By Mel Antonen, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins was selected Sunday as the final participant for Monday night's All-Star Home Run Derby, meaning at least four lefties will take aim at the same short porch Babe Ruth made famous.
There could be a fifth, if switch-hitter Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros decides to compete as a lefty. Berkman, who has 17 of his 22 home runs left-handed, said he will make his decision when he gets to Yankee Stadium.
The stadium's right-field foul pole is 314 feet from the plate. Berkman has batted right in three previous derbies, saying he didn't want to mess with his left-handed mechanics.
At Yankee Stadium, Home Run Derby swings toward left....
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
The fans have voted. And now so have the managers and players. This year's All-Star squads are now set to represent the National and American Leagues in the annual Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium on July 15. Again they offer the best and brightest of Major League Baseball's veterans and talented younger set.
From Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Lance Berkman to Chase Utley, Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun and Geovany Soto, it's the finest of the old and the new.
Rodriguez, the third baseman for the Yankees, was again the top overall vote-getter with 3,934,518. Last year, for the game in San Francisco, A-Rod also out-polled all 16 elected starters with 3,890,515 votes.
Utley, the six-year second baseman with the Phillies and a .299 hitter this season with 24 homers and 67 RBIs, paced the NL with 3,889,602 votes.
A record 214.7 million votes from 16.5 million ballots were cast online via MLB.com and the affiliate 30 club sites.
Midsummer Classic has 25 newcomers....
CBSSports.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium later this month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing.
The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star Game can have an adverse affect on a batter's mechanics.
A-Rod to pass on Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium....
