All-Star Coaches Pick Reserves
N E W Y O R K, July 6, 2000 -- — 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.”
McGwire Joined by Teammates
Outfielder Andruw Jones and pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavinealso were selected by Atlanta’s Bobby Cox, the NL manager, and joinChipper Jones, elected to start at third.
Mark McGwire of the Cardinals, elected to start at first base,will be joined by two teammates, right-hander Darryl Kile andoutfielder Jim Edmonds. McGwire had threatened not to play unlessEdmonds was picked as a reserve.
“I’m very happy for him, he deserves it,” McGwire said. “He’s the big reason why we’re in the position we are today [first place in the NL Central].”
Will Wells Start?
With Martinez out, Toronto’s David Wells is the leadingcontender to start for the AL.
“If it happens, fine. If not, it’s no big deal,” Wells said.“I’m just going to go out there and take my turn. I’m sure thiswill mean more to me when I’m retired and an old guy.”
Cox said he hadn’t ruled out Arizona’s Randy Johnson or Madduxas starters, even though they’re scheduled to start Sunday.
“Randy said he could go an inning,” Cox said. “Greg Maddux,he also is good for an inning. Which innings those are going to be,I can’t say now.”
Thomas, Thome Angry
The Yankees and Indians have four players each on the AL teamand the Chicago White Sox, who have the best record in baseball,have three along with Boston and Oakland.
“There was no one player who was most difficult to leave out,”Torre said. “Charles Johnson, Frank Thomas, Tony Batista all got alot of consideration. You can go up and down the league. Joe Randais having a hell of a year. First base was probably the toughestposition. There are so many good numbers there. Jim Thome wassecond in the voting [at first base], but his [stats] just didn’tadd up.”
Thomas, who has a .340 average with 25 homers and 72 RBIs, wasdisappointed he wasn’t picked.
“I’ve done too much in this league on a consistent basis to belooked over,” he said.
Also left off the AL team was White Sox reliever Keith Foulke.Omitted from the NL team were Florida second baseman Luis Castillo,Cincinnati reliever Danny Graves and Arizona outfielder SteveFinley.
Filling out the NL pitching staff were Kevin Brown (LosAngeles), Ryan Dempster (Florida), Trevor Hoffman (San Diego),Shane Reynolds (Houston) and Bob Wickman (Milwaukee).
The AL staff includes James Baldwin (Chicago), Tim Hudson(Oakland), Jason Isringhausen (Oakland), Todd Jones (Detroit),Derek Lowe (Boston) and Aaron Sele (Seattle).