=== "Pudge" leads NL catchers in all-star voting ===

New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez of the Florida Marlins is bidding to become the first catcher other than Mike Piazza to represent the National League as a starter since 1993.

The ten-time American League All-Star currently leads the balloting at his position by nearly 85,000 votes over the Atlanta Braves' Javy Lopez, and by nearly 100,000 over the injured Piazza of the New York Mets.

While with the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez was elected to an AL-record nine straight All-Star starts. He could become just the second catcher since 1970 to have been selected as a starter in both leagues (Ted Simmons - St. Louis- NL, 1979; Milwaukee-AL, 1983).

Rodriguez is batting .266 with eight homers, 32 RBI and nine steals on the year.

Meanwhile, San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds still leads the National League in votes for the 2003 All-Star Game. The five-time NL MVP has 608,340 votes and is seeking his 10th election as a starter for the National League.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen is second overall in NL balloting with 572,872 votes, leading his position by more than 350,000.

Jeff Bagwell of the Houston Astros saw his lead at first base shrink from nearly 60,000 votes last week to just 7,230 this week, as the Colorado Rockies' Todd Helton surged past Jim Thome of the Philadelphia Phillies for second place.

The other NL position leaders are second baseman Jeff Kent of Houston, Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria, and outfielders Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and Gary Sheffield of the Atlanta Braves.

Fan balloting will determine the eight starting position players in each league and the designated hitter in the American League. A separate ballot of managers, coaches and players will be conducted during the final week of fan balloting to select an additional nine position players in the AL, eight position players in the NL and eight pitchers in each league.

The two All-Star managers, Mike Scioscia (AL) and Dusty Baker (NL), and MLB will select five more AL players and seven NL players.

Fans will have the opportunity to select the final position player for each league's 32-man roster.

The 74th All-Star Game will by played on July 15 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The winning League in this year's game will have home field advantage in the 2003 World Series.