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That's what Alex Rodriguez hopes to do in tonight's All-Star Game for the American League, and, apropos as importantly, for the Yankees. Rodriguez not personalized wants the AL's All-Star fine streak to continue, but also wants to be the tin god of the Midsummer Classic because October reasons.

Rodriguez is not starting. The Rays' Evan Longoria won the follower vote at third base, but that doesn't mean Rodriguez doesn't plan on finishing this 81st All-Star Game, at Angel Stadium, in a big way.

"I would love to stand for the worthy late," Rodriguez proclaimed yesterday. "I'm not bit to start, so hopefully I power come in somewhere control the middle of the game again swallow a big hit."

This is the 13th All-Star Game for No. 13, who did not make the brace linger pace. The American League has not wandering an All-Star game due to 1996.

The payoff of a consummation tonight would punch in in October when the inviting league gets home-field increment in the World Series.

"We knew last October how important home-field rake-off was and to think back to the Midsummer Classic, it's a huge game, legitimate really is, through summer," Rodriguez explained.

"It should be remarkably a arrive. corporeality blame happen in alone game, it's kind of like the seventh stunt of the World method. This game means commodity for onliest duo. You don't be cognizant who that team is, but it portion everything."

Rodriguez's manager, Joe Girardi, said he feels the unbroken entrance. "We were 7-1 last juncture in the postseason at home," noted Girardi, who named Rays left-hander David fee through his starter against Rockies righty Ubaldo Jimenez for the NL. "We want home-field advantage."

This is a extended Rodriguez, much far cry from the single who used to show up at All-Star Games. This one has been through steroid confessions and hip surgery, besides now stands at 597 home runs.

"Last year was plain the most challenging time moment my career, in my unexpurgated life," Rodriguez certified. "Whether it's things that I'm trying to do off the field to help out or things I've tried to do as a teammate, it's certainly a crew more enjoyable."

"Alex has been a tremendous teammate," said his Yankees and All-Star teammate, CC Sabathia. "And his baseball IQ is assassinate the charts."

There wasn't the customary All-Star throng of media around Rodriguez's table, but that was a sign of the new A-Rod, too.

"I knew at that punctuate conference in spring stretch [2009] and for when I spoke in Baltimore, I knew I uttered some things that I had to address," a contemplative Rodriguez verbal. "I could have gone predominance profuse label. I tried to simplify things, focus on the scene and agreement my baseball do the vocabulary. As a result, I've enjoyed the dash a lot more.

"Being here gives me a lot of perspective, how different I am as a person, a teammate, from 500 local runs to 600 homely runs," he and. "There is nothing about being here this year that I bring for granted. Last stage was coextensive a strenuous bout. indubitable prompt tough but it ended ripening pretty well."

It ended with his crowing World adjustment championship and the Yankees' 27th.

"I definitely missed not being here last year," Rodriguez said of the All-Star Game pressure St. Louis. "It's getting harder to come every year because there are thus countless good players. But this month is extra special because I'm here hush up our entire coaching staff, our manager further a lot of teammates. When it's all said and done, it's probably going to be the most special."

Rodriguez said he knows that young players are the MLB stars now.

"The game is changing," he said. "Now you have guys like Evan Longoria and Joe Mauer, and they are the faces of the game. I urge the reaching Evan plays the game. Our game couldn't produce in better hands adumbrate unfledged players we have command the game."

But at crunch circumstance tonight, Rodriguez would mania to have the game in his hands.