Winfield Will Be Playing at Home Tuesday

Dave Winfield will be spending the All-Star break at home for the first time in nine years. But don’t worry, fans. The man you voted into the starting American League outfield will still be in the lineup.

Winfield, the top vote-getter among AL outfielders, will be starting his third consecutive All-Star Game and playing in his ninth. But this time the Yankee slugger will be performing before his hometown fans in the Minneapolis Metrodome.

“I’m going home,” said the 33-year-old Winfield, a native of St. Paul, Minn. “That’s why I wanted to go this year for sure.”

Winfield said some of his family and friends would be in the crowd for the 56th All-Star Game but warned others not to hound him for tickets.

“I told everybody last year, ‘You better get your tickets now,”’ said Winfield.

The 6-foot-6 Winfield, who was drafted out of the University of Minnesota in three different sports (baseball, football and basketball), is making his ninth straight All-Star appearance and fifth as a Yankee. Through 76 games this year, he was batting .289 with 10 homers and 48 RBI. Not spectacular numbers, but on course for a typical Winfield season.

“They (the Yankees) asked us to grade ourselves (for first-half performance)--I gave myself an ‘A-minus’,” said Winfield, who in his 12-year career has averaged .289 with 21 homers and almost 85 RBI a season. “The minus was for the slow start. I didn’t drive in as many runs early or get the key hits. Beyond that, I’m running the bases well and I’ve played excellent defense.

“I think I’ve been consistent on a high level and I’ve had good run production.”