Injured All-Stars Change Game Lineup

A T L A N T A, July 9 -- — The best place to find baseball’s top All-Starsthis week is the trainer’s room.

Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken and Greg Maddux becamethe latest casualties today, and there was a chance Mike Piazzawould join them.

Mark McGwire, Pedro Martinez, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirezalready were scratched from Tuesday night’s game at Turner Fieldbecause of injuries.

All of a sudden, a list of the dropouts seems more imposing thananything the AL and NL actually will trot out.

“We were looking at who we could’ve had if everybody washealthy and it looked like it could’ve been one of the bestAll-Star lineups of all-time,” said Atlanta third baseman ChipperJones, a starter. “It’s disappointing.”

Thomas Won’t Be a Replacement

So much for a power-packed NL batting order, now minus startersMcGwire, Bonds and Griffey, the top three home run hitters in theleague.

“They’ve been bugging me for a lineup the last few days,” said NL manager Bobby Cox of the Braves, “but I just don’t know who I can provide right now.”

Cincinnati pitcher Danny Graves, Arizona outfielder SteveFinley, Baltimore shortstop Mike Bordick and Toronto third basemanTony Batista are among the replacements coming to play.

Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, still upset that he wasleft off the American League roster, is not.

“I’ve got plans and I’m not changing them for nobody,” Thomas said before the White Sox lost 9-6 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Griffey Will Participate in HR Derby

Injuries and All-Star games are not strangers. Tony Gwynn andJose Canseco missed last year at Fenway Park and, when the game waspreviously held in Atlanta in 1972, five players originally pickedwere absent: Luis Aparicio, Amos Otis, Freddie Patek, Gary Nolanand Joe Coleman.

Piazza’s status was in doubt after he sustained a concussionSaturday night when hit in the helmet by Roger Clemens’ fastball.The catcher, voted to start, was hospitalized after the beaning inthe New York Mets’ game at Yankee Stadium.