiling ear to ear here.

Barack Obama is about to throw the first pitch. Any predictions? Strike? Ball? Throw it in the stands? Throw it in the dirt?

NL wins, MVP Prince Fielder.

Barack Obama is about to throw the first pitch. Any predictions? Strike? Ball? Throw it in the stands? Throw it in the dirt?

 

It's gonna be hard to follow that pitch Bush made after 9/11. Perfect strike. Hopefully Obama does the same thing bush did and practices in the cages first.

Barack Obama is about to throw the first pitch. Any predictions? Strike? Ball? Throw it in the stands? Throw it in the dirt?

 

It's gonna be hard to follow that pitch Bush made after 9/11. Perfect strike. Hopefully Obama does the same thing bush did and practices in the cages first.

That mayor that threw out that infamous Reds' first pitch practiced for weeks.

Not a bad pitch.

I guess we'll never know where the pitch went because of that camera work.

All that hype for horrific camera work.

Well, he didn't bounce it and managed to get it to the glove, so that's good.

From the angle, it looked like it caught the corner.

Did anyone else start laughing when Obama came out? Jeans and a White Sox sweater. lol

Wow terrible camera angle WTF was up with that. LOL he got about 50/50 in terms of boos and cheers. I wonder if the chi sox jacket got some boos.

Did anyone else start laughing when Obama came out? Jeans and a White Sox sweater. lol

 

What's he supposed to be wearing, a suit?

I bet wildmarlinsman think's Obama told the camera man to set up there in case he did bad.