Reply #1: This is MLB's spin on the matter: [View All]

New wave of talent ascends to Midsummer Classic

PHOENIX -- If the 82nd Major League All-Star Game were to have a slogan, it might be "Prior experience not required."

A whopping 34 of the 68 players for Tuesday night's game at Chase Field are participating in the All-Star festivities for the first time, bringing a freshness and energy to the event, which begins at 8 ET on FOX.

Familiar names that have dotted All-Star rosters for years -- like Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki and Mariano Rivera on the American League side and National Leaguers Albert Pujols, Chipper Jones and David Wright -- are not playing in this year's game, opening the door for a new wave of baseball talent.

Exciting young players like Rickie Weeks, Jay Bruce, Matt Kemp and Andrew McCutchen will be making their first appearances for the NL, while Michael Pineda, Asdrubal Cabrera and Matt Wieters are among those debuting for the AL....

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_07_12_aasmlb_nasmlb_1&mode=preview&c_id=mlb