MLB All-Star rosters expand; DH becomes permanent in All-Star Game.

[madinmaryland]

NEW YORK (AP) -- There will be two extra All-Stars this summer.

Rosters have been expanded again by commissioner Bud Selig's special committee for on-field matters, with each team bringing 34 players to the July 13 game in Anaheim, Calif., part of several changes coming to the summer showcase.

"I think they're serious about it being a true competition. To do that, if the game goes extra innings you have to be able to compete," said St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, a member of the committee. "This way you've got an extra guy you can protect."

All-Star rosters have steadily expanded. There were 28 players per team from 1969-97, and the size increased to 30 with expansion in 1998.

After the infamous 7-7, 11-inning tie in Milwaukee in 2002, when both teams ran out of pitchers, rosters expanded to 32 players, including 12 pitchers, the following year, when the game first started counting for World Series home-field advantage.

The size increased to 33 players, including 13 pitchers, last summer, and will now be 34 players, with 13 pitchers per team.

"Any time you can add people to the All-Star team it's good," said Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who left off San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval last year. "He was having a tremendous year and he wasn't chosen. It gives players like that who deserve it a chance."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/04/28/all.star.game.changes.ap/index.html