All-Stars ready for Obama's presidential pitch

ST. LOUIS — Curtis Granderson was thrilled to make the All-Star team for the first time. Then the Detroit center fielder discovered another treat might be in store — a chance to meet President Barack Obama.

Obama is set to throw out the ceremonial first ball at Tuesday night's game. Granderson was pitching, too, for an opportunity to greet the president.

"A lot of people assume I've met him because we're both from Chicago, but the closest I've gotten is watching him on TV," Granderson said Monday.

"If I could get a photo with him or shake his hand, that would complete my All-Star festivities," he said.

St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols will move behind the plate to receive Obama's toss.

"He says he wants to warm up before. So I'm just going to tell him, 'Just lob it up there and don't try to be a perfect throw,'" Pujols said.

"Obviously it's an honor to catch the first pitch from the president, as our leader. Tomorrow I think it's going to get to me. As a little boy when I was my son's age, I would never have thought I was going to be on this stage," he said.

NO BONDS: He turns 45 in two weeks and is under federal indictment, but Barry Bonds still isn't ready to retire.

The career home run king last played in 2007 for San Francisco, batting .276 with 28 home runs, 66 RBIs and the NL's top on-base percentage.

"I know the Giants are dying for power, and they're in it. They wouldn't have to look beyond their backyard," Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, said Monday at the All-Star festivities.

Bonds, a 14-time All-Star and seven-time NL MVP, is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to lying to a federal grand jury in December 2003 when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs.

SOFT TOSSIN': San Diego closer Heath Bell was ready to take on another job during All-Star week — he wanted to pitch to Padres teammate Adrian Gonzalez in the home run derby.

"I'd lob them in for him," Bell said Monday.

Instead, Bell watched from the first-base line with his NL teammates as Gonzalez took his cuts against Padres batting practice pitcher Ray Krohn.

Texas' Josh Hamilton elevated the art of soft tossing in the derby to a new level last year when he brought his 71-year-old former American Legion coach.

This year, the eight derby contestants brought a mix of new and old to pitch.