Some New Faces Join Familiar Lineup

The starting lineups for the All-Star game have new faces in Jeff Kent and Jermaine Dye and a new top vote-getter in Ivan Rodriguez.

Kent overcame a 138,000-vote deficit in the final week to overtake Craig Biggio and Edgardo Alfonzo and win the National League’s starting spot at second base in next Tuesday’s game at Atlanta.

Kent, who leads the National League with 80 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants, led NL second basemen with 1,018,430 votes in totals released Tuesday. Houston’s Biggio was second at 964,316, followed by New York’s Alfonzo at 865,853.

“It’s probably a more special honor to be elected by the fans who you are entertaining,” Kent said. “That’s why you play the game in a sense, outside of trying to win a championship, to entertain the fans.”

In voting through last week, Biggio was first at 452,863, Alfonzo second at 387,893 and Kent third at 314,907.

Dye finished second in the voting among American League outfielders and became the first Kansas City starter since Bo Jackson 11 years ago.

Rodriguez, one of the few Texas Rangers who hasn’t slumped, received the most votes (2,808,456), ending the streak of Ken Griffey Jr., the top vote-getter the previous four years.

“Maybe I opened the door for the catchers,” Rodriguez said. “This will be more special for me because I got the most votes. I never expected it to be like that. It’s a dream come true. I didn’t realize I had so many fans.”

Rodriguez, the first American League catcher to top the voting, will be appearing in his ninth consecutive All-Star game, his eighth in a row as a starter.

Met catcher Mike Piazza, elected for his seventh consecutive start, received the most votes among National League players, 2,780,452, marking the first time the top vote-getters in both leagues were catchers.

The rest of the NL starters will be Mark McGwire of St. Louis at first base, Barry Larkin of Cincinnati at shortstop, Chipper Jones of Atlanta at third base, and Griffey, San Francisco’s Barry Bonds and Chicago’s Sammy Sosa in the outfield.

McGwire was angry teammate Jim Edmonds finished only fifth in the outfield voting. “I would almost think of not going if he’s not on it,” McGwire said. “It would be a mockery if he didn’t go.”

Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken was picked as a starter for the 16th time--also making him a member of the team for the 18th time--but he is on the disabled list because of a bad back.

Also elected as AL starters were Oakland’s Jason Giambi at first base, Cleveland’s Roberto Alomar at second base and Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez at shortstop, and the Yankees’ Bernie Williams, Dye and Cleveland’s Manny Ramirez in the outfield.

Pitchers and reserves for the 30-man rosters will be announced today.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

All-Star Starters

Players voted as starters for next Tuesday’s All-Star game in Atlanta. Pitchers and reserves for the 30-man rosters will be announced today.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

*--*

Pos. Player Team Votes HR RBIs Avg. C Ivan Rodriguez Texas 2,808,456 25 74 .361 1B Jason Giambi Oakland 1,229,295 22 77 .339 2B Roberto Alomar Cleveland 2,615,501 9 36 .273 SS Alex Rodriguez Seattle 1,654,852 22 74 .344 3B Cal Ripken Baltimore 2,169,993 13 43 .239 OF Bernie Williams New York 1,568,209 18 77 .331 OF Jermaine Dye Kansas City 1,486,448 21 63 .314 OF Manny Ramirez Cleveland 1,232,335 13 47 .322

*--*

*

NATIONAL LEAGUE

*--*

Pos. Player Team Votes HR RBIs Avg. C Mike Piazza New York 2,780,452 24 71 .357 1B Mark McGwire St. Louis 2,347,317 30 68 .304 2B Jeff Kent San Francisco 1,018,430 23 80 .355 SS Barry Larkin Cincinnati 1,593,696 8 28 .325 3B Chipper Jones Atlanta 1,553,944 20 63 .320 OF Ken Griffey Jr. Cincinnati 2,188,169 26 64 .237 OF Barry Bonds San Francisco 2,015,590 28 57 .310 OF Sammy Sosa Chicago 1,800,444 21 69 .306

*--*

Top 10 vote-getters for catchers, infielders; top 20 for outfielders in both leagues: Page 7