MILWAUKEE - Adam Dunn enjoyed himself at the 2002 All-Star Game. “This is something I could get used to,” the Reds outfielder said.

        Everyone told Dunn his first experience as an All-Star would be great. It was all that and a bag of chips.

        “It's been a lot of fun,” he said. “You're sitting around the clubhouse talking to a bunch of guys you're used to seeing on TV. It's like a normal clubhouse — playing cards, killing time — but it isn't.”

        Dunn brought his parents, Skip and Pat, and brothers Jason, 28, and Brian, 17, to Milwaukee.

        “I think my parents have enjoyed this more than me,” Dunn said.

        Dunn entered the game in the seventh to play left field. He walked in his first All-Star at-bat and nearly won the game in the 10th with a drive to center that was caught on the warning track.

        Dunn left Milwaukee right after the game on a charter flight for Houston. That's where the Reds open a four-game series against the Astros on Thursday. It's also Dunn's hometown, where he had intended to spend the All-Star break. But his plans changed when he was selected for the National League squad.

        Last year at this time, Dunn had just finished playing in the Futures Game and was headed back to the minor leagues.

        “It's happened pretty fast for me,” he said. “Sometimes, I think I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be back in Chattanooga, Tenn.”

        YANKEE INFIELD: The New York Yankees, with first baseman Jason Giambi, second baseman Alfonso Soriano, shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Robin Ventura and catcher Jorge Posada on the American League team, are only the fourth team in history to have their entire infield and catcher participate in the All-Star Game.

        The last time was 1976, when the Reds' Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Dave Concepcion, Pete Rose and Johnny Bench were all on the National League team.

        THREE EX-REDS: Three former Reds made the All-Star Game — Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, San Francisco Giants catcher Benito Santiago and Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Remlinger.

        LAST ADD: Remlinger was the last player added, taking the spot of Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson, who elected not to play.

        Remlinger was in Chicago when he got the news. As Atlanta's player representative, he was there for the Players Association meeting.

        “I was going fishing with a buddy,” Remlinger said. “We were driving along. I had a message on my cell phone. I called my wife. She said I had been picked. She had to tell me four times before I believed it. My buddy about drove off the road.”

        Remlinger, a left-hander, is in baseball's most overlooked role: setup man.

        His numbers, however, are hard to overlook: 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA. Remlinger has struck out 46 batters and allowed only 26 hits in 42 innings.

        Remlinger pitched for the Reds from 1995 to '98. He was the Opening Day starter in 1998, taking over for Dave Burba, who was traded to Cleveland the day before the opener.

        Remlinger was part of the Bret Boone-Denny Neagle trade after the 1998 season.

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