PHOENIX - Josh Hamilton patiently, even graciously, answered question after question on Monday about the tragic death of a fan who fell from the stands trying to catch a ball the Texas Rangers star tossed toward him.

He talked about reaching out to the family of Shannon Stone, the firefighter who tumbled to his death Thursday night as his 6-year-old son looked on.

"I haven't thought it all the way through yet," Hamilton said. "Obviously, I want it to be personal, face to face. I'd love to know what kind of man Mr. Stone was and just meet his wife and his little boy and see where it goes from there.

"The memorial fund, my wife and I plan to do something with that and try to do everything possible."

But he knows he can never do enough.

"Nothing we can do is going to bring him back," Hamilton said. "But the organization can take care of the family and see that everything is going in the right direction."

Two nights after Stone's death, Hamilton hit the game-winning, ninth-inning home run for the Rangers, a release of sorts for a man who recovered from drug addiction and lives with an abundance of Christian faith.

"It helps me handle life," Hamilton said, "and this is life, this tragedy. There's things that happen that you have no control over and you don't understand them and you will never understand them until you stand in front of your maker."

He was simply tossing the ball toward a fan that he noticed had a young boy with him.

"Just a random act of kindness turned tragic," Hamilton said. "It just lets you know how quickly life can change, just in a blink of an eye, that quick."

Hamilton said that, despite a heavy heart, he came to Arizona to put on a show.

"Life has to go on," he said. "I still have obviously some feelings about the Stone family and everything that happened, but at the same time I have the joy as far as being here, and the fans want to see me play the game, so I'll do the best I can to excite and entertain to the best of my ability."

LINEUPS: Philadelphia's Roy Halladay will start for the National League in tonight's All-Star game against the Los Angeles Angels' Jered Weaver.

The NL batting order has Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks leading off and playing second base, followed by designated hitter Carlos Beltran of the Mets, Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder, Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, St. Louis right fielder Lance Berkman, Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen.

The AL has Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson leading off, followed by Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista, Texas left fielder Josh Hamilton, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Detroit catcher Alex Avila.

Halladay, 11-3 with a 2.45 ERA, started the 2009 All-Star game while with the Toronto Blue Jays and will be the fourth pitcher to make an All-Star start for both leagues, following Vida Blue, Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. Halladay is the first Philadelphia pitcher to start since Curt Schilling in 1999.

Weaver, 11-4 with a 1.86 ERA, is the fifth Angels pitcher to start, following Ken McBride (1963), Dean Chance (1964), Nolan Ryan (1979) and Mark Langston (1993).

BELTRAN WANTS TO WIN: Carlos Beltran left no doubt about his desire to play for a winner, and he would be willing to approve a trade to a contending team if the New York Mets want to deal him before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

"The Mets know," the NL All-Star said. "I have made clear to them, that I'm willing to listen if they want to trade me. All I want to be is on a team where I have a chance to go to the playoffs."

Would the Boston Red Sox be a good destination?

"They're in first place," he said. "It's a no-brainer."