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If you find yourself at a cocktail party -- or by the water cooler or at the bar or across from someone on a first date -- and you want to wax wisely about the state of major-league baseball at the All-Star break, the conventional wisdom is very simple: 'Roids, 'roids, 'roids. Strike, strike, strike. You can't go wrong with that as your analysis.
But if you're looking for a few hip catchphrases to throw in the mix, use the list below of what's hot and what's not in baseball at the break to fuel your conversation:
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What's Hot, What's Not at the baseball All-Star Game
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| Category |
Hot |
Not |
| What to do with Ted Williams' legacy |
"Ali"-style bio-pic |
Freeze him, then sell DNA |
| Labor-fight name to know |
League prez Bob DuPuy |
Union chief Don Fehr |
| Players' villain |
Rick Reilly |
Bud Selig |
| Managerial mind |
Jim Tracy |
Davey Lopes |
| Cubs go-to executive |
New GM Jim Hendry |
Old GM (still Prez) Andy McPhail |
| Future manager |
Paul Molitor |
Mitch Williams |
| Hip team to root for |
 Expos |
 Indians |
| Asian import |
 Kazuhisa Ishii |
 Chan Ho Park |
| Minor-league strategy |
Bring on the attendance gimmicks |
Place to train managers |
| Young flamethrower |
Brett Myers (Phillies Triple-A) |
Billy Koch |
| Pharmaceutical endorsement contract |
Viagra |
Claritin |
| Place to catch homers |
Minute Maid Park (Houston) |
Comerica Field (Detroit) |
| Hobby for ex-players |
Managing |
"Roving instructor" |
| Medical situation |
Steroids-induced hammy pull |
Off-field "freak" accidents |
| Derek Jeter social diva |
Jordana Brewster |
Joy Enrique |
| Brothers |
Giles (Brian, Marcus) |
Minor (Ryan, Damon) |
| Road-trip destination |
Fenway Park |
Any new ballpark |
| Red Sox star pitcher |
Derek Lowe |
Pedro Martinez |
| Clutch closer |
 Eric Gagne |
 Hideki Irabu |
| Movie subject |
"Like Ichiro" |
"The Rookie" |
| We're already sick of ... |
 Alfonso Soriano |
 Vladimir Guerrero |
| Rivalry |
Kent-Bonds |
Piazza-Clemens |
| Player fashion statement |
Double-wide wrist bands |
Excessive neck chains |
| Wily GM |
Omar Minaya (Montreal) |
Allan Baird (Kansas City) |
| Trade bait |
Frank Thomas |
Greg Vaughn |
| Player causes |
Steroid testing |
Payback for beanings |
| Jersey |
 Torii Hunter |
 Moises Alou |
| New York relocation |
 Jason Giambi |
 Mo Vaughn |
| Barry Zito hair |
Normal |
Blue and shaggy |
| Jewish poster kid |
 Shawn Green |
 Gabe Kapler |
| World Series favorite |
New York Yankees |
Uh, odds that there won't be a Series this fall |
| Prospect |
Brandon Phillips |
Rick Ankiel |
| Unlikely home-run derby hero |
 Richie Sexson |
 Barry Bonds |
| Home-run derby "moral victor" |
Sammy Sosa |
Lance Berkman |
Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. His "What's Hot, What's Not" trend-spotting list appears Thursdays. Got inside scoop on an up-and-coming trend? Want to declare something passé? Send this glimpse of your hipness to hotnotlist@yahoo.com.
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|  THE HOT LIST |  |
| ALSO SEE:
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