Howard and Roy Halladay were chosen to join Chase Utley, who was elected by the fans, as the Phillies' all-stars. But much of the talk after the announcement of the teams centered on Manuel, the National League manager, who made 10 selections.
Utley, who is on the disabled list with a torn ligament in his right thumb and will not play, would have set a team record by starting his fifth straight All-Star Game. Instead, he was replaced on the roster by Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips.
Injured Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco was beaten out by New York's David Wright in the final days of fan voting.
It is Halladay's seventh all-star selection. He was second in the player vote behind Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez.
Howard and Utley each earned a $50,000 bonus for being named to the team, while Halladay pocketed an extra $125,000.
"It feels good," Howard said. "It's a great honor to be selected to play in the All-Star Game."
Howard has 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. Votto's on-base percentage is almost 60 points higher, and his slugging percentage is nearly 70 points higher. He has 19 home runs and 57 RBIs.
"Both of them are having big years," Manuel said. "Both are standing right there. Howard's my guy, and the fact that their numbers are very close, I had to go with my guy."
It's not the first time Manuel has favored one of his own players. Last season, when needing an injury replacement, Manuel chose Jayson Werth over Los Angeles' Andre Ethier using the same rationale: To the victor go the spoils.
As for Halladay, he said he will enjoy this year's game more than last season, when he went to St. Louis amid constant talk of being traded before the deadline. (He, of course, wasn't dealt until the off-season.) This time, he will savor the All-Star Game with his two sons.
"The more you go," Halladay said, "the more you realize the chances of going again are probably smaller."
