Torre Adds 7 Yankees to AL Team

Safeco Field is being redone in pinstripes for next week’s All-Star game.

American League Manager Joe Torre selected seven players from his three-time World Series champions--nearly one-third of the New York Yankee roster--for Tuesday’s game in Seattle, including four of the pitchers on his 10-man staff.

“I don’t apologize for taking seven Yankees,” Torre said. “I think they all have numbers that make their choice appropriate.”

Starters Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were picked along with closer Mariano Rivera, setup man Mike Stanton, shortstop Derek Jeter, outfielder Bernie Williams and catcher Jorge Posada.

‘I don’t mind,” Boston’s Manny Ramirez said. “We win the World Series this year, maybe [Manager] Jimy [Williams] can pick seven Red Sox next year.”

The Yankees are the first team with seven all-stars since Atlanta in 1997 and the first AL team since Toronto in 1993. It is the first time seven Yankees were picked since 1962.

Seattle’s Freddy Garcia and Kazuhiro Sasaki were picked for the AL staff, giving the host Mariners six players on the 30-man roster.

Jeff Nelson, angry when he was New York’s setup man last year and Torre bypassed him, didn’t think the Mariners, who have baseball’s best record, should have fewer all-stars than the Yankees.

“We have the best record but it didn’t work out that way,” Nelson said. “Maybe this will motivate some guys who are upset.”

In the NL, San Diego’s Tony Gwynn, injured for much of the past 1 1/2 years, was bypassed but invited as a special guest.

Gwynn, a 15-time all-star, and Baltimore’s Cal Ripken, a 19-time all-star with his election to start at third for the AL, intend to retire after this season.

NL manager Bobby Valentine, like Torre, has nine first-time all-stars. But he has only two players from his defending NL champion Mets, including Mike Piazza, elected to start at catcher.

“I didn’t know they were taking seven guys when I submitted my list,” Valentine said. “I had so many things to think about that I probably would have discounted that. I only looked at the first half of the season, being that it is this year’s All-Star game.”

Completing the AL staff are Minnesota’s Eric Milton and Joe Mays, Toronto’s Paul Quantrill and the Angels’ Troy Percival. Torre didn’t take Seattle’s Aaron Sele (9-1) or Jamie Moyer (9-3).

Other AL backup infielders are Cleveland’s Roberto Alomar, Detroit’s Tony Clark, Oakland’s Jason Giambi, Minnesota’s Cristian Guzman, Kansas City’s Mike Sweeney and the Angels’ Troy Glaus.

Chicago’s Magglio Ordonez and Tampa Bay’s Greg Vaughn also were selected as backup outfielders.

Valentine picked 11 pitchers: Atlanta’s John Burkett, Colorado’s Mike Hampton, Arizona’s Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, Chicago’s Jon Lieber, St. Louis’ Matt Morris, Rick Reed of the Mets, Milwaukee’s Ben Sheets, Houston’s Billy Wagner and Chan Ho Park and Jeff Shaw of the Dodgers.

Florida’s Charles Johnson is the backup catcher and may start because Piazza has a broken toe.

Selected as the reserve infielders were Sean Casey of the Reds, Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin of the Padres, Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies and Albert Pujols of the Cardinals.

Backup outfielders include Moises Alou and Lance Berkman of the Astros, Brian Giles of the Pirates, Vladimir Guerrero of the Expos and Larry Walker of the Rockies.