1989 ALL-STAR GAME PREVIEW : NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STARS

THIRD BASEMAN

BOBBY BONILLA

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Scouting report: Making his second All-Star appearance in four years in the majors, his first as a reserve. Was zero for four in last year’s game. Hitting only .266, but has 42 runs batted in and 49 runs scored. One of three third basemen selected by Manager Tommy Lasorda. Also toured Japan with an All-Star team last November.

Why he’s here: His switch-hitting ability could prove of value if needed as a pinch-hitter.

PITCHER

TIM BURKE

MONTREAL EXPOS

Scouting report: Having one of his best seasons in five years as a reliever in the majors. Has a 5-1 record, a 2.82 earned-run average, 17 saves and is second on the NL staff with 39 appearances. Finished with a 3-5 record, a 3.40 ERA and a career-high 18 saves last year. One of five relievers named to the NL pitching staff by Lasorda.

Why he’s here: Has given up only 46 hits in 39 appearances. Could be a key stopper.

FIRST BASEMAN

WILL CLARK

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Scouting report: Led all vote-getters with 1,833,329 to earn his second consecutive start. Clark, who’s hitting .332 and second in NL with 64 RBIs, outdistanced second-place finisher Pedro Guerrero by 1.3 million votes. In 1987, Clark became one of only seven Giant players to have 30 homers and hit .300 in same year.

Why he’s here: Guerrero’s having a fine year, but few will question fans’ choice here.

OUTFIELDER

VINCE COLEMAN

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Scouting report: Has 11 fewer RBI (20) than San Francisco’s Kevin Mitchell has home runs (31). Has the fifth-lowest batting average (.261) on the NL team. Playing in his second All-Star game, his first as a reserve. Finished fifth in NL outfield voting. Had 100-plus stolen bases in 1985 and 1986, becoming the first NL players to steal 100 in consecutive seasons.

Why he’s here: The NL needs speed, and Coleman has plenty.

OUTFIELDER

ERIC DAVIS

CINCINNATI REDS

Scouting report: Hitting .269 with 52 RBIs and 16 homers. Led NL voting among outfielders in 1987, his only other All-Star appearance. He was zero for three in the 1987 game. This year’s game will be a homecoming of sorts for Davis, a former All-Los Angeles selection in baseball and basketball at Fremont High School.

Why he’s here: Lasorda hopes it’s for more than just the home-run hitting contest on Monday.

FIRST BASEMAN

GLENN DAVIS

HOUSTON ASTROS

Scouting report: Making his second All-Star appearance. The first was in 1986 when he was hitless in his only at-bat. Hitting .251 this year, third-lowest on the NL team, but has 47 RBIs. Had 23 homers against right-handed pitchers last year, the best in the National League.

Why he’s here: Gives NL depth at first base and power from the right side of the plate.

PITCHER

MARK DAVIS

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Scouting report: Became a full-time reliever last year for the first time in his pro career and it paid off with an All-Star appearance. Pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit in the All-Star game. The left-hander has a 2-3 record with a league-leading 22 saves and a 2.68 ERA this year. One of five relievers named to the NL squad.

Why he’s here: His 47 strikeouts is tops among relievers on National League team.

OUTFIELDER

ANDRE DAWSON

CHICAGO CUBS

Scouting report: “The Hawk” made the team for the fifth time, but the first as a reserve. Finished seventh in the fan balloting with 591,693, and rightfully so. He was hitting .253, the lowest in his career since 1978, at the time of his selection, although a productive weekend has pushed him up to .270. He has only 31 RBI and eight homers. Has three hits, including a double in last year’s game, in 14 All-Star at-bats.

Why he’s here: You decide.

PITCHER

JOHN FRANCO

CINCINNATI REDS

Scouting report: Tied with Mark Davis and Mitch Williams for the National League lead with 22 saves. The left-hander has a 2-2 record with 28 strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA. Named to the All-Star team for third time in four years. Pitched two-thirds of an inning in 1987 game and was selected but didn’t pitch in 1986. Is short for a pitcher at 5-foot-10. Moved from starting rotation to the bullpen after one season with the Reds.

Why he’s here: More relief.

FIRST BASEMAN

PEDRO GUERRERO

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Scouting report: The former Dodger, traded last August for John Tudor, will get the chance to play for his former manager again. Named to the team for fifth time this decade. Has struck out twice in three All-Star at-bats. Is having a solid year, among the NL leaders with a .292 batting average and 55 RBIs. Finished a distant second to Will Clark in voting.

