CHICAGO -- Brendan Donnelly refers to the independent Frontier League as a "pretty bad league." But the biggest reason he didn't quit playing in the league and on his dream of one day pitching in the major leagues was because as Donnelly says, "a fear of the real world. A 9-to-5 job scared me."

Who says dreams don't come true?

	Brendan Donnelly Relief pitcher Anaheim Angels Profile
	2003 SEASON STATISTICS G IP W-L BB SO ERA 40 48.0 0-0 12 56 0.38

Well, in the case of Brendan Donnelly his sure did ... and it came at the ripe age of 31. Last season, the Angels were the first big-league team to finally give Donnelly a chance. And he hasn't stopped rewarding them for the opportunity.

Donnelly, now 32, was an integral part of the Angels' bullpen last year in their improbable run to the franchise's first World Series title. As for this season, well he's been nothing less than remarkable. And because of that, he was named to the AL All-Star team and will be a part of the action Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field.

Donnelly has a 0.38 ERA, having allowed just two earned runs in 48 innings pitched, and a .158 batting average against. With the presence of closer Troy Percival, Donnelly remains the Angels' main set-up guy in a bullpen that has an American League-leading 2.49 ERA.

"You have to have a plan when you go out there on the mound, and then you have to execute that plan," Donnelly said. "I've been fortunate to have success. But every night you have to go out there and prove yourself."

So far, so good. Make that so far, so great.

Another Hammerin' Hank?
Hank Blalock learned the hard way the difference between playing in the minor leagues and the major leagues early last season. Given the Rangers' starting third-base job to open last year, Blalock struggled a great deal in the early going and found himself in Triple-A after only a few weeks. In all, he played in only 49 games last season for the Rangers and batted a lowly .211.

But this year has been a far different story for Blalock. Again awarded the Rangers' starting third-base job, Blalock, 22, has flourished so much so that he's fifth in the AL with a .323 batting average at the break.

"The experience I gained last year has been invaluable for me this year," said Blalock, who is a reserve on the AL roster. "I just feel a lot more confident and definitely more comfortable."

Definitely not a White-out
Dispatched by the Yankees during spring training after having a subpar season in 2002, Rondell White made the most of his opportunity to play on an everyday basis with the Padres during the first half. In 82 games, he's batted .275 and has already hit more home runs (16) than he did all of last season (14).

White is the lone Padres All-Star representative and like 32 others will participate in his first All-Star Game.

"It's amazing the difference a year is," said White of his play with the Yankees last season compared to this year with the Padres. "I didn't want to be traded by the Yankees, but it happened and everything's turned out great for me with the Padres. With our new park coming next year (brand new Petco Park will open in San Diego in 2004), hopefully we'll be a better team. There are a lot of bright spots ahead for our team."

All-Star odds and ends