NOTEBOOK \ From PNC Park

Streaks: The National League won 11 straight All Star Games from 1972-82. The NL also won eight straight from 1963-70.Awe: Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore, 23, said being in the same room with so many heroes has him feeling overwhelmed. "I feel a little out of place with all these guys I've watching while growing up. Being in the same room with them, you kind of sit back in awe," Sizemore said.AL Central chase: White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome isn't surprised at how well his new team is faring. "We have a lot of guys who are having solid years. JD [Jermaine Dye] is having an MVP year, [Paul] Konerko hitting behind [me]. [We've] got Joe Crede who very well could have been here. When you have a lineup like that, it helps everyone keep going. And we push each other." Chicago is 57-31, two games behind the Detroit Tigers. They have a six-game edge over the Yankees in the wild-card race.Tigers' boss: Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez credits manager Jim Leyland for his team's turnaround. "He loves to win. He uses everyone, gets everyone a chance to play. He knows what he's doing, how to move players and use pitchers. The reason for the year we are having is that we are very happy to play for him." Commissioner Bud Selig, noting that the Tigers lost 119 games three seasons ago, are baseball's "story of the year."Appreciation: Phillies reliever Tom Gordon, 38, said he's relishing his third All-Star appearance. "I appreciate everything. I think hard work pays off. My first time -- 1998 in Colorado -- I was sick. My whole family was sick. In 2004, I got the chance to experience it a little bit. I met Muhammad Ali and he actually told my son that he's going to be a great athlete. Maybe he was looking at me," Gordon said with a laugh. "You can't top that -- I had the chance to be around some of the greatest athletes in the world. Someday I hope to return the favor. I hope to give baseball what baseball is given me."
Last minute Liriano: Off the plane at 3:20 p.m. On the field for warmups less than three hours later. Twins phenom Francisco Liriano had quite a day before a pitch was even thrown at the All-Star game. "I want to thank [AL manager] Ozzie Guillen for giving me the opportunity and thinking about me," said Liriano, a first-time selection who replaced White Sox starter Jose Contreras on the roster. Contreras had pitched Sunday, so the AL decided it needed a fresh hurler for the All-Star game. Not a bad choice. Liriano is 10-1 with a 1.83 ERA, and 102 strikeouts in only 881/3 innings. Liriano had been left off the original roster and lost out on Internet fan voting for the last spot, so he headed home to the Dominican Republic for the break. League officials had trouble finding him initially on Monday to inform him of his last-minute selection before tracking him down with the help of Boston star David Ortiz. Only a rookie, Liriano said he's used to the hubbub surrounding big events. "When I was at the World Baseball Classic, I got a little of this," he said as he surveyed the players and media throng around him. "I'm a little happy here, too." Liriano joins teammate and Cy Young winner Johan Santana, on the AL staff. The left-handers have often been compared to each other for their power-pitching style. "Yeah, I like him. Johan is a great guy," Liriano said. "I just want to keep doing whatever he's doing."
Tom Williams, Associated Press