Injured All-Stars Change Game Lineup

A T L A N T A, July 9, 2000 -- — 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.

Griffey will be absent because of a sore right knee. He homeredtwice and drove in a career-high eight runs Saturday forCincinnati, and started again Sunday and made a nice running catchin center field against Cleveland but was ejected in the eighthinning for arguing a called third strike.

Griffey will take part in the home run derby Monday in Atlanta,defending the crown he won last summer. Sammy Sosa, VladimirGuerrero and Jones will join Junior on the NL side to take onCarlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez, Carl Everett and either EdgarMartinez or Troy Glaus.

“We think it’s in the best interests for the baseball team thathe not play, not run the bases, not play the outfield, take thethree days off,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “We’re in a pennant race and he’s an important part of this team and it’s about winning games.”

Iron Man Is Out

Ripken’s streak of 16 straight All-Star starts will come to anend. The Baltimore third baseman is on the disabled list because ofa back injury, but baseball rules would have allowed him to takepart Tuesday night.

Bonds missed his eighth straight start Sunday with a hairlinefracture on the tip of his right thumb. The San Franciscooutfielder struck out as a pinch-hitter Saturday, and reportedswelling after the game.

Bonds will make the trip to Turner Field.

“I’m going to honor the fans because they voted me in,” Bonds said. “After that, I’ll wave good-bye. It’s better than sitting at home and doing nothing anyway.”

Range of Injuries

Maddux, one of five Braves on the NL roster, was scratched fromhis start today at Boston because of a sore right shoulder, havingbeen hit by a ball during batting practice Saturday.

McGwire leads the majors with 30 home runs, but is out of theSt. Louis lineup because of knee tendinitis.

Rodriguez was knocked out of the game by a concussion. TheSeattle shortstop tried to break up a double play Friday night andtook a knee to the head from Los Angeles shortstop Alex Cora.

The concussion will keep Rodriguez out for a week. He alsotwisted his right knee in the collision, and there was a chance hehas torn cartilage.

“It’s a little more bit more swollen today, but it feels a lotbetter,” he said Sunday.

Martinez, whose 1.44 ERA is the best in the majors, is out ofthe Boston rotation with an injured muscle in his side. He isexpected to be in uniform in Atlanta, however.

Ramirez, elected to start in the AL outfield, has been on thedisabled list for Cleveland since May 30 with a hamstring injury.