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If you find yourself at a cocktail party -- or by the water cooler or at the bar or across from someone on a first date -- and you want to wax wisely about the state of major-league baseball at the All-Star break, the conventional wisdom is very simple: 'Roids, 'roids, 'roids. Strike, strike, strike. You can't go wrong with that as your analysis.
But if you're looking for a few hip catchphrases to throw in the mix, use the list below of what's hot and what's not in baseball at the break to fuel your conversation:
| What's Hot, What's Not at the baseball All-Star Game | ||
| Category | Hot | Not |
| What to do with Ted Williams' legacy | "Ali"-style bio-pic | Freeze him, then sell DNA |
| Labor-fight name to know | League prez Bob DuPuy | Union chief Don Fehr |
| Players' villain | Rick Reilly | Bud Selig |
| Managerial mind | Jim Tracy | Davey Lopes |
| Cubs go-to executive | New GM Jim Hendry | Old GM (still Prez) Andy McPhail |
| Future manager | Paul Molitor | Mitch Williams |
| Hip team to root for | ![]() Expos |
![]() Indians |
| Asian import | ![]() Kazuhisa Ishii |
![]() Chan Ho Park |
| Minor-league strategy | Bring on the attendance gimmicks | Place to train managers |
| Young flamethrower | Brett Myers (Phillies Triple-A) | Billy Koch |
| Pharmaceutical endorsement contract | Viagra | Claritin |
| Place to catch homers | Minute Maid Park (Houston) | Comerica Field (Detroit) |
| Hobby for ex-players | Managing | "Roving instructor" |
| Medical situation | Steroids-induced hammy pull | Off-field "freak" accidents |
| Derek Jeter social diva | Jordana Brewster | Joy Enrique |
| Brothers | Giles (Brian, Marcus) | Minor (Ryan, Damon) |
| Road-trip destination | Fenway Park | Any new ballpark |
| Red Sox star pitcher | Derek Lowe | Pedro Martinez |
| Clutch closer | ![]() Eric Gagne |
![]() Hideki Irabu |
| Movie subject | "Like Ichiro" | "The Rookie" |
| We're already sick of ... | ![]() Alfonso Soriano |
![]() Vladimir Guerrero |
| Rivalry | Kent-Bonds | Piazza-Clemens |
| Player fashion statement | Double-wide wrist bands | Excessive neck chains |
| Wily GM | Omar Minaya (Montreal) | Allan Baird (Kansas City) |
| Trade bait | Frank Thomas | Greg Vaughn |
| Player causes | Steroid testing | Payback for beanings |
| Jersey | ![]() Torii Hunter |
![]() Moises Alou |
| New York relocation | ![]() Jason Giambi |
![]() Mo Vaughn |
| Barry Zito hair | Normal | Blue and shaggy |
| Jewish poster kid | ![]() Shawn Green |
![]() Gabe Kapler |
| World Series favorite | New York Yankees | Uh, odds that there won't be a Series this fall |
| Prospect | Brandon Phillips | Rick Ankiel |
| Unlikely home-run derby hero | ![]() Richie Sexson |
![]() Barry Bonds |
| Home-run derby "moral victor" | Sammy Sosa | Lance Berkman |
Dan Shanoff Archive
Sports Guy: Satisfied with Miller Park
Sportoon: One in every crowd
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 27-July 2
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 20-26
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 13-19
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 6-12
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 30-June 5
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 23-29
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 16-22
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 9-15
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 3-8
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of April 26-May 2
Shanoff: 2002 NBA playoffs Hot 'n' Not List
Shanoff: 2002 NFL draft Hot 'n' Not List
2002 Stanley Cup playoffs Hot 'n' Not List
Shanoff: 2002 baseball Hot 'n' Not List
Shanoff: The Sweet 16 Hot 'n' Not List
Our 2002 Tourney List: See how hot we were last March
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' Not List for Washington sports
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' Not List for NBA at midseason
The Hot 'n' not list for 2002 Winter Olympics
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' not list for Super Bowl
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' Not List for 2002
What's hot, what's not for college hoops
What's hot, what's not for NBA 2001-02
What's hot, what's not for NHL 2001-02
What's hot, what's not for college football '01
What's hot, what's not for NFL 2001
What's hot, what's not for summer 2001
Sports Guy: Satisfied with Miller Park
Sportoon: One in every crowd
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 27-July 2
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 20-26
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 13-19
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of June 6-12
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 30-June 5
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 23-29
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 16-22
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 9-15
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of May 3-8
Shanoff: What's hot, not for week of April 26-May 2
Shanoff: 2002 NBA playoffs Hot 'n' Not List
Shanoff: 2002 NFL draft Hot 'n' Not List
2002 Stanley Cup playoffs Hot 'n' Not List
Shanoff: 2002 baseball Hot 'n' Not List
Shanoff: The Sweet 16 Hot 'n' Not List
Our 2002 Tourney List: See how hot we were last March
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' Not List for Washington sports
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' Not List for NBA at midseason
The Hot 'n' not list for 2002 Winter Olympics
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' not list for Super Bowl
Shanoff: The Hot 'n' Not List for 2002
What's hot, what's not for college hoops
What's hot, what's not for NBA 2001-02
What's hot, what's not for NHL 2001-02
What's hot, what's not for college football '01
What's hot, what's not for NFL 2001
What's hot, what's not for summer 2001
