Why he’s here: Would start most years, but he can’t argue with the kind of year Clark’s having.

OUTFIELDER

TONY GWYNN

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Scouting report: Earned his fourth start in five All-Star appearances. Leading the majors with a .353 batting average and is battling Cincinnati’s Barry Larkin (.340) for his third consecutive NL batting title. Finished third in the NL outfield voting with 977,574. Nagging injuries kept him out of last year’s All-Star game, but Gwynn went on to lead the NL in batting.

Why he’s here: Isn’t hitting .353 enough?

OUTFIELDER

VON HAYES

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Scouting report: Finished 13th in the fan balloting for NL outfielders, which is way too low considering he’s hitting .279 with 13 homers, 48 runs and 45 RBIs. Named to the All-Star team for the first time in nine major-league seasons.

Why he’s here: Will give NL more hitting from left side of the plate.

PITCHER

OREL HERSHISER

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Scouting report: Last year’s World Series Most Valuable Player earns his third consecutive All-Star berth. Has a 9-7 record, a 2.44 ERA and 94 strikeouts. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has given up one hit and one walk in three All-Star innings. Pitched 59 consecutive shutout innings last year to break the record of 58 set 20 years earlier by Don Drysdale.

Why he’s here: His ERA, strikeouts and momentum from last year.

PITCHER

JAY HOWELL

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Scouting report: A two-time All-Star, Howell has the lowest ERA (0.78) on the NL team. Has a 2-3 record with 15 saves, 33 strikeouts and 14 walks. First time on the NL team. Pitched two innings for the AL in 1987, when he was with Oakland, and gave up two runs. Traded from Oakland to Los Angeles in December 1987 and became the Dodgers’ bullpen stopper last season.

Why he’s here: With that ERA, why not?

THIRD BASEMAN

HOWARD JOHNSON

NEW YORK METS

Scouting report: Should have earned the start at third base with the kind of year he’s having. Finished fourth in the fan balloting, 80,000 votes behind leader Mike Schmidt of Philadelphia, who retired in May and won’t play. Johnson, who was picked for his first All-Star game, is hitting .293 with 22 homers and 57 RBI.

Why he’s here: Arguably the best third baseman in the NL.

SHORTSTOP

BARRY LARKIN

CINCINNATI REDS

Scouting report: Another player overlooked by the fans, who picked Ozzie Smith of St. Louis to start at shortstop. Larkin’s .340 batting average is second in the majors only to Tony Gwynn’s .353 and is 46 points higher than Smith’s. Making his second consecutive All-Star appearance. Was hitless in two at-bats in last year’s game.

Why he’s here: His offensive punch makes him the NL’s best bet at shortstop.

OUTFIELDER

KEVIN MITCHELL

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Scouting report: It’s hard to believe Mitchell’s only a first-time All-Star. Leads the majors in home runs (31) and RBIs (81) and is among the NL leaders in batting average. Joins Giant teammate Will Clark in the starting lineup after leading the NL outfielders with 1,814,118 votes.

Why he’s here: With a resume like his, who wouldn’t want this guy?

CATCHER

TONY PENA

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Scouting report: Hitting only .258 with three homers and 26 RBIs. Named to All-Star team for the fifth time, including three times as a Pittsburgh Pirate. Is hitless in three All-Star at-bats. Finished second in balloting for catchers with 741,696, more than 550,000 behind starter Benito Santiago of San Diego.

Why he’s here: Somebody has to back up Santiago.

SECOND BASEMAN

WILLIE RANDOLPH

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Scouting report: Lasorda has taken heat for picking Randolph to back up Sandberg at second. Many argue San Francisco’s Robby Thompson and Bill Doran of Houston are more deserving. Randolph has the best batting average of the three (.291), but has no homers and only 22 RBIs. Has played in four All-Star games. Was selected to the 1976 team, but was replaced because of injury.

Why he’s here: Only the Shadow, and Lasorda, know.

PITCHER

RICK REUSCHEL

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Scouting report: Has one of the best records in the majors at 12-3. The right-hander has been named to the team for the third time in 17-year major league career. His other appearances were in 1977 and 1987, pitching one inning in each and giving up two hits. Nicknamed “Big Daddy,” Reuschel is the oldest player on the NL team at 40.

Why he’s here: His 2.12 ERA is second among starters on NL team.

