The All Stars were announced earlier this afternoon, and the good news for the Mets is they can enjoy some rest. Reyes and Wright will not be participating this year, with Billy Wagner the sole Met representative. The NL starters will include Philly’s Chase Utley , Braves’ Larry Jones , and the Marlin’s Hanley Ramirez amongst others. As always, Jeter and A-Rod will represent the Yankees as AL starters. A complete list of those selected can be found at CBS Sporstline , and pretty much every other sports website on the internet.

Its hard to complain, the Mets are currently third in the East and struggling. Personally, I’d rather see Wright and Reyes get the rest. Regardless of what Commissioner Bud says, its still a meaningless game with a flawed selection process, so let the boys stay at home a few days and recharge. If they’re going to attempt to comeback in the second half they’ll need it.

Via Adam Rubin , John Maine on how to avoid further arm issues:

Who knows? Eat more bananas.

I guess if he gets tired of baseball, there’s always medicine.

According the AP, the Phillies have given a three year extension to closer Brad Lidge. Its reported that the contract is worth $37.5 million.

Lidge has a 0.77 ERA since coming to Philly, though a 2.18 against the Mets. He’s given up just three runs in 35 appearances this season.

Smart move by Philly, considering how well Lidge has done since getting traded there. Anyone that can pitch at CBP and still have an ERA that low needs to be held onto.

For those who somehow missed it, Joey Chestnut brought his A game and took hot dog eating to new levels, as he and Kobayashi went into overtime to decide the King of Hot Dog Eating at the annual contest in Coney Island. Both ate 59 hotdogs in 10 minutes, before seeing who can eat five the quickest to determine it all. It was shocking…well, cause I didn’t realize that there was a such thing as overtime in hot dog eating. Really? Soccer can end in a 0-0 tie yet we have overtime to decide who eats hot dogs the best? Thanks sports world.

And of course, come here tomorrow for the third annual Hot Foot Hot Dog Eating Contest. As always, Rob Harding remains the heavy favorite, but an upstart Robby O’Daniel could challenge him. Andrew Beaton remains banned for life after being caught wagering on the event last year

The road trip continues, as the Mets start a stretch in Philly against oddly enough, the Phillies. Johan Santana will take the mound, against JA Happ . Happ is making his first start of the season and second career against the Mets.

Lineups can be found at John Delcos LoHud Blog .

Keys to the game:

Keep on Hitting: The Mets offense found its spark on the road in St Louis, can it maintain it in the hitter friendly confines of Tiny Little Philly Park? One would hope so, since a double anywhere else lands in the parking lot here.

Remember that its their Ace. Johan hasn’t won a game in awhile. We did trade away the farm and all, so maybe we can give him some run support, maybe a nice day from the bullpen. Try not to commit too many errors and all. And by some run support, I mean a lot. Lets face it, he gives up the longball and he’s in a longball stadium. Win it for Johan.

Game time is 7:05, catch it on SNY, listen to it on WFAN, and talk about it in the Hot Foot Bleachers, where we’ll be discussing the game, Mets baseball, and fireworks safety on the internet.