DOWNTOWN — Asked who he would pick to win the Home Run Derby, New York Mets third baseman David Wright said it was difficult to choose any hitter other than Albert Pujols. But not just because the St. Louis Cardinals first baseman had home field advantage — he had an advantage at any field, to all fields.

Wright joked that he had seen Pujols put on a show at Citi Field a few weeks ago during…

DOWNTOWN — In his final start before racing home for the All-Star Game, St. Charles native Mark Buehrle allowed eight runs (all earned) on 10 hits in a dismal 3 1/3 innings for the Chicago White Sox. He heard all the jokes. American League manager Joe Maddon called and told him to stay home. His teammates asked him if he was going to use his bad game as his bid to compete in the Home…

DOWNTOWN — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was the unofficial host of the 2008 All-Star Game as it visited the Bronx, the spotlight barely found him because of the big cement, facade-famous goliath that was the true star of last year’s main event — Yankee Stadium. Still, he had some advice for the mayor of this year’s All-Star Game, as it came to St. Louis and Albert Pujols was the most famous monument around.

“Enjoy it,”…

DOWNTOWN — As Major League Baseball begins tonight the accepted definition of the second-half of the season, Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman doesn’t see any of the NL Central contenders shaking loose any time soon. The division leaves the All-Star break with five of its six teams within five games or less of the lead. Hoffman’s Brewers trail the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals by 2 1/2 games, and the defending division-title champ Chicago Cubs are…

DOWNTOWN — When he was in pinstripes and even in the year since he left the Bronx, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre has often argued that Alex Rodriguez is the best all-around player in the game, the best hitter in the game, the best in the game. Torre said he’s added a new name to the short list.

And the description he came up for this new name, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols…

DOWNTOWN — Whenever Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre has had a reason to return to St. Louis — which was oh so rarely when he skippered the New York Yankees — he makes a point to visit Stan Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals great and St. Louis icon. He also keeps every message he gets from Musial.

Every one.

Torre, meeting with the media Monday during the All-Star workout day interviews in downtown St. Louis, said…

DOWNTOWN — New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said he doesn’t need to see the numbers from the National League to know what Albert Pujols has done in the first half of this season. Players are talking about it.

They are also talking about what’s impossibly possible.

On Monday, during the American League player availability in downtown St. Louis hours before the Home Run Derby, Teixeira talked about how much fun it is to play with…

ST. LOUIS — Farm director and vice president/player procurement Jeff Luhnow was on hand to greet all three of the St. Louis Cardinals prospects competing in Sunday’s Futures Game and he told each the same thing: He’s happy to see them here, and he’s eager to them here again shortly.

Luhnow had two of his draft picks and one of his international signings featured in the annual showcase of the minor league’s top prospects. On the…

DOWNTOWN — The St. Louis Cardinals’ Class AA affiliate eased outfielder Daryl Jones back into action from the disabled list this past week as much to tend to his ailing quad muscle as to assure he wouldn’t miss Sunday’s Futures Game. Jones arrival on the national stage as one of the Cardinals’ top prospects has been a long time coming — and the left fielder has come a long way from that .217 average in…

DOWNTOWN — St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith never imagined himself managing a game at Busch Stadium but couldn’t turn down the invitation to suit up for the first event of All-Star week here in what he called “Baseball Mecca.”

Smith skippered the U.S. team in the Futures Game on Sunday at Busch Stadium, and he played to the home crowd by starting top Cardinals prospect Brett Wallace at third base and batting him…