SECOND BASEMAN

RYNE SANDBERG

CHICAGO CUBS

Scouting report: Making his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance, fifth as a starter. Hitting .262 with 11 homers, 34 RBI and 44 runs scored. Has two hits in 14 All-Star at-bats. One of only five NL players to get a hit in last year’s 2-1 loss to the AL. The runaway favorite in fan balloting for second basemen, earning 1,150,064 votes.

Why he’s here: A solid year offensively and a seventh consecutive Gold Glove on the way.

CATCHER

BENITO SANTIAGO

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Scouting report: Santiago will be making his first All-Star appearance. One of the best defensive catchers in baseball, Santiago earned a Gold Glove last season, his second year in the majors. He’s batting only .236, but has driven in 30 runs. He was NL rookie-of-the-year in 1987.

Why he’s here: Can throw out runners while standing, sitting or kneeling. Best of the league’s weak-hitting catchers.

CATCHER

MIKE SCIOSCIA

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Scouting report: Has played in four championship series and two World Series, but this will be the first All-Star game for the 10-year pro. Will back up Benito Santiago of San Diego at catcher. Hitting .253, 10 points below his career average, and has only three homers and 20 RBIs.

Why he’s here: Invitation’s overdue.

PITCHER

MIKE SCOTT

HOUSTON ASTROS

Scouting report: With New York’s Dwight Gooden out because of a shoulder injury, Scott is the NL’s hardest thrower. First pitcher to win 14 games this season when he beat the New York Mets on July 4. Has 102 strikeouts a 2.58 ERA. Making third consecutive All-Star appearance. Won the Cy Young Award and pitched a no-hitter in 1986.

Why he’s here: A 14-5 record and a wicked fastball.

SHORTSTOP

OZZIE SMITH

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Scouting report: The Oz will be making his ninth consecutive All-Star appearance, his seventh as a starter. While Smith thrills fans with his acrobatic play at shortstop, his bat has been nonexistent in All-Star games. He has had only one hit, a single in 1983, in 14 at-bats.

Why he’s here: Smith is a longtime fan favorite, but Cincinnati’s Barry Larkin deserves the start.

PITCHER

JOHN SMOLTZ

ATLANTA BRAVES

Scouting report: The 22-year-old right-hander earned an All-Star berth in his first full major league season. Has a 11-6 record and a 2.10 ERA. Started career with Detroit Tigers but was traded to the Braves in 1987 in exchange for Doyle Alexander. Split time last season between Atlanta and triple-A franchise in Richmond, Va.

Why he’s here: Has one of the strongest young arms in baseball, as his 104 strikeouts prove.

THIRD BASEMAN

TIM WALLACH

MONTREAL EXPOS

Scouting report: Finished sixth in the voting for third basemen, but was one of three players selected by Lasorda for that position. Hitting .273 and scored 43 runs but has only five homers and 39 RBIs. Playing in his fourth All-Star game in six years. Has doubled and scored a run in six at-bats.

Why he’s here: Was a last-minute selection by Lasorda, who was going to pick injured Montreal outfielder Tim Raines.

PITCHER

MITCH WILLIAMS

CHICAGO CUBS

Scouting report: His first All-Star game also will be a homecoming for the 6-foot-4 left-hander who was born in Santa Ana. Has a 1.92 ERA, 43 strikeouts and a 1-2 record and a league-leading 22 saves. Was traded to Cubs by Texas in a deal that sent Rafael Palmeiro to the Rangers. Was 2-7 with a 4.63 ERA last year with Rangers.

Why he’s here: Gives the NL a strong, but erratic, left-hander out of the bullpen.

HONORARY CAPTAIN Only fellow Hall of Famers Lefty Gomez and Robin Roberts can match Don Drysdale’s mark of five starting pitching assignments in the All-Star game, but no one will top his record of starting two games in one season.

In 1959, the first of four years in which two All-Star games were played, Drysdale was the starting pitcher for the National League each time. His first outing was one of the finest performances in the game’s history: three perfect innings, with four strikeouts in a 5-4 NL victory. He struck out five in the second game, but took the loss.

The former Dodger great got his first All-Star victory as a reliever in 1967 in Anaheim. He was also the winner the following year, pitching the first three innings of a 1-0 victory.

Drysdale’s game-by-game All-Star record:

Year GS IP W L H R ER SO BB ERA 1959 (first game) 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0.00 1959 (second game) 1 3 0 1 4 3 3 5 3 9.00 1962 (first game) 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 0.00 1963 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0.00 1964 1 3 0 0 2 1 0 3 0 0.00 1965 0 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 1967 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 1968 1 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 Totals 5 19 1/3 2 1 9 4 3 19 4 1.40