Tracy Goes Ape When All-Stars Are Mentioned

I mentioned All-Stars, and the lack of attention being given to the Angels and Dodgers currently, and right away Manager Jim Tracy brought up the Rally Monkey.

Now there’s no question the Monkey is a more exciting performer than anyone wearing Dodger Blue or Little League Red these days, and very deserving of All-Star consideration. He’s certainly having a better year than Adrian Beltre or Mark Grudzielanek, and I wouldn’t be opposed to a two-for-one deal with the Angels when the pennant race really heats up and the Dodgers need some late-inning magic.

But I was a little surprised to find the manager of the Dodgers speaking so openly about stuffing the ballot box when he knew very well there’s no category for team mascots.

I misunderstood: The manager of the Dodgers was speaking openly about stuffing the ballot box with the Angels’ team mascot.

“Found the Rally Monkey’s two eyes on the floor this morning when I sat down for breakfast,” Tracy said with unusual glee. “My three boys gave the Rally Monkey to Maggie [the family dog], and she tore that sucker up. Maggie’s not a big fan of the Rally Monkey.”

I know how baseball people think, so Angel Manager Mike Scioscia is going to want to retaliate, and watching my own dog’s experiences let me just say Paul Lo Duca Bobblehead dolls seem to make real good chew bones.

I don’t recommend Tom Lasorda Bobbleheads, however. Too much baloney.

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NOW I tried to get Tracy back on track talking baseball and All-Stars, but he was still licking his chops. “I picked up the Monkey’s eyes because I didn’t want Maggie to choke on them,” he said, and breakfast must be a heartwarming experience in the Tracy household.

I told Tracy I found it odd baseball released All-Star balloting results this week, and of the 80 players mentioned in both leagues, the Dodgers had only a catcher sitting fourth, and the Angels a third baseman fifth at his position.

The National and American Leagues listed 15 outfielders each, and there was no mention of Shawn Green, Darin Erstad or Garrett Anderson.

“What’s the matter with Eric Gagne?” Tracy said, and I presume the Knucklehead knows Gagne is not an outfielder.

I’m also guessing, that like most of you, Tracy hasn’t punched out his All-Star ballot yet--or ever--because there are no pitchers listed.

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THE DODGERS began the night with four more wins at this time of the season than last year and were one game out of first. The Angels began the night seven games better than a year ago and one game out of first, and yet no one seems enthralled with the local talent from either team.

I’ve been writing about our crummy boring players for a couple of years, but of course I was just kidding. I wouldn’t have spent so much time making Eric Karros into the .300 hitter he is today if I thought he was going to be as terrible and horrible and pathetic as he was a year ago.

Did I mention lousy, too?

“What about our first baseman for All-Star consideration?” Tracy said, and I’ve got to believe a year ago he would have tossed him to Maggie. “With all that guy does for our ball club you could make a pretty good argument.”

You work as hard as I have to get Green to not strike out every time he comes to the plate, and yet still have enough energy to get the best out of Tim Salmon, and you can understand why I’m interested in these slugs getting some All-Star attention. In hindsight, I probably should have spent some quality time with Brian Jordan, too.

Now I hesitate to blame this All-Star indifference on the fans in Los Angeles and Orange County because the Dodgers haven’t won a playoff game since 1988, the Angels since 1986, and so when it comes to national profile and capturing a few votes elsewhere, well, forget it. I wouldn’t be surprised nationally if Ron Cey doesn’t get more votes at third base than Beltre this year.

It’s tough to win a popularity contest when you’re no longer popular, or have done anything memorable the last two decades.

I have no idea how that’s going to play with players like Green, Lo Duca and Karros, who would probably like to add an All-Star game to their resume, but if I’m Dodger management, I spare their feelings, and tell them Maggie ate the ballots.

As for the Angels, they just better hope the Rally Monkey doesn’t get more write-in votes than any of their players.

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EARLIER THIS week the Joe McDonnell radio show urged listeners to call the president of the Coliseum Commission to let him know the commission was at fault for L.A. not having a NFL team. McDonnell gave out the commission president’s phone number, and as you might expect all of five of McDonnell’s listeners called. Well, that’s not true. The commission president’s office received five calls, all right, but two of them came from Jeff in Tarzana.

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THERE ARE reports Lindsey Hunter needs more time to decide whether he wants to be paid almost $8 million over the next two years by the Lakers, or look elsewhere for work.

You can understand how a guy would want to make himself available for a lead role in the event Hollywood elects to do a remake of the movie, “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.”

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Maryanne C.:

“When the U.S. wins the World Cup you’ll probably be one of the first reporters to write about how proud you are of the guys, and what a great thing this is for everybody.”

As long as somebody wakes me up.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com.