Braun and Chipper out of the ASG, McCutchen and Rolen Named Replacements.

As we get closer and closer to the All-Star Game, there are more and more roster updates to report.

Yesterday, both Chipper Jones of the Braves and Ryan Braun of the Brewers were placed on their respective teams' 15-day DL. Their replacements were announced last night.

With Chipper out with a right knee injury (a torn meniscus), Scott Rolen of the Reds takes his spot on the NL bench. It will be his seventh trip to the ASG, his second with the Reds, whose contingent also includes Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Jay Bruce for the National League.

Braun received the most votes of all the players chosen to start this year. But with him now going on the DL with a strained left calf, what seems to have been another major league slight has now been averted. Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, probably THE reason why the Pirates have surprised everyone (except for themselves) in baseball as contenders for the NL Central title, has been named as his replacement. There is no word yet as to who will take the start (although if you follow the balloting by the players, that role should fall to Matt Holliday...but you never know). McCutchen joins Bucs' closer Joel Hanrahan on the NL side.

If you're going to add both Rolen and McCutchen's 2011 Topps cards to your All-Star binder (please...PLEASE... I can't be the only one doing this), Rolen's cards are #228 and CIN6, and McCutchen's cards are #60 and PIT2.

More roster changes (and you know there will be) to come soon after the Sunday starters are replaced (at least six of them...maybe more???).

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama