This Election Has Its Hits and Misses

From Tokyo to Tampa, all-star voters seem to be paying more attention. Then again . . .

Cal Ripken Jr., leading American League third basemen? Mark McGwire a close second to Todd Helton among National League first basemen? Ken Griffey Jr. fourth among NL outfielders and ahead of Larry Walker, who is again among NL leaders in almost every offensive category?

OK, OK. By now we know the recording: It’s the fans’ game, let them vote for whomever they want, no reason to get excited.

Right, but Griffey had 12 at-bats heading into the weekend and McGwire 22, and Ripken, who is now a platoon third baseman, is batting .207 with a .234 on-base percentage after sitting out most of April.

Of course, the managers are only obligated to take the winner at each position, and the fans, to this point, have it more right than wrong, based on the 2001 season.

In the AL, the fans are right at catcher, Ivan Rodriguez; shortstop, Alex Rodriguez, and in the outfield, Ichiro Suzuki, Manny Ramirez and Juan Gonzalez. They are wrong at first base, where it should be Jason Giambi over John Olerud; second base, where it should be Bret Boone over Roberto Alomar, and third base, where it should be Troy Glaus over Ripken.

In the NL, the fans are right at first base, Helton; second base, Jeff Kent; shortstop, Rich Aurilia, and catcher, although Mike Piazza isn’t 500,000 votes better than Charles Johnson. They are partially right in the outfield, with Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez, but Walker should be the third outfielder, ahead of Sammy Sosa. They are totally wrong at only third base, where rookie Albert Pujols--who isn’t on the ballot--should be a clear leader ahead of Chipper Jones.

Of course, there’s still plenty of time to vote.

Who knows? Griffey could hit his stride now that he’s off the disabled list, and McGwire could be playing regularly by the deadline.

Chicago White Sox left-hander David Wells is skeptical that New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner is really interested in getting him back.

“He’s throwing names out there, but he’s not doing anything,” Wells said. “So long as I’m with the White Sox, that’s good.”

After a staggering start by the White Sox in the aftermath of their division title last season, Chicago owner Jerry Reinsdorf seemed intent on lowering his payroll and beginning another rebuilding project. Now, with the team having reached the fringes of the Central Division race, Reinsdorf isn’t sure of how far he should go in dumping salary, if at all.

Wells, who is owed $9 million next season, or a $1.25-million buyout, and figures to be the most pursued pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline, insists he wants to remain in Chicago because he likes his teammates, the city and its central location. He takes his family to their northern Michigan home on days off. However, he also likes the New York lifestyle and is ready for anything, having pitched for six organizations.

“I’m just in the game to collect jerseys, and I’ve collected a few,” he said.

The Toronto Blue Jays have remained a factor in the East race, trying to compensate for inconsistent pitching with a potent offense. The Blue Jays could use Wells back, or they could use a sound Mike Sirotka, the damaged goods they received in the trade for Wells and is out for the season after shoulder surgery.

The other missing element, Manager Buck Martinez suggests, is a little arrogance, a toughness.

Perhaps, he said, the bench-clearing fuss with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, when Raul Mondesi had words with Tom Glavine after being hit by a pitch and Martinez himself referred to John Rocker as a “knucklehead” for storming from the bullpen to confront Mondesi, will leave an impression.

“I think, for whatever reason, our guys have been allowing us to get pushed around a bit,” Martinez said. “We need to be the pushers, not the pushees. We need to have a little more confidence. We need to have a little strut in our walk.”