All-Star Coaches Pick Reserves

N E W   Y O R K, July 6 -- — The Atlanta Braves are supplying the field, theNational League manager and one-sixth of the NL roster for theAll-Star game. And as a bonus, they won’t have to hit against PedroMartinez.

Martinez, the MVP of last year’s game at Fenway Park afterstriking out five in two innings, was left off the American Leagueteam Wednesday, apparently at the request of the Boston Red Sox.

Martinez, whose strained muscle on his left side has improved tothe point where he’s scheduled to be activate after the All-Starbreak, said he was ready to pitch in Tuesday’s game.

Red Sox manager Jimy Williams spoke with Joe Torre of theYankees, manager of the AL team, but wouldn’t say who decided todrop the AL Cy Young Award winner.

“The way this has shaken out is this is the right way to dothings,” Williams said.

Martinez is not on the AL’s 31-man roster, but he will beintroduced as if he was an All-Star and will sit on the AL benchduring the game.

“I’d hate to be the one responsible for having him pitch in anAll-Star game — when he hasn’t pitched for his team — and havinghim get hurt,” Torre said today.

Galarraga Ready to Shine

Baltimore’s Cal Ripken, elected for what would be his 17thstraight start and 18th appearance, will try to play third basedespite a sore back, which has him on the disabled list. Torre saida decision would be made this weekend.

Cleveland’s Manny Ramirez, elected by fans to start in theoutfield, is on the disabled list with a strained hamstring andwill miss the game.

Under baseball’s rules, a player can be on the disabled list andappear in the All-Star game.

Andres Galarraga, who missed all of 1999 while undergoingtreatment for cancer, heads the list of Braves ready to shinebefore the hometown fans.

“I thank God for giving me my health and all the beautiful andhappy things that have happened to me this year,” Galarraga said.“It’s a gift.”