Ichiro Finishes in Front With Fans

Seattle Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki became the first rookie to receive the most votes and was among four Mariners elected by fans Monday to start in the July 10 All-Star game at Safeco Field.

“Of course I was surprised. I did not expect or imagine that I would be the starter in the All-Star game,” Suzuki said through an interpreter before Seattle’s game Monday night at Texas.

Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles, who will retire after this season, overtook the Mariners’ David Bell in the final week to earn his 17th start and 19th appearance. The Oriole third baseman rallied from a 44,000-vote deficit to pass Bell and the Angels’ Troy Glaus and win by 45,000 votes.

Boosted by paper ballots cast in his homeland for the first time and Internet support worldwide, the Japanese-born Suzuki received 3,373,035 votes. The right fielder, 27, leads the major leagues in hits and stolen bases.

“Major league baseball fans know baseball talent,” he said. “I try to play better for them. I appreciate that I got so many votes.

“This is my first year in the major leagues and the All-Star game is in Seattle, so it means a lot to me. I have been here for only three months, but the people here appreciate my talent.”

He was the first rookie to be selected by fans since Sandy Alomar Jr. of the Cleveland Indians in 1990. Hideo Nomo was a Dodger rookie when he was selected by National League manager Felipe Alou as the starting pitcher for the 1995 All-Star game.

The Mariner star was picked on 682,815 of the 835,000 paper ballots cast in Japan. The seven-time batting champion from the Orix Blue Wave got 1,217,680 online votes--the commissioner’s office was still counting how many of them came from Japan, and was not expected to know for a couple of days.

The Mariners, with the best record in the majors, also will have first baseman John Olerud, second baseman Bret Boone and designated hitter Edgar Martinez in the starting lineup.

“I think a lot more guys deserve to be in there, like some of our pitchers,” Martinez said. “They all deserve to be there too. So many guys have done such a great job.”

The last team to have four elected starters was the Indians in 1999--Roberto Alomar, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome. Had Bell beat out Ripken, the Mariners would have become the first team with five elected starters since the Cincinnati Reds in 1977.

“It would have been great to see David in there, but Cal is not a surprise because of what he means to this game,” Olerud said.

Ripken finished with 1,108,383 votes, beating Bell’s total of 1,063,772.

There were 716,325 online ballots cast in the final week after stadium voting closed, and a total of 2,231,137 ballots cast online.

“It’s pretty special any time you’re on the same team as Cal Ripken, any time you’re on the same field,” American League Manager Joe Torre said. “I know the people of Seattle will give him his due.”

Barry Bonds, leading the majors with 39 home runs, drew a National League-leading 2,140,315 votes. The San Francisco Giant outfielder will be making his eighth start and 10th All-Star appearance.

Giant second baseman Jeff Kent and shortstop Rich Aurilia also will start. They are the first National League middle infielders to be elected from the same team since Ozzie Smith and Tommy Herr of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

Alex Rodriguez, who left the Mariners after last season as a free agent and signed with the Texas Rangers, drew his fourth start at shortstop. Ranger catcher Ivan Rodriguez earned his ninth consecutive start and 10th appearance.

Also starting for the American League are outfielders Juan Gonzalez of the Indians and Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox.

New York Met catcher Mike Piazza earned his seventh start and ninth All-Star appearance. His status is uncertain, however, because of a broken toe.

The other National League starters are outfielders Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks, first baseman Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies and third baseman Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves.

The pitchers and reserves and the rest of the 30-man rosters will be announced Wednesday. Seattle pitchers Kazuhiro Sasaki, Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele and Jamie Moyer are candidates for selection.

Retiring San Diego Padre star Tony Gwynn, who finished 10th among National League outfielders, is expected to be picked by National League Manager Bobby Valentine.

Boone, Aurilia, Helton and Luis Gonzalez were elected for the first time.

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All-Star Starting Lineups

Expanded statistics for the starters in the July 10 game at Safeco Field in Seattle (numbers through Sunday):

NATIONAL LEAGUE

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Avg. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Catcher Mike Piazza, New York .269 268 40 72 10 1 20 45 First Base Todd Helton, Colorado .324 296 77 96 29 0 25 82 Second Base Jeff Kent, San Francisco .294 296 43 87 22 3 11 58 Third Base Chipper Jones, Atlanta .304 283 58 86 15 3 21 59 Shortstop Rich Aurilia, San Francisco .350 306 50 107 24 3 12 33 Outfield Barry Bonds, San Francisco .308 234 63 72 14 0 39 71 Sammy Sosa, Chicago .302 281 62 85 20 1 26 75 Luis Gonzalez, Arizona .356 309 72 110 15 4 32 78

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

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Avg. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Texas .287 258 41 74 12 1 16 41 First Base John Olerud, Seattle .318 283 51 90 15 1 10 55 Second Base Bret Boone, Seattle .328 311 59 102 16 2 21 80 Third Base Cal Ripken, Baltimore .227 211 21 48 7 0 4 25 Shortstop Alex Rodriguez, Texas .317 312 70 99 19 1 23 67 Outfield Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle .348 359 70 125 18 6 3 36 Manny Ramirez, Boston .328 302 54 99 17 2 24 78 Juan Gonzalez, Cleveland .342 292 57 100 18 0 21 73 Designated Hitter Edgar Martinez, Seattle .307 264 48 81 25 0 12 63

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