All-Star Balloting Expands

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that the 2001 All-Star Game balloting will include Japan and the Dominican Republic for the first time. While the expanded system should benefit Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki, an icon in his native Japan, the commissioner’s office isn’t concerned that the voting will be unfairly swayed in his behalf.

“Under that theory, the Bronx will get behind Derek Jeter, [South Boston] will get behind Nomar Garciaparra, and surfer guys in Southern California will get behind Jim Edmonds,” Tim Brosnan, MLB’s executive vice president for business, said at a news conference.

Baseball said it will distribute more than 12 million ballots outside the United States and Canada. Japan and the Dominican Republic will join Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela as part of the voting process.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks put closer Matt Mantei on the disabled list because of an elbow injury that will keep him out at least three weeks.

An MRI exam found tissue damage in the envelope that encloses nerves in Mantei’s right elbow, and stress to the ulnar nerve.

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The New York Mets put left-hander Al Leiter on the disabled list because of a sore elbow. . . . Pitchers Brian Rose and Jeff Wallace joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before Wednesday night’s game against Kansas City and right-handers Travis Phelps and Dan Wheeler were optioned to triple-A Durham. The Devil Rays also transferred pitcher Wilson Alvarez from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list. . . . The Montreal Expos activated reliever Anthony Telford from the 15-day disabled list and sent reliever Mike Johnson to triple-A Ottawa.