Welcome to the 2008 XM All-Star Futures Game — blog version.

Myself and my MLB.com colleague, Jesse Sanchez, will be in the respective dugouts of the U.S. and World teams and will be providing you with quotes, color and commentary from today’s action.

The U.S. team will be seeking to avenge last year’s humbling 7-2 loss, which is still the subject of international tension.

Just last year, the likes of Justin Upton, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsburty, Geovany Soto, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Rick VandenHurk, J.R. Towles, Luke Hochevar, Clayton Kershaw, Joba Chamberlain, Carlos Gonzalez and some guy named Evan Longoria were playing in this game.

Clearly, then, the players you’ll see here today represent the future of the game. So stay locked in here and let’s see just how bright the future looks.

–– Anthony Castrovince