Danny Knobler

ST. LOUIS -- A few notes and thoughts from All-Star Monday:

-- This one counts?

Since 2003, when baseball began awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the league that won the All-Star Game, the American League has won every year. Not that it has helped in October, because the National League team has won three of those six World Series, including two of the last three. One issue: There hasn't been a seven-game World Series since 2002, and there hasn't even been a six-game World Series since 2003.

Still, players from the Tigers and Rays, who lost in 2006 and 2008 despite home-field advantage, said Monday that they would very much prefer to have home-field advantage if they get back to the World Series this October.

"The way we play at home (29-15 this year), it helps us out a lot," Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett said. "Last year, I think what happened was we were playing so great, but when we got to the World Series we changed our game. I really feel like if we get there again and we have the home-field advantage, we'd do it this time."

"It didn't work out last year, but in the grand scheme of things, it would be great to have it again," first baseman Carlos Pena agreed. "We were just emotionally drained from the Boston series (in the ALCS) last year, so we didn't take advantage of it."

Like the 2008 Rays, the 2006 Tigers split the first two games at home, then lost three straight on the road.

"I think if we could have gotten back to our place (for Game 6), playing in front of our home crowds, it could have been different," Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge said. "Home-field advantage is worth a lot."

"I saw a stat where 18 of the last 23 teams with home-field advantage won it," Tigers starter Justin Verlander said. "But you'd better check that."

We checked, and he's right.

-- Brantorino, explained

So now we know where the idea for last week's Brantorino final-vote push came from. It came from Shane Victorino.

The Phillies outfielder revealed today that he was the one who suggested to Bonnie Clark (the Phils' vice president for communications) that they team up with the Tigers for a two-team voting bloc to win the final vote for him and for Inge. He didn't take credit for the "Brantorino" marketing slogan, just the idea of teaming up.

"I just knew Inge and I were in second place in the voting," Victorino said. "And I knew Detroit was a great baseball city, just like Philadelphia."

Sure enough, it worked, as Victorino and Inge went on to win the voting.

-- A vote for Bob Melvin

Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson played for Bob Melvin the last three years in Arizona. He plays for Joe Torre now.

He sees a connection.

"[Melvin] reminds me of a young Torre," Hudson said.

So he was disappointed to see Melvin get fired?

"No, I was happy for him," Hudson said. "I was happy for him to get a fresh start."

-- Little man in the Derby

Inge said he was more excited about Monday night's Home Run Derby than about Tuesday's game.

"I might set a record for the smallest Home Run Derby contestant ever," said Inge, who the Tigers list at 5-11, 190.

Inge said his last Home Run Derby was at the Southern League All-Star Game in Greenville, S.C.

"That one didn't go so well," he said. "I went 0 for my first 9. But then I think I hit the farthest ball in the Derby."